Andrew's Daily Notes

Thoughtful reflections, inspirations, or instigations. It depends on the day.

Archives for January 2018

Emotions

Emotions are like a race horse.

Put some reigns on them, learn how to ride them, guide them in the right direction, and away you go, flying down the track.

On the other hand. Let them run however they choose and they will begin riding you.

I’d rather be the one doing the riding.

Getting to the Stuff

Some days nothing wants to come out. The expressive engine stalls. Words, movement, sound, nothing.
But professionals have to produce. It’s our job. Discipline is the act of navigating whatever circumstances we encounter to maintain purposeful action.
So, here’s to the navigation. The act of clearing the daily muck to get to the clarity. The writing of extra pages before the real words show up. Starting to move before you feel inspired. Picking up the instrument, knowing it won’t sound right straight away.
Here’s to getting to the stuff.

When the Well Goes Dry

Everyone goes through darker times. The artist loses their voice. The athlete loses their touch. The politician can’t find the right compromise. The businessperson can’t find a break.
While on the journey, there are options when encountering a dry well.
  1. Search for another well
  2. Dig a new well
  3. Pray for water
All are good, but we are probably predisposed to one or another as our go to response.
Searchers seek provision that is already in plain sight. Diggers work to uncover provision. Those who pray speak to the provider.
Do what’s needed, the provision will come.

Generous Conversation

Conversations change when we are generous with our answers. What we give in conversation is a gift to the other participants. By leading with a spirit of generosity there is a greater possibility of generosity being reciprocated. The greater the generosity of responses the more the conversation shifts from a trading of ideas to a sharing of participants’ being.

Pause. Have a sense of the room. Let there be trust.

If there isn’t yet, be smart with your words. If there is, let the generosity flow.

For Learning Only

In the dance world the classroom has morphed from a room of learning, to a performance space. Students come to class to audition. Teachers use class to produce social media content. There are voices both lamenting and defending this change.

This much is true: If students are expected to perform as they would in a professional performance in the space that used to be reserved for learning (the fall-on-your-face-try-something-new-make-a-mistake kind of learning), where is the learning happening?

In my classes at the McBurney YMCA I record content references for the students – at their request. During class, the camera, for documentation or promotional purposes stays out of the room. This is one way I keep the space clearly defined for learning only. How do you?

Already

It’s already happening.

You’re already in.

You’ve already begun.

You’re already here.

Leverage whatever momentum you already have.

It is the gift you’ve been given.

The next step is the only question.

Revelations

Every person gets a revelation. They get a particular vision of the world that is revealed to them. Sometimes a few people get similar revelations. Some are more specific than others. Each one comes with responsibility.

The responsibility is twofold: Test the revelation against the moral code that is already written on your heart, and live it out.

Familiarity

Familiar things are easy. We know them. They give a sense of safety and security. But just because something is familiar doesn’t make it good, or right. Just ask the child who grew up in an unhealthy environment.

There comes a time when we are awoken to the difference between what we are familiar with and what we know to be good. At that time we have a responsibility to test what we are most familiar with against what we know to be good.

In fact we have a responsibility to test everything against what we know to be good, and only keep what is good.