As some of you may have heard me mention on other occasions, I learned to play the piano as a youngster on an old upright that still sits in my home and brings me joy. A few days ago, I was cleaning a bit in the room it calls home and noticed that it was gathering dust. That piano is full of music of all sorts, but in order for such strains to flow from it, fingers must strike the keys. Hopefully those fingers are somewhat trained, but the piano doesn’t require the player to practice. However, if I want to draw from it the beautiful melodies waiting to be heard, practice absolutely helps. So is the case in most of our pursuits. To achieve mastery or grasp the idea and apply it, we have to put out the effort.
I smiled as I lifted the cover of the keyboard as I recalled a time when one of my sons wasn’t making much of an effort in school and his grades were reflecting the fact. He had been grounded for his poor grades and one of his brothers was passing his room, where textbooks were scattered over the bed and my son was laying across them. His brother paused at the doorway, looked in and said, “Are you hoping to learn by osmosis?” That remark became a catchphrase in our family for not being willing to put in the effort needed to improve.
Mastery increases as effort is extended in almost every area of life. Whatever you would become better at doing requires you to intentionally focus on it and do the work required. Improvement doesn’t happen on its own. I must be intentional and put in the time and energy necessary. Sinking a three-pointer from outside the circle just doesn’t happen, even if you’re Larry Bird, who won the title three years in a row. Practice and repetition are required to sink the shot dependably. Lack of practice will see ability degrade.
Whatever my life’s focus may be, I always have the choice to improve and strengthen. Weight loss is no different. The desired results require effort on my part. As healthier eating, being more active, seeking support and staying positive increase, the results I desire manifest themselves more clearly. What I did to get me to where I am today may not be what I need to do to get me to where I wish to be tomorrow. I have some growing to do, and the choice to grow is mine to make.
So I think I’ll sit, stretch these stiff fingers, release Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” from the piano and allow my mind to plan the next, best step I need to make — and take it!
I Care, Barb
By Cheryl Pershall November 9, 2021
Love this it really made me think. What inspiring words. I will pass this on to my chapter. As always it is a great blog. Thank you!
By Diane Myhre November 9, 2021
So good to connect with you Barb. Diana Deal Myhre here. My husband John passed away last month. I kept exercizing and eating well while caring for him. Tops and kops pals are the best.i am a pianist too. Loved the stories. I forgot about your blog.
By Deanna Herrington November 9, 2021
Passed on to me by one of our KOPS. Thanks for the great inspiration. Anything we want to Achieve comes with hard work. We have to do the work. Thanks Barb
By Sylvia Duncan November 9, 2021
Great thoughts ! Thank you. I am practicing baking and making healthy food. It too does not appear by osmosis
By Janet Long November 9, 2021
Thanks for the info. 2 of my grand daughters major in music and they put & are still putting practice & time int the music they have learned and are still learning. We have to do the same no matter what we are trying to achieve in life. Thanks again. Love Tops.
By Kathy Loparo November 8, 2021
I appreciate your articles. Thank you.
By Irene Russell November 8, 2021
Barb – I get a kick out of your music references, almost every blog! I also have a song in my head at all times, and can parody a song into little things that happen around the house. I practice and repeat ”intermitent fasting,’ as was described in a recent TOPS News, and still am working it out for consistent losing. Thank you.
By Lois November 8, 2021
Hi Barb, Thanks for bringing back some great memories of my childhood & our old upright piano. It was old, maybe 1940 or so. My mom would play it & I would dance around. It was replaced with a Baby Grand & the old upright ended up in the basement back in Cleveland, Ohio. I took lessons on the Baby Grand but loved going down the basement to play on that old piano. Mexicali Rose was my favorite to play. but when we moved to S. Cal. that piano had to stay behind. Thank you So Very much for those wonderful memories on a cold & rainy day, today. Love You.
By Gina November 8, 2021
Love this – I always wanted to learn to play the piano. I parents bought an old upright player piano. I never had lessons, but remember vividly learning to play several songs as a youngster by practicing,practicing, practicing. What a thrill it was to master a piece of music. Thanks for the memories.
By Beverly Masalonis November 8, 2021
Thank you, Barb. Great reading and encouragement.
By Diane Brussenski November 8, 2021
Thank you Barb. This is something that we all need to learn! Thankyoufor all your blogs. I always find them helpful!