SparkPeople Carries Me Through!

One of the best things about SparkPeople, second in line to all the great support and friendships that have developed for me through this program is the idea of learning good, healthy exercise and eating strategies which have now developed into sound habits.

With our recent ragtime performance schedule, I've been up to my neck in all the things I love the most...performing, listening to other players, and practicing for future events not to mention all the fun socializing with other ragtime players. Some time has to be spent also on arranging music, and I could go on and on but for me, although it is a lot of work at times, it is my choice and I am really enjoying what we do.

Here is where SP and music connect for me. I think it is through the years of diligent practice and what it takes to maintain a certain level of professional musical proficiency, that I first learned that whatever you want to do, you have to work at it all the time to keep it up. Sometimes I wish I were an artist where I could paint a picture and it would stay that way forever. Music is different. You stop practicing and your skills deteriorate. It's that simple. It's that hard, but that's just the way it is. And isn't it that way with SparkPeople.

I wasn't expecting SparkPeople to be easy. And I am not disappointed that it isn't always smooth sailing. Music has taught me patience over the long haul. For the past several weeks I've been coasting online. I haven't tracked my meals but I have been watching what I eat. I step on the scale every morning and if I start to gain, I closely monitor what I eat not only for weight gain but for how healthy the food is that I nourish my body with.

Exercise is also a top priority. It's a necessary part of my day and I wouldn't think of not doing something!! I'm pretty religious about that. The Spark habits are becoming second nature and the delight is knowing that I have internalized so much of what I have been learning since January 1 of this year. Although I am coasting on-line, I am following the disciplines.

I don't expect to do this forever...this coasting business. I'll be back after the next two concerts to delve into the active life on this site to keep my healthy life skills current and fresh. We all need that fine tuning, just as it is with music.

I'm committed to the program and all the healthy living strategies I've learned. And, after the 22nd of June, will be able to dig right back into the swing of the posts, the blogs, and all the other good stuff.