PATIENCE

For Lauretta Violin Studio, the mantra for January is PATIENCE. 

As I write this blog post on January 29th, I'm thinking...where did the month of January go!? Once the holidays end, the month of January often feels incredibly fast. 

During this fast month, I've consistently reminded myself of patience. What defines patience? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines patience as...

               a. the ability to accept obstacles or delays in a calm and self-possessed way

               b. the ability to act with calm or restraint under provocation or strain

               c. the ability to persevere over a long period of time despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity

Because I am entering my mid-30s this year, I often feel impatient with my limitations as a violinist and musician. Over the past year, my family and I experienced big shifts in our careers, lives, and locations, and I've fortunately been able to spend more time with my instrument. However, with this extra time on the violin, I've grown more aware of my musical and technical weaknesses. I long for the days of being twenty years old and making such large strides both musically and technically! My brain and body felt so malleable then (and science backs this up! Check out this link regarding the five eras of major brain changes), but now progress and change seem incredibly small and slow. 

That is where patience fits into my practice sessions. This month, I gravitated towards Merriam-Webster's last definition of patience: the ability to persevere over a long period of time despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. Frustration, insecurity, and defeat take many forms in practice sessions, rehearsals, and performances, but it's important to remind myself of the small yet mighty improvements, and champion the drive to take myself out of my comfort zone.

Cheers to patience! I hope you all can find patience in your daily practice, too. Next month's mantra focuses on CHALLENGE.

Stay warm!

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