FEEDING THE DOG

I was in a lousy mood this morning, no doubt about it. I didn't feel like doing much of anything at all, let alone anything as focused and organized as practicing.

But, I sat down and played anyway. I had a day off recently, and it was too soon to take another day off.  Taking a day off here and there is a good thing, but starting to take too many days off is a slippery slope that leads to deconditioning, discouragement, and giving up practicing. I've only recently clawed my way back up that slope. I'm determined not to let myself slide back down it any time soon.

My hands don't care what kind of mood I'm in. They need their exercise regularly. It's like having a dog that needs to be fed no matter what. You can't say, "Sorry, Fido. You'll just have to go hungry. I don't feel like getting your food for you."

So on a day like this, I sit down at the keyboard whether I feel like it or not. My hands need me. I may not hurl myself against my most difficult challenges, though. Instead, I may turn to the comfort food of piano practice: old familiar pieces that come easily.  If I start with those, I often find my mood improving, and then I become eager to tackle a challenge.

That didn't work today, though. Grrrr.