“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
-Seneca, mid-first century Roman philosopher
I've always liked this quote, and always attributed it (until just now) to Semisonic and their song, "Closing Time." The end of the year gives us a chance to review the things that have taken place and to see possibilities for the year to come. There are relationships and lives that have come to an end and others that are just beginning.
This year, I lost my Grandma Leah, as I shared with many of you on this list. What I haven't shared publicly until now is that there is a new life that is forming and that will be joining us in the coming year. Karen and I are expecting our first child, a baby boy, sometime in May. It is an exciting and intimidating time in our lives. The thought of being responsible for another human being puts everything into perspective.
There are so many things I am looking forward to sharing with my son. I know that in doing so, I will get to experience them again as though for the first time, through his eyes. It is a powerful reminder to me that I have so much to be grateful for. It is easy to become jaded and cynical and to think that life has lost its glow. But when I think of all the incredible experiences I want my son to have, I realize that this world is still a very magical place.
I am reminded of another quote... "Wonders never cease as long as you never cease to wonder," although I think that one is attributed to Ziggy (the cartoon strip character). No matter who said it originally, it is still very true. The way you look at life that determines how you experience it. I'll leave you with one last quote, this one from Albert Einstein:
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
In this season of miracles, I hope you choose to see life through the eyes of a child...
If you have not yet "liked" me on Facebook, I urge you to do so HERE. Thank you as always for your support!
In song,
Todd
ps. In other very exciting developments, my music is now being featured on Jewish Rock Radio, the first Jewish internet radio station in existence - the brainchild of my good friend and mentor, Rick Recht. Please visit the site and listen to the many extremely talented artists found there.
pps. Just for fun, I posted a version of U2's "With Or Without You" on YouTube. You can view it here. Let me know your thoughts, and if you have any requests for future covers, email me and let me know.
"'Bridging The Gap' wins Best Jewish Album of 2009 in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards!" — Just Plain Folks
"Todd's song "You and I" (peformed by saxophonist Michael Lington) reaches #2 on the Smooth Jazz Charts!" — Billboard
"I believe Todd is one of the rising stars in the contemporary music scene. His vocals are gorgeous as is his beautiful person and spirit. Temple Beth Avodah loves Todd Herzog." — Cantor Susan Glickman, Temple Beth Avodah
"Todd has the voice of an angel. His heart is pure, and he has a unique spirit that wanders into the soul and inspires all who are privileged to hear him." — Craig Taubman
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Clean Slate?
Most religious traditions have a practice of confessing our sins, releasing our guilt, forgiving one another and then moving on with life in a renewed way. In the Jewish religion, we just celebrated the holiday of Yom Kippur, which is designed to do exactly that. One of the aspects that I like about the tradition is that you can't just confess your sins to God and expect that everything is going to be fine with all of your friends and family. The requirement is that for sins against human beings, you actually have to ask for forgiveness before you are granted atonement.
For other sins against God however (like you didn't keep all 613 commandments every day during the past year), you can simply ask forgiveness, vow to change your ways and return to the right path, and then take action in the right direction and you will be forgiven. It's a three-step solution - returning to your highest self through prayer, repentance and charity.
We often talk about this process as "wiping the slate clean," an ancient reference to those old blackboards that we used to use in school (do they still have those??) What I remember about wiping the slate clean is that even after you erased the board, there were traces of the writing that was there before. Is it the same with us? Even when we forgive those closest to us, are there still reminders of the hurts that they have caused and that we have inflicted upon them? I believe it is possible to forgive, but do we ever truly forget?
It's interesting that tonight we begin the holiday of Sukkot, which was traditionally a time of harvest. To me, it's symbolic of the fact that even after you have been cleansed all of your transgressions, you must still reap what you have sown. Perhaps thinking about it in this way will make us less likely to act in hurtful or unthinking ways in the year to come. In any case, I wish all of you renewal and revitalization in all aspects of your lives. I hope to see you soon.
In song,
Todd
ps. As a follow-up to my last newsletter, my grandmother did pass away last month. Thank you to all of you for your overwhelming words of support and comfort.
For other sins against God however (like you didn't keep all 613 commandments every day during the past year), you can simply ask forgiveness, vow to change your ways and return to the right path, and then take action in the right direction and you will be forgiven. It's a three-step solution - returning to your highest self through prayer, repentance and charity.
We often talk about this process as "wiping the slate clean," an ancient reference to those old blackboards that we used to use in school (do they still have those??) What I remember about wiping the slate clean is that even after you erased the board, there were traces of the writing that was there before. Is it the same with us? Even when we forgive those closest to us, are there still reminders of the hurts that they have caused and that we have inflicted upon them? I believe it is possible to forgive, but do we ever truly forget?
It's interesting that tonight we begin the holiday of Sukkot, which was traditionally a time of harvest. To me, it's symbolic of the fact that even after you have been cleansed all of your transgressions, you must still reap what you have sown. Perhaps thinking about it in this way will make us less likely to act in hurtful or unthinking ways in the year to come. In any case, I wish all of you renewal and revitalization in all aspects of your lives. I hope to see you soon.
In song,
Todd
ps. As a follow-up to my last newsletter, my grandmother did pass away last month. Thank you to all of you for your overwhelming words of support and comfort.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Letting Go
My grandmother is dying, and I'm doubtful that I will see her again. It is a sad moment, and also a time to think about letting go. My grandmother and I have been having pretty much the same conversation for the past 20 years or so. She asks how I am. I tell her what's going on and what I've been working on lately. She tells me that "somebody in this family has got to make it one of these days!" I ask how she is. She says, "What can I tell you, Todd? I'm getting older, my _______ hurts (fill in the blank here). It's hard for me to get around. But I don't like to complain... Then she reminds me that "whatever you do, with the RIGHT foot." And our conversation usually includes the old standard, "A person needs money, but money needs a person." I've spent years trying to figure this one out.
It is my impression that she has been ready to go ever since my grandfather died in 1980. But she is very stubborn, and despite her complaining, she doesn't give up easily. Now, it seems she has come to the point of no return. She has pneumonia again and is in hospice. They say it could be any day now that she leaves us. I know that I will miss her. And it is a reminder that I am growing older and that life must change and move on to new stages and new developments. I suppose it is also an opportunity and a chance to gain new perspective. I realize that I am now as old as my dad was when his father died.
I feel lucky to have had my grandmother this long. And I also know that in order to grow, it is necessary to let go of the life you are familiar with and venture out into the unknown. At this time of the year, as I prepare for the upcoming High Holidays, it's time to take stock of my life and to see what still fits and feels authentic and what no longer applies. It is a time of forgiveness... both of myself for having fallen short of expectations (my own and my grandmother's), and of others who, after all, are only human and are doing the best they can. Besides, holding on to negativity from the past only holds me back from becoming who I am capable of being in the world.
So, as I let go of my grandmother, I let go of those parts of myself that I no longer need. I let go of a piece of my childhood and open myself up to whatever comes next. The process is painful sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Pain is often the best tool for evolution, and it reminds me of what is truly important in life. I wish that kind of clarity and growth for all of us as we approach the New Year. Perhaps it's time for a new conversation...
In song,
Todd
It is my impression that she has been ready to go ever since my grandfather died in 1980. But she is very stubborn, and despite her complaining, she doesn't give up easily. Now, it seems she has come to the point of no return. She has pneumonia again and is in hospice. They say it could be any day now that she leaves us. I know that I will miss her. And it is a reminder that I am growing older and that life must change and move on to new stages and new developments. I suppose it is also an opportunity and a chance to gain new perspective. I realize that I am now as old as my dad was when his father died.
I feel lucky to have had my grandmother this long. And I also know that in order to grow, it is necessary to let go of the life you are familiar with and venture out into the unknown. At this time of the year, as I prepare for the upcoming High Holidays, it's time to take stock of my life and to see what still fits and feels authentic and what no longer applies. It is a time of forgiveness... both of myself for having fallen short of expectations (my own and my grandmother's), and of others who, after all, are only human and are doing the best they can. Besides, holding on to negativity from the past only holds me back from becoming who I am capable of being in the world.
So, as I let go of my grandmother, I let go of those parts of myself that I no longer need. I let go of a piece of my childhood and open myself up to whatever comes next. The process is painful sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Pain is often the best tool for evolution, and it reminds me of what is truly important in life. I wish that kind of clarity and growth for all of us as we approach the New Year. Perhaps it's time for a new conversation...
In song,
Todd
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Dissolving Problems Away
Do you have an issue in your body or your life that has been affecting you recently? I would imagine that there aren’t too many of us out there who don’t have any problems at all. I have noticed a tendency for myself that when I have something that’s bothering me, either physically or emotionally, that I tend to tighten or clench around that area. Many times the sensation I feel in my body mirrors another larger experience that’s going on in my life. If I am closing down my emotions, I’ll experience heartburn. If I’m not incorporating lessons from my life into my daily routine, than I may experience indigestion.
Recently, I remembered a technique that I learned a few years ago when I took a class in Tai Chi. Tai Chi was originally developed as a martial art, but has been found to have great health benefits because of its ability to move energy through our bodies and relieve stress. The technique I learned was called “dissolving.” The basic idea of dissolving is to mentally scan your body for any area where you might be holding tension. Then you focus your attention on that area, breathing into it and imagining the tension being a piece of ice. As you bring more awareness to the area, you can actually feel the tension changing state… from ice into water and then from water into steam, at which point you can release it from your body.
If you agree that these physical issues can be representations of other larger things going on around you, then you can see that the technique of dissolving can be applied to almost anything that is happening in your life. Rather than shutting down and ignoring the unresolved issues (one of my personal favorites…), try breathing into the issue and facing it head on. While at first at may seem intimidating, the rewards are tremendous on many levels. By opening up to the problem and viewing it as a potential for growth, you may find new approaches for resolving the issue and the person or situation that has been causing you the most stress may end up being the one to teach you the most about yourself and about life.
In song,
Todd
Recently, I remembered a technique that I learned a few years ago when I took a class in Tai Chi. Tai Chi was originally developed as a martial art, but has been found to have great health benefits because of its ability to move energy through our bodies and relieve stress. The technique I learned was called “dissolving.” The basic idea of dissolving is to mentally scan your body for any area where you might be holding tension. Then you focus your attention on that area, breathing into it and imagining the tension being a piece of ice. As you bring more awareness to the area, you can actually feel the tension changing state… from ice into water and then from water into steam, at which point you can release it from your body.
If you agree that these physical issues can be representations of other larger things going on around you, then you can see that the technique of dissolving can be applied to almost anything that is happening in your life. Rather than shutting down and ignoring the unresolved issues (one of my personal favorites…), try breathing into the issue and facing it head on. While at first at may seem intimidating, the rewards are tremendous on many levels. By opening up to the problem and viewing it as a potential for growth, you may find new approaches for resolving the issue and the person or situation that has been causing you the most stress may end up being the one to teach you the most about yourself and about life.
In song,
Todd
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Trusting The Process
I don't know about you, but I seem to have this idea about how my life is "supposed to turn out." And then when things don't look exactly the way I think they should, I start to stress about it and try to control the situation. When I look around at nature, the trees don't seem stressed out about when their leaves will appear again after the winter. The birds don't freak out about when it's time to make their nests, and the lizards all seem to have a perfect sense of when it would be the right time to come out again into the world.
How can I be so detached from my own nature that I feel such a need to be "hands on?" Aren't I part of the same world as the birds and the trees? Wouldn't whatever universal laws that have everything else in the world functioning so systematically also apply to me? And yet it's so difficult to trust the process of life as it unfolds.
For me, the hardest part is finding the balance between acceptance and action. While I find it helpful to start my day with some time for meditation and reflection, I realize that if I am going to accomplish the goals I have set for myself, I also need to take some action. I think the moments of introspection are important because they allow me to see my life in a broader context. The activities then take on greater meaning because I feel more conscious and aware of WHY I am doing them.
And maybe that broader perspective is the key to feeling peaceful in life. We are taught in this culture especially that there should be no painful moments, no sadness, no frustration. But perhaps those are life's signals to us that we have strayed from our true nature and that we need to refocus ourselves, to take a deeper look at what we're doing and why we're doing it. Maybe the broken road is the one we were meant to walk down, and the lessons we learn along the way are the ones we really needed to experience to have a fuller sense of who we are and why we're here...
In song,
Todd
How can I be so detached from my own nature that I feel such a need to be "hands on?" Aren't I part of the same world as the birds and the trees? Wouldn't whatever universal laws that have everything else in the world functioning so systematically also apply to me? And yet it's so difficult to trust the process of life as it unfolds.
For me, the hardest part is finding the balance between acceptance and action. While I find it helpful to start my day with some time for meditation and reflection, I realize that if I am going to accomplish the goals I have set for myself, I also need to take some action. I think the moments of introspection are important because they allow me to see my life in a broader context. The activities then take on greater meaning because I feel more conscious and aware of WHY I am doing them.
And maybe that broader perspective is the key to feeling peaceful in life. We are taught in this culture especially that there should be no painful moments, no sadness, no frustration. But perhaps those are life's signals to us that we have strayed from our true nature and that we need to refocus ourselves, to take a deeper look at what we're doing and why we're doing it. Maybe the broken road is the one we were meant to walk down, and the lessons we learn along the way are the ones we really needed to experience to have a fuller sense of who we are and why we're here...
In song,
Todd
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Identity Versus Inclusion
It was inspiring to watch the Olympics last month. So many athletes from hundreds of countries around the world pushing one another to achieve their greatest potential. Seeing all of the different flags being waved around the stadiums made it evident that many of us feel a very strong sense of national pride and patriotism. For me, it also raised the issue of identity. When one feels such a powerful sense of "us," what does that do to "them," the outsiders in the group? Isn't the ultimate goal of the Olympics to bring people together rather than increasing the divisions between people and countries? Does having a strong identity, whether we associate ourselves with a country, or a group or a religion, necessarily mean that we have to exclude others in the process?
I've been reading two different books (at the same time) that touch upon this topic. The first is entitled Defending Identity, and it was written by Natan Scharansky, a political dissident in the former Soviet Union. He claims that having a strong identity as a member of the Jewish people made him more resilient and able to withstand the physical and emotional torture inflicted upon him. In fact, he says that he bonded with and drew strength from other political prisoners who had very strong identities, even when those identities were very different from his own.
The other book is entitled The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, and it was written by the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard C. Cutler. In this book, the Dalai Lama talks about the paradox of defining one's individuality while still embracing a common humanity with every human being. The Dalai Lama talks about how different cultures develop and adapt to their own unique surroundings, and that differences in language and customs are about as important as the clothes we decide to wear each day. They should be appropriate for the elements, but they don't define who we are at the deepest levels.
I like to think of each of us as being made up of different circles of identity. Rather than an either/or situation where we have to say we are either a Jew OR an American OR a teacher OR a musician, I think it might be more productive if we can picture our identities as ripples flowing outward from ourselves. Perhaps we can define ourselves as individuals, AND as members of a family, of a community, of a city, a region, a country, a world... and realize that each of us and every other human being in the world is also made up of these same layers. We might be able to respect and even celebrate our different identities rather than using them to separate us from one another.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had the honor of singing the National Anthem for my first time at an Oakland A's exhibition game this past week. Here's a link to the YouTube video:
www.youtube.com/watch
I'll be singing again when the A's play the Dodgers on Wed., March 24th at 7:30pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you are in the area and want to catch the game.
I've been reading two different books (at the same time) that touch upon this topic. The first is entitled Defending Identity, and it was written by Natan Scharansky, a political dissident in the former Soviet Union. He claims that having a strong identity as a member of the Jewish people made him more resilient and able to withstand the physical and emotional torture inflicted upon him. In fact, he says that he bonded with and drew strength from other political prisoners who had very strong identities, even when those identities were very different from his own.
The other book is entitled The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, and it was written by the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard C. Cutler. In this book, the Dalai Lama talks about the paradox of defining one's individuality while still embracing a common humanity with every human being. The Dalai Lama talks about how different cultures develop and adapt to their own unique surroundings, and that differences in language and customs are about as important as the clothes we decide to wear each day. They should be appropriate for the elements, but they don't define who we are at the deepest levels.
I like to think of each of us as being made up of different circles of identity. Rather than an either/or situation where we have to say we are either a Jew OR an American OR a teacher OR a musician, I think it might be more productive if we can picture our identities as ripples flowing outward from ourselves. Perhaps we can define ourselves as individuals, AND as members of a family, of a community, of a city, a region, a country, a world... and realize that each of us and every other human being in the world is also made up of these same layers. We might be able to respect and even celebrate our different identities rather than using them to separate us from one another.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had the honor of singing the National Anthem for my first time at an Oakland A's exhibition game this past week. Here's a link to the YouTube video:
www.youtube.com/watch
I'll be singing again when the A's play the Dodgers on Wed., March 24th at 7:30pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you are in the area and want to catch the game.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Creating A Sanctuary
It can be difficult to create a space in our lives that is safe enough for us to open up, to relax and to experience a connection with something beyond (or within) ourselves. For many of us, there is so much going on in our lives that we rarely have time to appreciate the stillness. If you read this week's Torah portion, it talks about building a Tabernacle in the wilderness. Very specific instructions are given regarding the materials to be used, the dimensions of the space and the way it is to be constructed.
Interestingly enough, the materials are things that were already available to the people, or that they had brought with them on their journey. The building is constructed in such a way so that the most sacred areas are deep within the structure, not even visible from the outside. Veils separated one area of the main room from another.
Aren't we each built in a similar way? We create our bodies and our minds through the foods we consume and from the sensations and information that surround us. We keep the most precious emotions and aspects of ourselves hidden from the outside, and only share them when we feel safe enough to do so. We segment ourselves into different areas such as work, family, spirituality. And when we look deep enough within ourselves, don't we usually receive the most accurate guidance and wisdom... whether we feel that this originates with God, or the universe, or simply our higher selves. It seems to me that when we can connect with this part of ourselves, we can experience "sanctuary" even during the roughest of storms.
I hope that each of us is able to experience that feeling of stillness and peace and get a sense of who we truly are.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had an amazing trip to Newton and Needham, MA a couple of weeks ago. The communities at Temple Beth Avodah and Temple Beth Shalom were extremely welcoming and it was a joy to share my music with you...
Here's a link to a video of my "Hinei Mah Tov" performed with Cantor Susan Glickman and MidraShir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjbLbgLoxs&feature=sdig&et=1266480398.4
Interestingly enough, the materials are things that were already available to the people, or that they had brought with them on their journey. The building is constructed in such a way so that the most sacred areas are deep within the structure, not even visible from the outside. Veils separated one area of the main room from another.
Aren't we each built in a similar way? We create our bodies and our minds through the foods we consume and from the sensations and information that surround us. We keep the most precious emotions and aspects of ourselves hidden from the outside, and only share them when we feel safe enough to do so. We segment ourselves into different areas such as work, family, spirituality. And when we look deep enough within ourselves, don't we usually receive the most accurate guidance and wisdom... whether we feel that this originates with God, or the universe, or simply our higher selves. It seems to me that when we can connect with this part of ourselves, we can experience "sanctuary" even during the roughest of storms.
I hope that each of us is able to experience that feeling of stillness and peace and get a sense of who we truly are.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had an amazing trip to Newton and Needham, MA a couple of weeks ago. The communities at Temple Beth Avodah and Temple Beth Shalom were extremely welcoming and it was a joy to share my music with you...
Here's a link to a video of my "Hinei Mah Tov" performed with Cantor Susan Glickman and MidraShir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjbLbgLoxs&feature=sdig&et=1266480398.4
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
No 'Right' Track
I've been thinking lately about the ways in which our society directs us into particular ways of thinking and acting. Certain things are acceptable, while others are not. Values can come from many different places, such as religion, friends, families, media sources and educators. We have so many opinions coming at us at one time that it's hard to know what to believe. There is the sense though, that there exists a 'right track,' or an ideal way of living that will bring us the peace and fulfillment that we so desire. It reminds me of the song, "No Such Thing," by John Mayer:
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
There are certain moral values (thou shalt not kill, rob your neighbor, or illegally download music) that are important for the preservation of order in society. But other things are less clear. Is being a doctor or a lawyer really the way to salvation? If you ask any Jewish mother, of course she will tell you yes. (just kidding, Mom) We each have such unique perspectives and gifts that it seems there must be a better benchmark to determine if we are on our own 'right track.'
For myself, I have started asking the question:
"Are you doing all you can?"
This simple question gets me to focus on my own strengths. Instead of comparing myself to where others are at and feeling jealous (yes, I admit it happens...) this question brings me back to my personal journey. At the end of my life, if I can say 'yes' to this question, I will have fulfilled the purpose of my life. Yes, I wrote the best music I could. Yes, I was the best husband, father, son, friend, co-worker I could have been. Yes, I gave as much as I could to charity. Yes to whatever was truly important to me to the best of my ability. Then, I will know I was successful. Perhaps by asking this question on a daily basis, I will make my corner of the world a better place. I invite you to try it and let me know if it makes a difference for you.
If you have something that calls you to be the best person you can be, or if you'd just like to voice your opinion, I invite you to visit my blog page and share your thoughts.
I will be heading to the Boston area next week to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
There are certain moral values (thou shalt not kill, rob your neighbor, or illegally download music) that are important for the preservation of order in society. But other things are less clear. Is being a doctor or a lawyer really the way to salvation? If you ask any Jewish mother, of course she will tell you yes. (just kidding, Mom) We each have such unique perspectives and gifts that it seems there must be a better benchmark to determine if we are on our own 'right track.'
For myself, I have started asking the question:
"Are you doing all you can?"
This simple question gets me to focus on my own strengths. Instead of comparing myself to where others are at and feeling jealous (yes, I admit it happens...) this question brings me back to my personal journey. At the end of my life, if I can say 'yes' to this question, I will have fulfilled the purpose of my life. Yes, I wrote the best music I could. Yes, I was the best husband, father, son, friend, co-worker I could have been. Yes, I gave as much as I could to charity. Yes to whatever was truly important to me to the best of my ability. Then, I will know I was successful. Perhaps by asking this question on a daily basis, I will make my corner of the world a better place. I invite you to try it and let me know if it makes a difference for you.
If you have something that calls you to be the best person you can be, or if you'd just like to voice your opinion, I invite you to visit my blog page and share your thoughts.
I will be heading to the Boston area next week to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Small Adjustments
Happy New Year to everyone! With this, my first update of the New Year, I thought it was important to address the topic of resolutions. I am all for taking the opportunity to look back at the past year and seeing how I can improve my habits and attitudes and be a better person in the year to come. But what I notice is that many people (myself included) are overly ambitious with their goals and then within a couple of weeks or a month, we start feeling overwhelmed and we give up on our efforts.
I started thinking about the way that pilots (or autopilots) navigate their airplanes to remote destinations. It is not a straight line from point A to point B. There are hundreds of little corrections along the way. The plane's navigation system determines the flight path and then constantly recalibrates the plane's controls based on the current location, altitude, etc. Autopilots also improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, since the adjustments made by an autopilot are more subtle and accurate than those made by hand. It's similar to what happens to your GPS route when you accidentally take a wrong turn. Rather than berating you (wrong turn, idiot!) it simply reevaluates the course based on your current location.
So, my suggestion is this: rather than taking on unrealistic resolutions and then beating up on ourselves when we cannot live up to them, what about making some smaller, more reachable goals along the way? Instead of "New Year's" resolutions, what about "New Month" resolutions? At the beginning of each month, we have the opportunity to check in with ourselves, take stock of our current locations, or progress, and then make the necessary adjustments... without all of the guilt and drama.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.
I will be heading to the Boston area in a couple of weeks to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
I started thinking about the way that pilots (or autopilots) navigate their airplanes to remote destinations. It is not a straight line from point A to point B. There are hundreds of little corrections along the way. The plane's navigation system determines the flight path and then constantly recalibrates the plane's controls based on the current location, altitude, etc. Autopilots also improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, since the adjustments made by an autopilot are more subtle and accurate than those made by hand. It's similar to what happens to your GPS route when you accidentally take a wrong turn. Rather than berating you (wrong turn, idiot!) it simply reevaluates the course based on your current location.
So, my suggestion is this: rather than taking on unrealistic resolutions and then beating up on ourselves when we cannot live up to them, what about making some smaller, more reachable goals along the way? Instead of "New Year's" resolutions, what about "New Month" resolutions? At the beginning of each month, we have the opportunity to check in with ourselves, take stock of our current locations, or progress, and then make the necessary adjustments... without all of the guilt and drama.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.
I will be heading to the Boston area in a couple of weeks to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
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