Self Appointed College Projects

It seems strange that we don't challenge ourselves the way that we were challenged in college. I loved school (with the exception of late night studying for tests in classes that I thought were irrelevant to the big picture of my existence). I enjoyed learning new things and filling them way back in the dusty corners of my brain only to be brought back out for useless trivia later in life.

I wasn't thrilled with getting assignments that made me uncomfortable or took time out of my daily dance, sleep, drive, sleep, dance routine but I always had a sense of pride after the completion of them (I would equate it to running a marathon... the training sucks but once you finish your hand pats your own back).

To that, I've decided that I'm going to proactively assign myself college projects. The fun creative type that you wouldn't do on an average day because it typically feels like a waste of time. However, although uncomfortable and at first glance feels like a waste of time, you can learn so much about yourself if you open up to projects.

I remember when I took a couple of poetry classes in college; each one offered interesting assignments. One time, we had to look for our favorite words in various magazines and make them work in a series of writing assignments within topics that felt simple and sweet.

I've successfully began the painful beginnings of existing in a 'beginner' space on Friday when I started playing piano.

My next project is to take my new found love of photography and explode it on to the walls of my bedroom. Steven and I took some pretty kick-ass pictures from a recent trip to Napa Valley/Santa Cruz. Stevo's and my bedroom is going to look like a sea foam ocean spray party.

Here's to self appointed college projects.

In Joy.

Uncomfortable Goals are Idealic

This evening I'm taking my first initiatives to begin really playing the piano.

It's one of those things that you keep promising yourself you'll do every time you have a heart palpitation thinking about unleashing your right brain to explode in whichever medium is most appealing. Well, my fingers are ready to manifest whatever crazy hormone concoctions are being tested and created in my noggin.

At the moment, I want to take a pop song (any generation and genre is up for grabs) and contort it into something simple, elegant and a bit sprattled with musical harmonies. Basically, create something that my fellow dancers would use for a warm up or a short piece (whether they actually use it will be up for debate b/c when/if I finally achieve this personal goal, it more than likely will stay hidden and checked in my bucket list).

This could be crazy talk... but sometimes making yourself uncomfortable and putting it out there is the way to hold yourself accountable for the completion part.

The best part about being human is that I can change my mind at anytime. :-)

Here's to scary (and slightly insignificant to life's big picture) personal goals!

Joyful.