New Year, New Minor Alterations

I’m pretty neutral on New Year’s Resolutions. I see their merit but understand how futile they can sometimes be. It’s also very easy to relate to the feeling of a fresh start that comes with the turning of a page into a new year, as well as birthdays, life events, etc. This post is meant to shed light on how I incorporate these opportunities and, furthermore, how I’ve looked to manufacture them organically at any point in the year.

Aim Low

I am guilty of often running to podcasts or motivational speeches. The latter seems a little corny to me, but it has been helpful during both stressful and non(less) stressful periods in my life. Amidst the many nuggets of wisdom I’ve found in these podcasts and recordings, the idea of “aiming low” is among my favorite. Aiming low stresses the importance of striving for goals you know you can easily achieve but that your ego pushes you to believe are beneath you. Examples of this throughout the past few years include drinking 32oz of water upon waking up, going through deliberate cold exposure 4-5 times a week, and simply being more aware of my daily caloric intake with a rough estimate provided by a free calculator. These three items, which for me have brought about a marked net positive since implementation in 2023, take a minimal amount of time.

The Bigger Goal Byproduct

I try and stay aware of keeping the small things in order. If I’m winning on the daily front, I’m much more likely to make strides toward my larger goals. Larger goals for me look like the commissioning and recording of works for trombone, performing with esteemed groups, and working consistently to position myself to reenter the college teaching ranks. When my small goals are off, it’s much harder for me to keep my eyes on the prize or even believe in its viability. My goal is simply to win more days than I lose.

Working In Silence

Making the world aware of your lofty pursuits through social media provides accountability and, in some cases, additional insight to pave the way for success. Conversely, I think that it has the potential to make small setbacks into larger public failures than they actually are. Along your journey, no matter what your goals are, you will encounter days or even weeks that act as a setback. You get sick, there’s a blizzard outside, you just don’t feel like it, etc. These things are okay; it is okay to be a human being and to rest. It’s also a lot easier to get through those periods of time and get back on the horse when you aren’t wondering if people are cheering you on or delighted that you’ve finally stopped posting about whatever you set out to do. I’m not discouraging a network; on the contrary, I make a point to let my closest friends in on what I’m seeking to accomplish. However, some goals and aspirations are easier for me to achieve without the pressure I paint in my mind of the outside world.

You Don’t Need a New Year

As I said earlier, I understand the rush involved with a fresh start. When I moved to Boston, I was able to hit the ground running with a myriad of improvements in my life. Some of these changes stuck, while many faded to a degree and have been brought back in and out of my life as needed. I can attest that in all of my most successful changes, there has been a very clear-cut “why” attached to the goal. I can hit the alarm clock early each day because I know I won’t always have this kind of time to practice when I graduate. I have cut down on alcohol and less healthy foods (sometimes) because I understand how I feel is often echoed in my trombone playing. Having a strong “why” trumps any fresh start provided by a calendar. It’s really only a working hypothesis, but I think having an idea of why you’re doing something while also aiming for realistic goals leads to the most consistent implementation of any new habit. Finding this “why” is not calendar specific.

My Current Alterations

I’ve been very pleased with my ability to stay hydrated, keep up with cold exposure, and track calories throughout 2023 and beyond. Lately, I’ve been more aware of my time in front of a screen, and so I feel this is a natural item to improve upon this year. Last week, I plugged my phone in at around 7:45pm, turned my TV off, and just sat on my couch and looked around. This sounds a bit funny, but it felt like I was really looking at my living room for the first time. My wife was in the room with me, and I had so much to talk to her about; the conversation flowed naturally. This really made me consider the noise that devices cause internally and how it gets in the way of the connection we could have if we just took a moment to look up. All that said, my focus moving forward is to make space for myself at the end of each day and to begin each morning without jumping online to see what will be waiting for me.

If you made it this far in the blog, I appreciate you. Writing is another way that I remind myself that I am more than a trombonist, and I hope to continue to foster this ability and have it serve me in whichever role I find myself in the future. Until next time!