"Only as you are uncomfortable can you grow." All growth and change can be uncomfortable, but I have found in my own experience that being stagnant or stuck is terrible also. Not working on fixing problems in my life is also painful. I choose to grow.

This week my parents celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary!  What an inspiring accomplishment! Our family is very thankful that my parents still live together in their home and are content and happy.

Progress is not a straight line.  It's easy to get frustrated by this, but the older I get the more I truly understand how this works.  "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back."

The creative process is a fascinating thing. I am always appreciative when I'm flooded with ideas and inspiration from the universe. I especially love those moments when I realize that I'm onto something that could be really wonderful.

There have been many losses and frustrations during the shutdown of the past two years, and I have missed traveling and adventures out in the world.  However I have found solace and comfort in many things at home, including learning to bake and reading.  I've always loved to read, and I find myself relishing every moment I now spend with a good book.

One of the things we all love the most about the marching arts is experiencing the joy of the performers participating. We strive to teach our members to reach a level where they can feel mastery of their show and really "perform" for us. We love when they share their joy with us.

I have many goals in my life, both short-term long-term, and a goal in my martial arts training has been one that has meant a lot to me and helped me stay focused and motivated.

When will our activity fully be back to the old normal? We cannot know, and likely it never will. We all need tools to adopt to these changes and find ways to grieve and also accept the situation. But we can find a way to thrive and find joy even in this newness.

There was a time when I thought of myself as a band director, and that was mostly it.  I knew I had other interests, but I was a band director in my thinking most of my day.  There came a time when I realized that I needed to spend more time away from that one passion, and that this would ultimately make me a better educator.

I always hate it when the performers in a show get lost in the design.  Great design lifts the performers up, giving them a vehicle to shine.  But sometimes a show can suffocate the performers, or perhaps even attempt to mask a lack of skills and basic training.  It can be exciting to look at, but we can all tell when a show is all dessert and no vegetables.