Life has felt heavy lately, but I still need to search for ways to find joy. Over the shut down of the last year and a half, I've started baking. Typically nervous in the kitchen, baking has been a great place for me to start learning new skills. In baking, if you follow the recipe (and follow the rules), things usually turn out well.

Tim shares a story from his high school days to remind us to keep competition in perspective, especially this year!

Even with the excitement of drum corps happening, the world is still a stressful place right now. We could all use a laugh. In this spirit, I thought I'd share one of my favorite drum corps memories with you from DCI Finals in 1984.

You don't have to have reached your goal to be a "Success." If you're trying to improve and are working hard, you ARE, right now, a success!

Anyone who has truly worked hard and accomplished something knows that the world is not interested in our excuses, it simply asks that we do the work required.

I'm feeling encouraged. Even in the midst of the stress of the shutdown and then the acceleration of the opening up, I am feeling good about lots of things. I'm thankful for all the terrific conversations I've had the privilege to have lately.

As we reach the milestone of Podcast 1000, I am proud that the Marching Roundtable has shared the best of our activity.

As I am practicing toward my upcoming martial arts evaluation, I have found that I think a lot about the energy I am using as I do a form. The concept of using "the right amount of energy for each moment" was something I learned from Shirley Dorritie, and this has revolutionized my thinking and really improved my martial arts.

I am completely entranced with the animated short "Us Again" which is available on Disney+.  It's six minutes of sheer joy!  It illustrates the amazing power of this medium, telling a humorous, engaging, and moving story without a single spoken word.

Change is scary stuff. We all thrive on routines and there is great comfort in knowing that the way we do something will work and bring results for us.  However, for many of us in the activity, this comfort can be a trap.