Klarinet Archive - Posting 000049.txt from 2002/09

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] School
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 09:32:42 -0400

Kimber wrote about plans for the school year, involving flute, clarinet,
wrestling, cheerleading and choir. Too much?

David S. Naden wrote,
>>Only you can make the decision. The only advisce
>>that I will offer is to not overextend yourself.

Although I think that's sensible advice, I also remember that the times when
I overextended myself were also the most productive times, when I learned the
most--soaked in information by osmosis, it seemed, since I didn't have much
time to sit down and *ponder* any of it! Eh, there was plenty of time to
ponder and assimilate everything later, during my first mind-numbingly boring
"starter" job. So I guess I'd amend David S. Naden's advice thusly:
Whenever life gives you the chance to experience a whole lot of stuff all at
once, don't overextend so much that your brain goes blank, your body feels
stuffed with sawdust and you spend more time spinning your wheels than
learning and observing. The only way to know where that point is, is to get
there.

People will probably tell you to be careful and not to take your good health
for granted. As far as I'm concerned, the *best* thing to do with youth,
strength and good health is to take them for granted (not sit around worrying
about how and when they'll fail) while taking good care of them (which it
sounds like you're doing, with all that exercise from wrestling and
cheerleading) -- and take full advantage of them while they last, because up
to a point, the more we do, the stronger we get. I think that goes for the
mind as well as the body.

My body lets me know when I'm doing too much: I start getting sick more
often than normal. If or when I start coming down with colds, I drop
whatever is least essential or interests me the least. By then, I've usually
"done everything" enough to acquire the data to make those decisions based on
experience, instead of hopes, fears and guesses. So, short of driving
yourself or your parents to collapse, keep options open, damn the torpedos
and full speed ahead, sez I. Good luck this year!

Lelia

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