Archive for November, 2022
Different ways to live
Posted in Art, tagged Drawing, meaning of life on November 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Fleeting Moment: Reflections on 2 years of piano learning
Posted in Art, Hobbies, Music, piano, Reflection, tagged moment, piano, reflection on November 20, 2022| 1 Comment »
Wouldn’t it be nice to entertain friends with music after a meal, jam with others when we feel like it, or just express ourselves through music anytime?
I started learning piano at the age of 37. After about 2 years, I have learned and recorded some music I like (here‘s a link to the recordings). I wish I could play these pieces whenever and wherever I want. But in reality, after finishing a piece, I tend to forget it quickly once I stop practicing. Something that I could play from memory one day, would feel like a new piece after a few week’s gap.
Perhaps this is because I don’t have music training when I was young, or don’t have enough hours of practice. A friend told me he doesn’t forget the music he learned while he was a teenager and can still play them after decades.
Space repetition (refreshing my memories by practicing a piece periodically) is probably the best way to keep them in my long term memory. But given time limit and the infinite number of music I want to learn, I haven’t been revisiting the songs I’ve learned so far.
So for now, every recording is a fleeting moment. Something I can experience but can’t hold onto, a bit like trying to hang onto our peak physical or mental ability as we age. While sad, it’s not as bad as some other aspects of life. Unlike parenting a kid at a certain age, once that period is gone, it’s gone forever. The hope is that as my piano skill gets better, the moment might last longer. Or at the minimum, I can relearn a piece faster and perhaps better.
Feeling down and the meaning of life
Posted in Daily Life, Happiness, Reflection, tagged Health, meaning of life, nihilist on November 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Occasionally I would feel that life is meaningless. What’s the point of exercising, making more money, or getting better at my hobbies if we are all going to deteriorate, pass away, and be forgotten at some point?
Luckily this nihilistic feeling doesn’t appear often, and mostly when I don’t feel well. So good night sleep, exercise, and nutritious food would usually solve the problem.
Learning and improving, tackling small challenges, building good relationship, and experiencing something new all give me satisfactions. There are no end to these pursuits, so I should be able to find activities that keep me engaged at any time.
Overall I’m happy to be alive and be able to find or create meanings, including in many simple and little things in life.
Martha Argerich
Posted in Art, Music, tagged Documentary, martha argerich, music, piano on November 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Martha Argerich is still amazing at 81 years old. I’m glad she picked Schumann’s Kinderszenen Op.15: 1. Of Foreign Lands and People as one of her encores. When I was learning to play this piece, I listened to many recordings and liked hers best. I only learn later that Schumann is her favorite composer.
In a documentary made by her daughter, she often appeared nervous before a concert, but happy and satisfied afterward. I wonder if she also feels imposter syndrome like many of us do, or perhaps her perfectionism is what made her anxious. Is there still more that she seeks in her piano journey? Or would she rather take a different path in life if she could go back in time?
Follow your heart: Lyric from Persona 5 Royal’s Hoshi to Bukura to
Posted in anime, Art, Music, tagged Drawing, lyric on November 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »
In the endless days
We lost our place of belonging
and wandered around aimlessly
Streets of yesterday
are reflected in the mirror
Even if I try connecting
the mingled pieces of the past together–
No matter how much I try scooping them up
They slip through my fingers
like grains of sand
But even so
The things I can see
aren’t all there is to them
It’s in my heart
I will search for tomorrow
from here on with my heart
Under that sky
We were able to come across each other
through mutual attraction
I lived every day
spilling my feelings
Even if I try to only add up
my overflowing memories
They say that physical things
are all that exist in this world
But where they begin or end
shouldn’t be decided by anyone
I will follow my heart
Let’s return
to the future we aimed for
Anytime, anywhere
We can meet if you wish for it
From now on
We don’t need to make promises
We’re looking at the same stars
even if we’re apart
So that’s why we say goodbye today
No matter how much I try scooping them up
They slip through my fingers
like grains of sand
But even so
The things I can see
aren’t all there is to them
It’s in my heart
They say that physical things
are all that exist in this world
But where they begin or end
shouldn’t be decided by anyone
I will follow my heart
Let’s search for our future
with our hearts
I will follow my heart
It’s in my heart
Follow my heart
Adaptability and Minimalist lifestyle
Posted in Happiness, Reflection, tagged adaptability, discomfort, minimalist, stoicism, value on November 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I like the idea of living a minimalistic lifestyle free of clutter.
One finding from the myriad happiness research is that we adapt to changes, so whatever lifestyle we are used to become the norm.
This suggests that if we live a somewhat ascetic life on a daily basis, the occasional pleasures would become more enjoyable.
Even better, if we can handle inconvenience and other discomfort with equanimity, that might increase our confidence and ability to face other adverse situations.
Although living a minimalistic lifestyle sounds nice in theory, reality tends to be messier. We buy things for a reason. And often they bring us pleasure and make our life easier. We also strive to improve and experience more things in life that might not be fully compatible with a ‘simple’ lifestyle.
Knowing what we value and then striving a balance seem to be key.
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