tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post8011824042816673256..comments2024-03-26T16:06:54.317-04:00Comments on Reflections From The Bell Curve: Postponing GratificationPat Bartonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15461263795359198289noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post-16825199753670604742021-09-16T17:37:41.991-04:002021-09-16T17:37:41.991-04:00Steve; You are unfailingly gracious when speaking ...Steve; You are unfailingly gracious when speaking of the years we spent together when you were studying guitar. I will never be able to re-pay your kindness about what you say I brought to you via the guitar. It was an unmitigated joy to have you as a student. If only every student I ever taught were half as diligent as you. Pat Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15461263795359198289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post-37885549591837930412021-09-15T23:09:25.922-04:002021-09-15T23:09:25.922-04:00Pat, it's not at all an exaggeration to say th...Pat, it's not at all an exaggeration to say that without the years of practicing and expanding on the guitar lessons I had with you I would never experience the sweetness of postponing the gratification of picking up my instrument and teasing something familiar and new out of it. Even now if I have to put off playing for a day or two, I can always conjure up your voice invoking some playing idea. "Pedal tones" is my favorite. Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07838159361836205726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post-72477388096365610092021-09-12T18:32:12.226-04:002021-09-12T18:32:12.226-04:00Ines; Thanks for the comment. And, of course, your...Ines; Thanks for the comment. And, of course, your passion for Nia - as with Bob's for theater - has come across loud and clear in past comments you've made. As I said to Bob (above), aren't all three of us fortunate to have found what we have? Pat Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15461263795359198289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post-42362917050897436572021-09-12T13:16:41.261-04:002021-09-12T13:16:41.261-04:00This post resonated with me as well. I, like Bob,...This post resonated with me as well. I, like Bob, am not sure I would call it postponement of gratification. I can relate to the hours of practice even when I may not feel like it. I as you know, have a Nia practice and I also teach Nia. The two are inextricably linked. I practice for two reasons 1) just to practice and experience joy and 2) to prepare for classes. Some days I just go into my studio and start and then I am good to go. Just crossing that threshold turns things into action. If I don't do that it is a missed opportunity but I don't beat myself up about it. Isn't the old saying that you need 10.000 hours of practice to become proficient? I am not sure if I am there yet but would like to believe I am close:). Those moments of transcendence as you say make it all worth while.Ines Altemosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14514401015415332296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post-47174376608311803212021-09-09T15:25:53.218-04:002021-09-09T15:25:53.218-04:00Bob; I'm not ashamed to say I've started t...Bob; I'm not ashamed to say I've started to rely on your comprehensive comments. Your obvious passion for theater and all that goes into it has come across clearly in many of your past comments. It's a gift to feel that connected to something, isn't it? Postponement of gratification or otherwise. Pat Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15461263795359198289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6414826739553623574.post-57457090208439565002021-09-09T10:09:48.325-04:002021-09-09T10:09:48.325-04:00Good morning, Pat. I love this post. My guitar p...Good morning, Pat. I love this post. My guitar playing will never reach your level. And I'm fine with that since I'm having fun learning to play. And although I can somewhat (if that's not too much of a stretch) relate to playing guitar, I can more relate to the the questions at the end of your post with something else. I've obviously made my love for theater and acting very well known in previous responses. The feeling I get when I am first cast in a production, to the very first rehearsal and meeting the rest of the cast, to (as a director I've worked with and respect greatly has always said) 'the process', to dress rehearsals, to Tech Week, to Opening Night ... I can go on and on. The nervous excitement of knowing what you're working on, working towards, is sometimes overwhelming. And then the sadness and empty feeling when a play ends. You know it's coming. but it's worth it to be part of something. It has done so much in making me who I am. It's taught me so many lessons that I have used in my professional/business career and also in my personal life. Not sure if I would call that 'postponing gratification', since it all begins anew when I have the opportunity to be in a play. But the time in between plays - always longer than I would like - definitely increases the exuberance and makes the wait between shows very much worth it when I do start again.<br />Be well,<br />BobRRGRMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14291865090194073382noreply@blogger.com