My high school band director was obsessed with teaching us to follow the musical instructions of the pieces we performed. If you’ve ever played or sung music, you know what I mean. I’m talking about those italicized Italian phrases at the bottom of the line that describe how to play the tempo, volume, or mood of a selection. Mr. Harrison quizzed us regularly on our musical vocabulary and he was specific in his instruction on how we executed it. And though it was more than thirty years ago, I can still recall learning “poco a poco.” Perhaps, it’s because he was so passionate in the way he taught it.
I remember him running one hand through his blonde beard, conductor’s baton paused mid-air in the other, saying, “Poco a Poco, ya’ll. It means ‘little by little.’ As you’re playing, the audience isn’t supposed to notice that you’re making a change. So if it’s crescendo, poco a poco, you’re increasing the volume just a bit” he whispered. “Just a bit,” he said a little louder. “Just a bit… “(louder still), “then ‘Bam!’” he yelled, smacking the podium with the baton. “Suddenly you’re there at full volume. It’s like you get there by surprise.” Yeah, the effect was memorable!
I can’t tell you how many times our band practiced performing the perfect poco a poco. And how sometimes, even I who was playing the music, was surprised to find ourselves at top volume after creeping along measure after measure for so many counts. I recall thinking that in the middle of the transition it seemed we’d never reach the goal. But suddenly, there we would be. After waiting and waiting, we would finally make it. Crescendo complete.
“Poco a Poco” became my personal mantra after signing on with my health coach a few years ago. I contacted Jacynta when I finally reached a point of mental exhaustion and physical frustration with my health. For decades I’d been on a back-and-forth, up-and-down struggle, feeling out of shape and overwhelmed by my weight. I had lived in conflict with myself for what felt like forever and I wanted it to be different. I knew I had to make changes in how I approached my daily living, but I wasn’t sure what to do or where to begin. That’s when I enlisted Jacynta.
When I started with her, I expected that in order to live the drastically different life I wanted to lead, my coach would instruct me to make immediate drastic changes. Imagine my surprise when instead she urged me to start by making one small change to my daily schedule. After I did that, I made another. Then another…and another until BAM! Months later I was almost surprised to find myself nearly thirty pounds lighter and a whole lot more content. Don’t get me wrong–it wasn’t all a surprise. I knew I was working hard along the way. And that transition in the middle lasted a whole lot longer than I wanted it to. But eventually, there I was in a new place. After all the waiting and waiting, I was somewhere wholly different.
And let me tell you, while the weight loss and smaller clothing sizes excite me, it’s how I feel mentally and physically that keeps me motivated to keep making changes. I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those people who has on more than one occasion made a New Years’ Resolution that she didn’t keep. That is such a disappointing feeling; I never want to repeat it. As I write this, there are a little over 100 days left in 2021. If you happen to be a person who made an annual resolution to make some health changes for themselves at the start of the year and you haven’t quite managed it yet, guess what? There’s still time! And like I said, the changes don’t have to be big ones; the small ones add up.
So now are you wondering, what did I change? How did I do it? What do I do differently today than I did a few years ago? I’m going to tell you right here! It’s stuff I’ve done and actually had success with that I hope by me sharing will help you on your journey, too. I don’t have all the answers and I am definitely not perfect, but I’m on a Quest for Better, and I thought I’d share. So, please keep an eye out for the posts. If you’ve got any questions or suggestions, shoot me an email at emilyjustwrite@gmail.com or IM me on FaceBook! I look forward to the conversation. Thanks, ya’ll!
