Sound fair?

Suggestions for subjects gratefully received.  I’m thinking about an area of philosophy or art or something like that.  History?  One of those.  I’ll post the topic of choice tomorrow.

I should really try to listen to more varied music.

2. Did anything surprise me?

Surprised that I enjoyed listening to Yes.  Seriously – best album of the week (admittedly, there was only 3 in the end…)  I think I might try some more.

3. Would I do it again?

Yes.  I’m going to try and take people up on their recommendations of new music in future and see how I get on.  Expand my musical horizons and all that stuff.

Wooo!

That was on Thursday and I didn’t quite get around to listening to any more.

I feel so ashamed…

Don’t judge me!

I do like classical music as a rule and this was lovely – very melodic and quite inspiring.  Mozart was about my age when he wrote some of this and died at the age of 35 (I think…)  I’m nearly 32.  It’s scarey how much he accomplished in such a short time and how little most of us ever accomplish at the same age.  But then, I am not a prodigy and that crazy upbringing…  No thanks.

I wasn’t surprised by the choice and had always been put off by descriptions of what sounded like three hour keyboard solos and Bill Bailey’s tribute to Prog Rock.  But I quite liked it.

Sounded a bit rough at first and wasn’t sure how much I’d get into it and admittedly the first track is 17 minutes long…  I enjoyed it though (especially Siberian Khatru) and might even listen to some more but I don’t think I’ll ever be a prog rock fan.

I don’t really stray from my usual music tastes and my MP3 player is generally full of rock, metal and Christian music.  Might be a weird combination… don’t know…

So this week’s task is to listen to a different and new-to-me album every day this week, in as many different styles as possible.

I will post every day with the album of choice and how I found it.  Recommendations are gratefully received.  But I might add that I plan to listen to only one prog rock album this week (that was for Al’s benefit…)

1. What did I learn?

I learned that the things I often put off doing are most often the things I enjoy doing.

2. Did anything surprise me?

I was concerned that the painting would just feel like a chore, because I felt kind of compelled to do it.  But when I finally got the time to do it, I got really absorbed.

3. Would I do it again?

I do it fairly regularly anyway.  So yes.

Okay, that was mostly reaching – I didn’t really get any great revelations this week.  Nothing particularly inspiring.

However, I still haven’t watched any Big Brother and am not watching any TV at all at the moment, apart from the news in the morning and Doctor Who (how exciting was Saturday, btw?) and am not missing it in the slightest.  I was starting to become preoccupied with a daft wee computer game, though – I had to stop that.  Week Four project to follow later.

This week’s challenge is to fulfill a promise you’ve made to someone – do something that you told someone you’d do and haven’t actually done yet.  Sound fair?

I am constantly promising people I’ll do things for them and regularly forget all about it.  And when I remember I get all embarrassed and/or ashamed.  And then I just hope that they’ve forgotten too.

My lovely friend Lorna is going to go and do some mission work with students in Malta and needs to get some funds raised.  She has asked me to do a painting for her to auction off.  So I’m going to.  I already have the canvas (although I might be a bit short of paint, as usual…) and plenty of inspiration – I don’t expect to finish it this week, but I want to be a good way into it by next Monday.

As usual, if you are joining in, let me know and I’ll let everyone know how you got on.

Okay. It wasn’t a complete wash out.

1. What did I learn?

I learned that I need to learn to concentrate better – good suggestion, MrBen – definitely going to try that next time. I also realised just how unfocussed I am if I’m not doing something practical.

I am not giving up, though.

2. Did anything surprise me?

The cheesiness of guided meditations. I know they have to speak with ‘the voice’, but the twinky twonky music was sooo bad. They are helpful – but there are so few Christian meditations available online – If anyone knows anywhere else I can get some, I’d be very interested.

3. Would I do it again?

Yes. I am actually going to persevere with this and try to learn to focus. I really think it’s a good discipline to develop and I want to be able to do it better. So I’m going to keep doing this when I have the time. I’ll let you know how I get on.

On a vaguely related note, I am now halfway through Numbers. Which is much further than I’ve managed in the past. I’m astounded at some of it – how much points towards Jesus and just how much the Israelites had to do in the desert. I knew that atonement was hard, but the sheer volume of livestock that had to be sacrificed is staggering. Really enjoying it, surprisingly.

I’ll post Week Three’s task this evening.

Seriously struggling to switch my brain off.  Keep trying to concentrate but I end up thinking about rubbish.  Ah well.  I’m persevering – I know it’s a discipline.  It is very relaxing, though.

I found a couple of sites that do guided meditation exercises – the better of which is probably http://www.mindfulworship.com/ – it has certainly helped me to concentrate, if only for a short time.

I’ve also decided to try and read the whole bible.  Never been able to get past Exodus before.