Like anyone else, I enjoy music. I don't listen to it on a constant basis, however, since when not in a quiet room the volume has to be cranked up on the headphones and I would like to still have my hearing when I hit 40.
But when executing some tasks I have become accustomed, nay, I require, the sounds of Led Zeppelin strumming away in the background.
Take, for instance, cleaning. Scrubbing out a bathroom is less than entertaining, and wielding a brush to the sounds of Abba makes the time pass more pleasantly.
Then 'twas two nights before Pesach, and I had to take care of that procrastinated chore. I decided, for some reason, to try scouring without any other distracting assistance. It's going to be sefirah soon, I thought. Let's see if I can go solo. So I hummed as I wiped and windexed, all without the tunes piping encouragement.
I stopped some time later, unable to believe that the minutes slid by just as swiftly. And I now knew that I could do anything during sefirah, without the help of soulful crooning.
I don't always push myself. But when I do, the small, personal victories of discipline reinforces my belief in my own self-reliance.
I don't always push myself. But when I do, the small, personal victories of discipline reinforces my belief in my own self-reliance.
11 comments:
Wow! Good for you! I still find myself occasionally slipping, listening to non-akapella music sometimes when I work out. I wish I was as strong as you.
Kol hakavod.
Ya i've been working out more in these past 3 weeks than I have in a long time because of the "listening to music while working out" heter
Judging by your name, lots of Wicked, I'm guessing? lol!
I don't work out, probably because we don't hold by that "heter." :D Why start?
:-) I love Led Zeppelin...music is how i motivate myself to do paperwork..it's been tough the last few weeks
I came to the same conclusion while cleaning my office... although audiobooks help, too.
We met last week at 16 Handles. You mentioned that you might want to splurge eventually on a Clarisonic. Today I noticed that SkinStore.com has a 20% off sale + free shipping so maybe the time has come (does that make up for the fact that I left you stranded on Coney Is Ave? Sorry about that)
POAA: Can anything top their poetic mastery? C'mon, the guys quote LOTR! They rock!
SIUG: Hey, how's going? I've never tried audiobooks; I should, though. Most of the stuff I read takes place in the UK and my head doesn't provide those British voices.
Ooh, thanks for the tip - and it was so nice to meet you! Email me at frumanista@gmail.com - we can chat or hang out again.
I am eight months into a year of no music. It's good, sometimes, to have the minutes with only you in your head.
R' Keleman recommends turning off the music a second before the final note plays as personal exercise in discipline. It is dead HARD, but worth trying.
It's very interesting what R' Keleman recommends. It reminds me of a scene in "Shogun" where the samurai stops eating while still hungry, as discipline.
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