Thoughtful Thursday: Never-Ending To-Do's

I am glad that my to-do list never really gets finished. There is something a bit comforting about always having something to get done. Why is this coming up in my brain right now? I've been singing a song about setting goals.

My intern, #24, wrote the song last year at this time. I know that because the sheet music that I have for the song references this transition from August to September. We are using the song to help students make personal goals, so I am thinking lots about my own personal goals (and sharing the ones that are relevant to my clients). Some of my students are writing their goals down on paper. Others are verbalizing those goals to the entire group. We are discussing the fact that goals have smaller parts to them. For example, the goal of "going home" includes using coping skills and being safe as part of the expectations before folks can get to their next place.

As I am facilitating this particular TME, I have many different thoughts that go through my head. The first stream of thought seems to be concerned with me and how I keep putting things on my to-do list. The second stream is all about my clients and their goals for themselves and my goals for them. They seem surprised when I tell them that I have goals for them every single time they come to music therapy. Goals in music therapy?? Weirder than weird! The next stream is about my expectations for myself and for them during music therapy. Swirling around in my brain are the things that I am actively tracking - how each student is responding to the intervention, what I need to document, all the options that I have for moving the session forward...you name it!

Today's biggest to-do is a student webinar this evening. I'll be talking about how to find an internship. Interestingly, AMTAS is focusing on internships this week, and that group has released some information about their recommendations. I checked their resources to see if they included something I hadn't thought about, and they didn't. I even have some things in my lecture this evening that they don't refer to on their materials. I am looking forward to being back into the webinar pattern again. This is something that I enjoy.

I am getting ready to offer two more CMTE courses to professionals. I'm not going to share information here (mainly because I find that when I share, someone else beats me to the actual thing), but I am thinking that I could do a live series of weekly (or bi-weekly) webinar that busy music therapy professionals can access either live or via recording. I was recently reapproved as a CBMT provider, so I need to get going on these plans. Keep an eye on this blog and on my social media accounts for more information pretty soon. Just have to get my ideas ready for CBMT approval before I release details!

My return to the webinar world has significantly increased the number of things that I have on my to-do list, but that's fine with me. Being able to talk to others in this profession is one of the things that moves me forward, so I enjoy the eustress that comes along with presenting webinars with others. I'm excited to talk to students this evening. 

One of the things that I like in my current bullet journal is that it includes a place for a not to-do list right next to the to-do list area. I'm currently working on not ordering food, not spending more than $100.00 at a local store, and avoiding Amazon purchases for things I do not need but simply want. All of these "not to-dos" will help me with one of my to-dos - saving money. I'm trying to figure out a way to highlight these accomplishments other than crossing them off - seems silly to cross off something that has a benefit for me. I may highlight them with glitter pen!! That would be celebratory! Glitter pen for the not to-dos, crossing off for the to-dos that are now done!!!

I will be looking at my to-do list today, checking off what I have finished, trying to get other things listed out, and doing what I can to keep up. I find a bit of comfort that my need to do things is never really finished, and I hope that this continues for quite some time in the future.

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