music, therapy, and me

To be completely honest, I am currently just getting through my library books right now. I have finished seven of them, have three more to read, and twelve more days to finish them up before I need to turn them back in. I will finish them before that time, but not until this weekend. It is interesting that when I try to read anything at work, attempting to gain some sunshine and get away from my desk, all I get are condescending and snotty comments. People walk past saying, "Gee, must be nice to have extra time where you can just sit and read." This always rubs me the wrong way because I am taking my 25-minute duty free lunch that is part of the contract that is between myself and my school district. I get to choose when and how I take that time. I don't leave my office much because of the attitude that I get when I leave my space. All I can think is, "Well, ____. If you were as efficient in your job as I am in mine, you would have some time to take lunch as well, an...

I have to admit that I now have enough money to purchase many of my music therapy instruments, but there were times when I was unable to spend money on the luxuries of things like shaker eggs or tambourines. In those cases, I learned how to make many of the instruments that I wanted to use with my clients.  Making instruments takes time, and time is valuable, so keep that in mind when you are making budget decisions. So, how did I make instruments? I looked through every single Bible School curriculum that I had access to. I searched through kids' books about crafts and making things. I used the internet to find resources. I scrounged through my recycling to find materials. I bought lots of glue and mod podge and tissue paper and duct tape. I would make things and then bring them into my clinical environment to test them. (My clients are WONDERFUL at breaking things, so they are the ultimate test for all my instruments!) Then, I would take the pieces back and figure out what to do ...

Let me start off this post by saying that the non-profit organization that I work with has a new CEO. Recently, this CEO - a person who has worked for the organization for about 5 or 7 years now (I don't really know) in two different positions - sent out an inspirational email about how we should be giving our work 150% at all times. The CEO stated that she does this, and all the rest of us should do this as well. I have to tell you that this really rubbed a hole in my brain and is something that I have been thinking about over the past week while I was resting at home away from work.  I no longer feel that work deserves 150% of my energy, or my thinking, or my time. I just don't think that work needs this type of dedication. I have struggled with having work boundaries in the past and getting this expectation sent to my inbox just stirred up all the guilt, all the thoughts, and all the goblins of the past. So, this past week has been full of thinking. That's the best thing...