What I've been up to . . .

It's been a busy summer and I've been up to my ears in plans for fall lessons along with teaching summer lessons and taking weekly lessons myself. I'm looking forward into settling into a fall schedule and back to a routine. As I'm posting, I'm sitting at Baby Lake, our annual vacation place, looking at the beautifully calm lake, and being grateful for this time of quiet reflection before diving into the fall and winter routine. I have Dr. Marianne Bryan lined up to give a masterclass in small groups to my students the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. She was very ill at this time last year and couldn't come in November. I'm so glad she came through with flying colors and is back to a rigorous teaching schedule. I've grown to love her first as my teacher, then we became friends, and colleagues in our positions for Minnesota Music Teacher's Association. Knowing her has added a special dimension to my life - I am a better person having her in my life, and am so excited for my students to be able to play for her in November. Can't Wait!

I've had this in my files for a long time and I just came across it today again:

Giving 100%
What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give 100%. What makes up 100% in life? Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26,

Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

So one can conclude with mathematical certainty that while hard work and Knowledge will get you close, attitude will get you there.