Reflect

In her book The Art of Practicing, pianist, author, and Zen meditation teacher Madeline Bruser offers savvy guidance about practicing that resonates far beyond the piano bench. Among her ten tips is this important one: Follow your curiosity as you practice. She writes, “You can cultivate spontaneity by paying attention to what you want to practice and by working in a way that interests you.” No doubt some of the practices from the Challenge have resonated with you more than others. What matters is to build a toolkit to carry forward that includes the practices that really worked for you. Just as sitting down to play scales at the piano isn’t a one and done practice, neither is the practice of living gratefully. Through repetition, we’re no longer thinking of each step but embodying gratefulness as a way of being. In this sense, Madeline Bruser’s book title couldn’t be more accurate; practicing may start out clunky and awkward, but there’s an art to it. Figure out what works for you and make it your own.