My Voice

I finally decided to make an amateur recording of myself singing my favorite classical Italian song from my repertoire -- an arietta by Pergolesi, titled Se tu m'ami. My father, whom I reconnected with a few months ago, had mentioned once that he'd love to hear my voice. So I made this recording for him. I really hope he likes it, being a musician and singer himself. I actually just found out last night, that his father also sang and loved opera. I truly feel blessed with the gifts both he and Medardo, my great grandfather (father of my mother's mother) passed down to their generations. I am forever grateful, wishing I could have known both of them.

I am also very very grateful to my music instructors, who helped me transform my life one way or another... Miriam Arman, Roger Rundle and Susy Oliva


Composer: Giovanni Pergolesi
Singer: Victoria Garcia
Accompanist: Roger Rundle
Translation: Spanish / English
Audio File: Pergolesi - Se tu m'ami - Victoria Garcia (MP3)// -->
Se tu m'ami, se tu sospiri
sol per me, gentil pastor,
ho dolor dei tuoi martiri,
ho diletto del tuo amor.
Ma se pensi che soletto
io ti debbari amar,
pastorello, sei soggetto
facilmente a t'ingannar

Bella rosa porporina
oggi Silvia sceglierà,
con la scusa della spina
doman poi la sprezzerà.
Ma degli uomini il consiglio
io per me non seguirò.
Non perchè mi piace il giglio
gli altri fiori sprezzerò

Se tu m'ami, se tu sospiri
sol per me, gentil pastor,
ho dolor dei tuoi martiri,
ho diletto del tuo amor.
Ma se pensi che soletto
io ti debbari amar,
pastorello, sei soggetto
facilmente a t'ingannar

Time to Reflect

The topic: Reliability, Accountability with oneself.

I believe this quality depends on one's self value...self respect and/or understanding of consequences. I should have spent some time on this topic yesterday. But as usual, I didn't spend my time wisely this weekend, due to my own unreliability with time...my schedule. I have all the knowledge and tools available to better manage my time. However, the true source of my problem isn't a lack of understanding. There is a deeper issue that winds up sabotaging many of my dreams, goals or endeavors in life. The issue, as I figured out yesterday, is the lack of respect I have for MY time, MY schedules, MY plans. The question is why? Do I not value my time as much as others'? Do I not value myself as much as I do others? How come I do make it to most of my appointments with others -- doctors' appointments, workout sessions with trainers, concrete dates with friends, work, classes, etc -- but not to most of those I made with or for myself? The combination of reasons for respecting other people's time includes appreciation for people's work or whatever benefit I get from them...consequences such as embarrassment or material cost, as some trainers, teachers and doctors incur without a 24 hour notification. Soooo the question is, how can I create the same type of accountability with my own appointments? One interesting phenomenon I discovered yesterday morning, before my actual realization on this topic...I do hold myself pretty darn accountable with my workouts. For instance, yesterday morning, although I had little time left in the morning before an appointment with my therapist, I made it to my cardio workout before breakfast; even though I knew it couldn't last the full 45 minutes I normally do. The reason for my surprising discipline turned out to be my realization or awareness of consequences. Since my diet on Friday was not great, I knew it was best if I worked out on an empty stomach. And so I did. I was able to recognize the consequence and/or payoff right there and then and acted upon it without hesitation.

The question now is, how can I apply the same principle in everything else I must gain discipline with? How can I take every one of my dreams, goals and endeavors seriously enough to follow through with them when their related appointments pop up in my calendar?

I must admit, I'm still trying to figure this out. Perhaps, as silly as it sounds, I should write down, as part of my appointments, its payoffs and/or consequences? I should probably start applying some of the self-help advice I've read -- online and in books, like The 7 habits of Highly Effective people. I should write a mission statement. I should have a binder with all of my major goals for the year. StevePavlina.com gives a lot of tips and systems that I think will work for me. The latest blog I'm reading in the site is on Motivation for Smart People ... Another great blog covers a series of areas that make up Self-Discipline. In it, he describes his PAS (Personal Accountability System), a binder that sits on his desk with his written goals. He explains this binder in greater detail in Your Personal Accountability System. My favorite line from this blog by the way... "Purposeful transformation is better than tragic realization"

I'm also reading his other blog: What If You Have Many Different Interests and Cannot Commit to Any of Them? ... I feel refreshed seeing that someone out there relates to my issues/frustrations/ideals and has been able to successfully address them...including some that contradict society's traditionally taught standards (sigh). At last.

By the way, the other blog where he discusses one of those contradictions with society's traditions/standards... 10 Reasons You Should Never Get a Job. Amen.

Let's see where this knowledge takes me ;) Now it's time to apply it. So close. I feel so close! haha