Use It or Lose It

Today was spent decorating the house with winter and Christmas items. I just had a huge garage sale this past summer and I still have over 8 tubs of Christmas/winter decorations. This doesn't even take into account the 3 tubs of lights and outdoor items that are already up. In today's tubs were nick nacks and collectibles. I brought in some glassware and hung up stockings. I hung glitter snowflakes on the windows and set up my snowman village. All the while I decorated, I played some of my favorite Christmas CDs. ( I have alot of those too by the way). Of course I had to sing along, and what I noticed was that by the third CD my voice was feeling worn out. I guess I haven't really sung much since the last musical I wrote and directed up in Thief River Falls. I guess last Christmas I must have sung to my favorite CD's, but today was a full day and I think I'm going to be hoarse. Use it or lose it I guess. Serves me right.

Then it got me thinking, there's several contexts in which "use it or lose it" can come into play. I took French in High School, two years of it. But if I had to try and put together logical sentences, I'm not sure how well I'd do. I took a semester of Spanish two years ago. Unfotunately although it is much more recent, I think the same rule applies. I didn't use it, and now I've forgotten some of it. How come it is so hard to retain a foreign language? Especially as adults. They say kids pick up on languages much easier than adults. Maybe my brain is just too full. It feels that way sometimes. Like today when I was having to try and find spots to put all the Christmas stuff. Afterall awhile I didn't want to have to make any more decisions or put any more stuff up, so I refilled at least a tub and a half of miscellaneous "things" which went back out to the garage. Humm...maybe I have too much stuff and should only keep the items I use. If I haven't used it the last couple of Christmases than I should just get rid of it.

See the "use it or lose it" theory is a great motivator for lots of contexts--not just with one's singing voice!