@Silvia80 Thank you Silvia. So sorry to hear of all the challenges your husband has. I hope he can heal well, get back to as good health as possible. You are right, we have to adapt to the challenges we face and music can bring some peace and joy. I look forward to more from you in 2025, your joy is always so infectious. I will press on and find my way back to how things were before all these challenges slowed me down so.
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David, Itās taken me the better part of a week to read through your LL, so I suppose I deserve some kind of award. But seriously, I appreciate your insights regarding the learning process and the psychology of performance. Also, your emphasis on the importance of the JG community is something Iām beginning to discover for myself as I read through othersā LLs.
It dismayed me to read of your health issues, and I hope you have worked them out since and are on the mend. Nothing makes a person appreciate good health than illness.
Back when I turned 50, I became crippled by what turned out to be Lyme disease, which attacked my knees and incapacitated me for more than three years. The road to recovery was arduous, with lots of physical therapy, and the knock-on effects of being weakened required a hernia operation. Now, at 62, I am in much better health. I wish you better health too.
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Thanks Jonathan . . . to read through all that, you deserve more than a 
Appreciate the thoughtful comment that highlights much of what I try to bring for those that may read my log.
I am in good health today. The heart op was a success and all continues to be in good working order after now three annual checks.
The road to recovery related to the gout and all the long term impacts to joints and in particular fingers was in many respects worse. Not life-threatening though major imapct on quality of life. The treatment was unpleasant, slow. But that is now pretty much behind me.
It triggered some diet changes, which have had many benefits over and above the initial trigger being a focus on kidney health.
Has taken me almost as long to mentally and emotionally get back to my music, been lean times since I was unable to play due to the finger state, and then as the fingers healed it was mind and emotions that negatively impacted.
But happily am playing more regularly, just for fun . . . so simple songs, cowboy chords with the odd E and A shape barre cord.
Thanks again 
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Iām really glad to read that youāre better David 
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Thanks Silvia
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David, Glad to know that youāre healthier now and able to get back to your guitar playing.
In my early 20s, I made major dietary changes to help alleviate debilitating migraines. I adopted an almost completely vegetarian diet, which eventually made my migraines less frequent and less severe. The pushback I got from family & friends about giving up eating meat struck me as bizarre. Why did they feel so threatened by my dietary choices?
Anyhow, as you mentioned, the dietary changes had significant benefits beyond the initial reason for making the changes. I wish you continuingly improving health and musical progress.
Cheers.
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Thanks very much Jonathan.
That is strange, why people should fuss so much, rather than being encouraging and supportive.
In my case, I introduced a lot more plan-based into the diet and limit and animal protein, to not more than once per day and red meat maximum once per week. And by choice not sacrifice there are weeks without red meat and days without animal protein.
Am lined up to play the JG Open Mic tonight. A milestone on the return road.
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I need to come back and read your whole learning log sometime. I saw the mention of gout and I wanted to express my sympathies, though. Gout pain excruciating and some of the worst pain imaginable. Iām glad youāve been able to get through it. Itās been several years now since my last flareup. Iāve luckily been able to control it with some minor diet changes. I think the biggest thing for me was cutting out sugary drinks and drinking lots of water.
Good luck on the open mic! I have been pretty busy lately and havenāt had time to attend them live for a bit, but things are slowing down and I intend on watching the videos of the ones Iāve missed soon. Iāve always enjoyed your performances.
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Thanks Dan,
The OM went pretty well.
As for the gout, I went for chronic medication and seem much better now. So much better than all the drugs to deal with the cause and symptoms in the attacks, which were far too regular for far too long.
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Glad youāre on the mend, David. You add a great presence to the Open Micās. Great job hosting those, keeping things moving along, and making time for plenty of praise and applause. Always happy to see you there.
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Thanks Jim, very kind and appreciate it.