@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.
#31 9th JGversary
I used to love the annual Giles Annual (RIP Ronald āCarlā Giles OBE) that weād always purchase as a convenient birthday gift for my Dad, who arrived into the world on Jan 18th. Didnāt always understand the context, but loved the characters.
And like that Annual, I now come annually to reflect on my JG year on the day I came into JustinGuitar, now 9 years ago. How time flies. So much water under the proverbial bridge.
I re-read last yearās and it seemed all was on the up, and a more active musical year was sure to follow along with focus on health and well-being.
In a nutshell . . . health and well-being has gone brilliantly. I am in good health, maintaining my diet, and about as fit as I could expect to be. Guitar, was again up and down.
Partly because work was really busy. Hereās not the place to dive deep, suffice to say Iād consider it as one of my best and most enjoyable years in my now approaching 22 years in the Bank.
But I adjusted my mindset towards the end of the year and decided to simply play songs. And to sign-up for OMs to serve as an extrinsic motivator. Was so good to play the last two again, even if my prep was a little under-done going into the final OM of the year a few dayās ago. Even posted an AVOYP . . . goodness me, itās been a while since I made a recording at home.
I started to dip into the Inner Game of Tennis, a great book about learning in the context of tennis. Though I enjoy following the game. So I try now to just enjoy the playing and singing without worrying too much about the quality. I know in time if I persist, I will blow away all the cobwebs, polish out the rust, and regain more of the self-confidence Iād developed prior to the point at which the gout stopped my playing around middle '23. And in time, the comfort I had recording and playing OMs shall be regained.
At the end of the day, I play because I enjoy it. I confess I enjoy the energy of performing, live OMs were great fun. People are always so positive and encouraging which is great, a real boost. No aspiration to join a band, monetise a YT channel etc. Just fun, and I believe good for the health (now I am 60, Iāve become more aware of health in a desire to enter my twilight years in due course and enjoy good quality of life).
Who knows what 2026 will bring. I can only say, Iāll be around and aim to continue to perform at the OMs. And maybe at some point, some more deliberate practice. Maybe one day BLIM.
But always, the Community . . . it is a cherished part of my life. The support, care, encouragement from you all, is never taken for granted. In this modern era of the Attention Economy, the click-bait, trolling, etc the Community is a place of comfort, to see the genuine care for each other, and be a small part means a great deal to me.
So my friends, letās keep on keeping on . . . making music, friendship, and the world a better place.
My Music
My YouTube Channel | SoundCloud Years Archive
Gear
Guitars: Fender Paramount PM-1 Deluxe | Honer Resonator | PRS SE Custom 22 Semi-Hollow | Celebrity CC67 (Nashville strung)
Amp: Blackstar ID15:TVP
Pedals: TC Helicon Play Acoustic | TC Electronics Ditto Looper | Caline Pure Sky Overdrive | Digitech Trio+ & footswitch
Mics: Samson CO3 | AKG D5 | Shure 545SD Unidyne III
AI: Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 | Behringer UMC404HD
Software Tools: Reaper | Guitar Pro
Learning Log Chapters
#30 8th JGversary
#29 7th JGversary
#28 6th JGversary
#27 Discover Your Voice
#26 5th JGVersary
#25 The three types of songs
#24 Biennial (The SoundCloud Years)
#23 About the 3Ps: Practicing Playing Performing
#22 Funny how it goes, just going as it flows
#21 My 4th JGversary
#20 5000th Forum post and 4 keys to learning
#19 My 3rd JGversary
#18 First Open Mic and setting up the Playroom
#17 My 2nd JGversary
#16 First live performance
#15 First two originals and winning the Forum Contest
#14 18 month update
#13 My 1st JGversary
#12 Going beyond my dreams
#11 September songs and success
#10 RC up to date, 8.5 month reflection
#9 A severe attack of GAS
#8 Itās not a linear journey
#7 Consolidation, Forum Contest, and BC Stage 4
#6 The onset of GAS
#5 Joining the Community and my first recording
#4 First time playing in public
#3 Beginning Justinās BC
#2 Starting the guitar adventure
#1 Discovering a love of music
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Simple as it may seem, I think thatās the most important insight. Guitar playing brings joy. I came to the same conclusion this year. Guitar means happiness.
Listened the OM recording btw. and enjoyed your songs a lot.
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Hi David ,
Now I could have stopped reading because this was a nice and really short summary 
, 
but it was great to read the rest as well 
.
Wishing you all the best for the new years to come ,
Greetings 
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David @DavidP
Enjoyed your write up.
Onwards and upwards, learning and playing songs is what it is all about and should be fun even if at times it is hard work.
Of course you need to learn things as you go along but thatās just how it is.
Michael
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Hi David. Another great update from yourself. Iām so pleased your health issues have been resolved and Iām sure that with the dietary regime youāve introduced youāll continue to enjoy good health.
It must have been so frustrating for you to not only endure the discomfort of your condition but for that condition to impact physically on your ability to play guitar. Great that youāve performed in a couple of recent OMs and are posting again in AVoYP. Keep on keeping on. 
You are but a chicken David. Iāll be 72 in January having taken up guitar when I was 64 and joining JustinGuitar later that year.
As for AVoYP youāve put me to shame. I havenāt done one since last Christmas! I think Iāve sort of plateaued/stagnated this year. Not for any particular reason, I just havenāt been driven to practise as much as I should. I hesitate to say that should be my new year resolution as we all know how long they last!
Anyway, as you are always telling us all, keep on keeping on David. I wish you and your family a happy peaceful Christmas and a healthy 2026.
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What a great write-up, David. So glad your health has improved significantly and you are well again! May this remain the same for 2026 and onwards! 
Itās so great to have you back as a performer in our OMs. I thoroughly enjoyed your performances last Saturday and looking forward for some more. 
Sometimes it can be as simple as that! Doing something we enjoy.
This is 
% how I fell about the community as well. Great place to be part of.
Now looking forward what your 10th year with guitar will bring up for you and which songs you will chose for the upcoming OMs. Keep on keeping on a wise man said.
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[quote="Lisa_S, post:197, topic:3899ā]
Now looking forward what your 10th year with guitar will bring up for you and which songs you will chose
[/quote]
probably Neil Youngās songs
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I truly enjoyed your LL entry and am so glad to read that a lot of things, firstly health of course went better for you now!
Iām looking forward to hear of you while youāre having your new fun journey!
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@JokuMuu Thanks Nicole. I think that drive to continue to learn and improve can be a blessing and a curse. For me, at the moment, playing is simply enough. Glad to hear you enjoyed the OM.
@roger_holland Ah Rogier, but that summary was the end state of '24, then came the mixed bad of '25 
All is good
@MAT1953 Thanks Michael. As our mentor always says āLearn songs! Learn songs! Learn songs!ā (We shall never forget @Richard_close2u )
@sairfingers Thanks Gordon. It was a depressing time, but we press on and prevail. Always difficult when one canāt quite figure out the reasons. All I can say, is that your recordings have always been a treat, and I hope to hear some in '26.
@Lisa_S Thanks Lisa, truly appreciate that. We shall keep on . . . or I could say āThe Dude shall abideā (wonder how many will get that one)
@GrumpyMac Ah Deborah, that is always a safe guess But who knows, maybe Iāll surprise you.
@domi7 Thanks Dominique, appreciate it. You keep on with yours and will see you next time.
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