Do you ever feel overwhelmed? That's how I've been feeling lately (especially when it comes to playing my guitar.) Perhaps it's just the summertime blues, but it seems there are far too many things to do and not enough time! Take my garden for instance. It's full of weeds even though Ive spent many hours on my hands and knees pulling them out. No matter how hard I try to get rid of them, they just keep coming back! It's almost as if those nasty weeds are laughing at me - "ha, ha" they say, "you'll never get rid of us!" Sometimes I think of Solomon and how he felt when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

Its easy to become overwhelmed when learning how to play the guitar too. Frustration and time constraints can short circuit your progress and leave you feeling discouraged. The temptation to give up may become very strong and you might think to yourself: "I'm too busy for this right now; perhaps I'll take a break and pick it back up when I have more time." Don't be fooled into making this mistake! People who think like this will probably never find the time to really learn how to play the guitar. Instead, try to look for creative new ways to bring the fun back into the learning process.

Here are some ideas:

• After mowing the lawn, why not sit down under a tree with a refreshing glass of iced tea and play a song, or something else you enjoy, on your guitar. Even fifteen minutes a day is better than nothing. Being outside can help provide a fresh new outlook too.

• When you're relaxing in front of the tube (TV), pick up your guitar and noodle around during those long commercials. You'll be amazed at how much practice time you can get in and it won't even feel like practicing! You might even have so much fun that you'll forget about the show you were watching. :)

• Invite your friends over for a Bar-B-Q and provide some live entertainment. No need to make a big deal out of it. Just casually bring out your guitar and start playing. Show everyone what you've been learning on the guitar and offer to let them try playing it too. That way your guests will appreciate how much you already know.

• Give a concert for your family in the living room after dinner.

• Experiment with different things on your guitar just for the fun of it. Slide up and down on a string. Strum fast and slow. Try finger picking. Listen to the new sounds that you create. Pretend you're Jimi Henrix (try playing the guitar behind your back or picking the strings with your teeth. :)

• Try standing up while you play. Look in the mirror and imagine yourself performing on stage. What would you say to the audience?

• Practice in a different place than you usually do. A change of environment and/or surroundings can work wonders for your state of mind.

Try a couple of these ideas and then see if you can come up with some more of your own. Remember, the important thing is that you want to learn how to play the guitar, not just work at it. Summer is a natural time to think about vacations and doing other things you enjoy, so relax a little and let your guitar be part of the fun!