Peace and Honor

The first thing I saw on Sunday morning was this post from Dr. Wayne Dyer:

"The only thing that feeling bad accomplishes 

is to plummet you into 

anxiety, despair, depression and stress. 

In such situations, 

ask yourself in that moment 

what thought you can have 

that will make you feel good."

I decided to think good thoughts, reposted Dr. Wayne Dyer's words, and got ready for church. Before leaving I said a prayer and asked for help listening. I got to church and the minister said, "I'm going to help you learn how to listen." :)

The first song was "Down By the Riverside."

"Gonna lay down my sword and shield

down by the riverside

down by the riverside

down by the riverside

gonna lay down my sword and shield

down by the riverside

ain't gonna study war no more..."

Pete Seeger, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee "Down By the Riverside"

The Reverend talked about Memorial Day and noted how we often speak of war. (I suddenly wondered if "Down By the Riverside" could be interpreted as "anti war" and felt pangs of conflict for singing it with Memorial Day just around the corner and the remembrance of countless brave men and women who gave their lives in service. I certainly would not want to seem disrespectful to any of them.) He recalled watching CNN and spoke about how we constantly feed our minds with negativity. After ten minutes of watching the news, we can become walking byproducts of media doom and gloom. Where was the holiday celebrating peace? What about John Lennon? We can, with intention and practice, quiet the noise and become aware of divine inspiration. We can train ourselves to listen to it.

Alright... Here's the thought that came to me...

I think a great way to celebrate Memorial Day and to honor those who fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice for peace, is to shift mental focus to peace and gratitude. Thank God for all of those who paid for our freedoms and liberties with their lives. I thank them all dearly.

To all those who passed on while serving in the armed forces:

Today (Memorial Day) I will remember you and honor your sacrifice by lifting my thoughts, energy and spirit to a place of happiness and peace. I know that beautiful things happen every day that we don't hear about on the news. I know that people are helping other people in places all over the world. I know that we can accomplish amazing things with love and kindness - and we are.

"To everything... There is a season..."

- Pete Seeger, King Solomon (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I will make today a season of peace, joy and happiness - inspired by your sacrifice. Thank you.

Namaste,
T

Take Two...

I need a vacation from my vacation. I worked my butt off during my time “off.” What is THAT all about? Can I not stop? LOL

We put about a thousand miles on the car (thank God Russ drove!); pulled out the patio furniture and power washed it; mowed acres of grass; hauled trailer loads of mulch; steam cleaned the fridge, the floors and all the windows; took the tractor in for repair; finished up video editing (can’t WAIT for you to see the video of Only Way Home!); worked out with a personal trainer; connected studio speakers; groomed the dogs; practiced a whole bunch of songs and learned some new ones; and played a gig – in addition to regular tasks of cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, dog walking, etc. I AM EXHAUSTED!  I DID enjoy myself as I went along though – that’s important.

Mulch run...

Video editing with Russ and Vincent

On the gig with Bobby and Trevor

Alright – take two. I am going to settle down (at least a little) this week. I can do it. I know I can. I will work (apparently I can not stop), and pace myself. I’d like to spend some time reading and writing, do some things to inspire my spirit. I did some of that last week, but not enough.

Fun with hats - LOL

Life is a grand journey. I’ll work hard AND take some time out to enjoy it!

Xoxo

Namaste,

T

Sweet Freedom!

I am SO EXCITED!!!

I had absolutely forgotten what the last day of class feels like. It's AWESOME!

I worked my butt off trying to get everything done, had a panic attack toward the end, and finally... Sweet freedom!

I DID very much appreciate and enjoy my creative writing class this past semester. I learned a lot, practiced, improved, met some wonderful new people, and was thoroughly inspired.

This week is about taking some well-earned time off before I find out what is behind that next door...

Big congrats and props to all the new graduates and fellow students! Here's to getting out there and shining bright! xoxo

Namaste,
T

The Gray Area

"Throughout history, 
it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; 

the indifference of those who should have known better; 

the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; 

that has made it possible for evil to triumph." - Haile Selassie

I believe there exists in all of us a deep-seated spark that motivates us to act - or not act. It is uniquely our own. It is part of our journey through life that we confront the forces within that speak to us, and that we learn to listen and understand our own motivations in order to improve ourselves - and the world.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, 

a quickening that is translated through you into action, 

and because there is only one you in all of time, this expression is unique. 

And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. 

The world will not have it..." - Martha Graham 

(This quote appears in the booklet of my album)

We all have our own unique passions, fears, desires, and experiences that drive us to do what we do. What specifically motivates us into action can be deeply personal. We are responsible for our own actions and our motives are for us to examine. We push our own selves to new levels as we hold ourselves accountable and to higher standards of truth, integrity and honor.

Whether we realize it consciously or not, we know the truths in our own heart as God does. Do we accuse others of hate with hate in our own hearts? If we "hate" another for "hating" - we still hate. Do we taint our own causes by contaminating them with our own personal objectives? Do they become vehicles for our personal anger or need for approval, or do they become agendas for some reason less honorable than genuine commitment, purpose and love? It is only for us to answer.

"You can see the speck in your friend's eye. 

But you don’t notice the log in your own eye. 

How can you say, 'My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,' 

when you don’t see the log in your own eye? 

You show-offs! First, get the log out of your own eye. 

Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye." – Luke 6:41-42

I believe there exists inside each of us - a gray area. A place we have not yet clearly seen. A truth we have not yet completely uncovered. As we all flounder along trying to do the best we can, I hope and pray that we will each be informed enough to actively excavate a little more of ourselves so that we can move ourselves forward, progress in some way that is uniquely our own - toward a better self and a better world by extension.

The death of Freddie Gray and the events in Baltimore last week have inspired some amazing tests and testaments of courage, strength, faith, action, leadership and community. I've been moved to great sorrow and tears by tragic injustice and burning anger - and also to great pride as exquisite leadership and inspiring forces stepped up to the plate with unparalleled passion and conviction to overpower hate with love, prayer, and God.

"Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation." - Oscar Wilde

"What you are must always displease you, 

if you would attain to that which you are not." - Saint Augustine

As the days, weeks, and even years relentlessly march on and we continue to face underlying issues surrounding these events and more... may we respect and honor ourselves and each other by shining some light on our own understanding and move ourselves to act, in our own unique ways, to better ourselves, our global family and the world we live in.

With deepest love and respect,

Namaste.

T