I had forgotten about this Angel that I got last Christmas.
Now when I look at it, in this season of miracles, I'm reminded of all the Blessings that came my way in 2016. It's as if my last-year self was given a message to keep the faith - good things were about to come.
Here's to believing in all the Miracles that are still to come, to keeping the faith.
I have a cold. I hate to complain, but it's been a little bit miserable. Today, as the world seemed to have gone crazy on the news, I was exhausted and dehydrated so I turned everything off and lay down for a much needed nap.
I woke to find more depressing news coming from the television with hopelessness, anger and tragedy occurring all over the world. I had no idea what to blog about. I let the dogs out and ate dinner. Earlier in the week, I started to read a Charles Dickens book (a Collection of Christmas Stories) where I found some inspiration in the introduction and thought I might try revisiting that for some uplifting blog material. Then the phone rang.
It was a friend who was on a long road trip home for the holidays. She had been passing the time by trying to harmonize to a Simon & Garfunkel song, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and had gotten stuck near the 3 minute mark. It was driving her crazy and she wanted help figuring out the harmony. Alright.
I pulled up the version she had been listening to and was ready to dissect the harmony when I realized there wasn't any until the end. It turned out that she had been inventing her own harmony. I had to hear what she had been doing. She sang along and I listened. When we got to the end, we came up with a vocal part that was consistent with what she had been creating up to that point. When the harmony on the track came in, she wanted to invent a third note instead of singing along with what was already there. We had so much fun!
She is not a professional singer and it was not work. It was play. It was a nagging problem for her that we solved together. We had a riot trying out different notes, dealing with the cell phone delays and the humor of the situation. Soon after we finished, she reached her destination. So did I.
My focus had changed. I had turned off the news and worked on something creative. My cold didn't seem as miserable and I had a revived spirit. (Smile.) It was just what I needed. It was also in perfect alignment with the song's meaning.
Things can get intense this time of of year. Carving out a little space for reading a book and singing a song proved to be the perfect thing for me. As we all go crazy getting ready for the holiday - cooking, cleaning, traveling, standing in line, spending too much money, getting colds and feeling worn out, here's wishing we can all find our own space for peace.
There are always those precious moments. There are those times when we see old friends, when we give or receive the perfect gift, when we smile at the joy of a child on Santa's lap, or that moment of gratitude when the tree seems perfectly magical. There's the humor in typical family squabbles and the warmth of laughter - plenty of good spirit to be found if we look for it. In addition to all of those things, there are those quiet moments in our own heart when it's just us with ourselves. Here's hoping we smile when we are there.
Wishing you all the peace and joy of a beautiful holiday... Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah.
Namaste,
T
I had the pleasure of singing background vocals for this version - behind Jacob on American Idol
The standout moment I keep coming back to is when I found out someone I know is terminally ill. I had no idea. She spoke of it candidly. I must have seemed at a loss for words. I was.
The human spirit is amazing. Most of us try not to think of our own ending. Those who are forced to and do it with grace and bravery beyond measure, leave an unforgettable, inspirational mark on our hearts.
I am reminded to always be kind. We never know what challenges our brothers and sisters are facing. I am reminded to be grateful. The silly things we complain about are mostly petty. I am reminded that we are all the same. We all come into this world and we will all leave it one day. I am reminded that we should live in a way of which we can be proud. How we journey through our short time on this earth is everything.
Then there was this story of an extraordinary Santa visit... (Warning: You may cry.)
On Saturday's gig, Joe had the audience members take each other's hands and hold them in the air as he spoke of unity and the power we all hold to make a difference in the world. I just love the people I work with.
Joe, Me, Russ at the gig
So as the trees go up and the Christmas lights come out, I'll remember that we can all make a difference to someone by our actions and kind words. We never know what they might mean to someone.
God Bless Us - Every One. (A Christmas Carol reference)
It has been so crazy and hectic this week! There was the last day of a class I've been taking (final papers/projects due), family was in town, we put up the Christmas tree, rearranged furniture and more. I almost completely forgot it was Monday!
I did notice there are a lot of star ornaments on the tree. Then I randomly opened the quote book to find inspiration - and there was this quote by Leonardo da Vinci. I guess you could say it was in the stars. :)
Here's to a week filled with starlight and inspiration!
Remember when we had to call everyone on Thanksgiving and the list would be so long and everyone would be getting hungry and there would always be someone who you wanted to call but didn't because there just wasn't enough time? Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little (not really) but there were only so many people we could get in touch with. I usually only got to the closest family members. We wouldn't get to see everyone else's Thanksgiving table right away unless we went around visiting. Pictures would come later - if at all.
How times have changed.
Fun with Snapchat
Russell and Me on the Thanksgiving Day Drive
I'm feeling grateful to be able to stay in touch with so many people! Along with having a great time posting, I got a firsthand view into the homes of so many friends over the holiday. Texts, pictures, videos, funny stories, laughter... all made Thanksgiving even bigger.
All of the special people in my extended family and all of the people I've met and worked with over the years don't always know how much they mean to me. Projects change, people get busy, time slips by and sometimes I think of people that I haven't seen in years and wonder how they're doing. Now they're just a click away. That's great!
Sadie came home from the kennel wearing ribbons. She promptly took one out.
#ThatDogsGotTheRightIdea
:)
This week I'm celebrating the gift of staying connected with family, old friends and new friends from all over the world thanks to social media. Here's to a week filled with Blessings...
I was so excited about the prospect of turning off the news and getting back to enjoying nature and the seasons this week.
I thought that getting back to meditation would be a great thing to blog about this time around.
It seems that there is going to be quite a lot of news watching and controversy for some time to come. I would sincerely hope that, no matter WHO you voted for, we can agree on one thing:
Here's wishing we all find a path to peace and understanding.
I always loved this holiday! It probably had something to do with the candy. ;)
This year, I wanted to know more about the history of Halloween. I learned of Halloween's origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). After the Roman Empire conquered most of the Celtic territory, two Roman festivals blended with the Celtic tradition. One of these Roman traditions commemorated the passing of the dead (Feralia) and one honored the goddess Pomona (the goddess of fruit and trees). Later, Christian influence came when the Catholic church created "All Martyrs Day" which expanded to become "All Saints Day." Later still, the church began "All Souls Day" which honors the dead. These Christian days coincided with the same time of year that Samhain and similar celebrations took place. In America, the evolution of what we now know as Halloween continued as various traditions from immigrants combined and customs were molded toward children and communities during the time of the baby boom.
Much of what I learned is explained in far more detail on TheHistoryChannel.com.
I knew I would like it but I think I turned into a five year old. :)
After the show, we were invited to meet some of the performers and it was just an all around great time! I felt like I was flying high all night and the next day too as I told friends all about the experience. It was an excellent reminder to do something - just for the fun of it - sometimes. #purefun
An actor came on late-night television this week and said that he didn't think actors should get involved in politics. (I guess no one told THAT to Ronald Reagan.) Maybe that actor would've made a more accurate statement if he had just said that he HIMSELF did not want to get involved in politics.
So many entertainers have made a difference in the world by following their passions and speaking their minds. Most notably this week - is Bob Dylan.
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 has been awarded to Bob Dylan "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."
#AWESOME!
After the announcement by Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, she was interviewed...
"Mr. Dylan, 75, is the first musician to win the award, and his selection on Thursday is perhaps the most radical choice in a history stretching back to 1901."
What if we were our own complaint department? What if every time we complained about anything, we had to answer for it?
I'd like to imagine a world where, instead of complaining, we all DID something toward positive change of the things we don't like. If we're not sure WHAT to do, we would LEARN.
I watched two documentaries this week. One was about Trump, the other about Clinton. They can both be found on demand at CNN.
How many of us complaining about one candidate or the other have visited each of their websites, or learned more about them, have taken any kind of stand on the issue that we complain about, have written our congresspeople, have volunteered for a cause?
I found myself complaining this week (unrelated to the candidates or the election) and it was not pleasant. I had to make a conscious effort to ask myself what I could do to change my situation. After taking some action toward accomplishing some goals, I felt better. It seems as if to complain is to sit back and put blame on others, while giving our power away to them. We have our own power. We can do SOMETHING. In activating our own personal power, we can generate a more positive outlook within ourselves. If THAT is our state of mind, then we can open up our own creativity and be a part of solutions instead of just being a part of a chorus of complaints.
I'm going to put a complaint box on my dresser. I'll be responsible for what goes in, and I'll be responsible for answering all complaints as well. #LetsTryIt
At a memorial service on Thursday, the dearly departed had given instructions to have this song played. It was beautiful.
How wonderful of her to have known ahead of time exactly what she wanted us all to hear after her passing. She managed to reach out from wherever she is now to tell us all that she is fine. It's amazing that she had such strong faith that she would be fine. How beautifully touching that she, while facing her own mortality, was so concerned with the well-being and comfort of those she had to leave behind here on this earth. She spoke directly to us and inspired us from beyond her own physical existence. Endless thanks to her for showing us all another perspective - hers, from where she is now.
Here's to remembering that there is always another perspective besides our own. There is another viewpoint beyond what we can imagine on almost everything. Here's hoping that we all remember that, and try to open our minds a little and show some understanding to other perspectives. #LetsLearn
Keeping the idea of different perspectives in mind, I noticed something. I have often gazed at the shower tile and seen an image of an Angel in the design (above). In some of the other tiles, I've noticed what seems like the image of a sheep (below).
The really neat thing I noticed THIS week is that - the two images are in fact the same.
Looking around the room at the tiles, I noticed both images on almost every tile although some are turned in different directions. After that, I started paying close attention to varying perspectives on news articles. Obama was talking about the different sides of the National Anthem controversy and encouraged everyone to be understanding of other points of view. There was also a story about a forger, Adolfo Kaminsky, who while breaking the law during World War II, managed to save thousands of lives by answering to his own, higher law.
"I saved lives because I can't deal with unnecessary deaths - I just can't...
all humans are equal, whatever their origins, their beliefs, their skin color...
There are no superiors, no inferiors. That is not acceptable for me."
- Adolfo Kaminsky
#Amazing how we can view so many things from different perspectives.
I started a class this week. It's something I like to do when gig season gets a little slow. An assignment this week is to find news articles relevant to the course material and I am quite astounded by the lack of substance in available magazines and newspapers. Apparently, more people are interested in fashion, celebrity gossip and and slow cooker recipes than things like psychology, human development and educational topics.
On the way back home from the store that had a large magazine selection, a low tire pressure light came on so we stopped for air. As we waited a long while, with a trunk full of groceries getting warm and takeout food getting cold, the guy using the air machine before us continued fussing around with his tires. Finally, he asked Russ if HE knew how to check air pressure. The young man had overfilled one of his tires by an extra 12 lbs. and underfilled others by 11 lbs. Russ helped him fix it and began filling our tires when another car pulled up with three young males who began asking Russ questions also. "What is that thing you have there?" (It was a tire gauge.) "How do you know how much to put in?" I marveled at how little these drivers knew. I tried to imagine them doing taxes.
I've long wondered why taxes are not taught as part of high school curriculum. How do we all manage it? I remember going to a small business help center that was a pilot program sponsored by the I.R.S. and STILL ended up at a tax preparation service for help. I've attended countless music industry events aimed at teaching music business, read many books and had consultations from music business attorneys and professionals. I am thoroughly impressed by the knowledge that some industry professionals possess, while being completely astonished by other, successful individuals who lack the most basic knowledge of publishing and who don't read contracts at all.
AAAAND... Here we are getting ready for the first presidential debate this evening. Sigh. I've refrained from getting political here on the subject of candidates and I try to be respectful of other people's freedom to choose for themselves. Here's the problem though...
People are very busy nowadays. I don't mean this as a valid excuse (I mean, if so many of us can find time for social media surely we can find time to do a little research on candidates before we vote - or don't vote - for them). We (because WE ALL DO THIS SOMETIMES) get our information from unreliable sources. We believe things that we hear. We oftentimes do not adequately investigate enough to form our own opinions, but rely on what others are saying. What about when THEY TOO are misinformed? Social media posts that are completely incorrect often fly around like crazy. Fact checking has become our own responsibility much of the time and we don't do it.
Remember this commercial? Remember when we made fun of people who believed what they were told on the internet?
What about political candidates? If they say something it must be true too right? Uh, no.
So tonight, as an estimated 100 million people tune in to watch the debate, my hope and prayer is for people (myself included) to learn more. Why couldn't we all just do a little more research, find a little more information from varying sources about a topic that concerns us? I have this as an assignment for school. Why not apply the same work to a very important decision, right and responsibility we all have to collectively determine the course of our country, the world, and history? It's easy to complain about government and the system. How many of us that complain are actively involved in solutions?
Here's to our education. Let's just find out a little something more - DO a little something more.
(These are the words I wrote on Sunday evening...)
WHAT IS HAPPENING??? On Saturday I had a gig in the Jersey Shore area. I had seen on the news that morning that a bomb had detonated at a charity race about twenty miles south of where my show was to be. The show was still on and traffic was not expected to be heavily delayed. So that afternoon I drove straight in that direction, stopping just twenty miles short of that site, and I sang with one of my favorite bands for a beautiful wedding reception. On the way home (I left there about 9:30pm) I stopped at a rest stop and caught a bit of a news report saying something about an explosion in NYC. Turning on the radio, I learned of the Chelsea bomb as I drove back home, heading straight for NYC and the George Washington Bridge. My final destination was about 45 miles beyond the city.
Once home, I turned on the news and it stayed on all day Sunday too. I quickly learned of the terrible events in a Minnesota mall and just now.... As I sit here writing this on Sunday evening, a "breaking news" report just came on about a suspicious device found in Elizabeth, NJ, where train service has been shut down in an ongoing investigation. All these events are enough to swallow up my spirit. I think of war torn parts of the world where this kind of activity is the norm - terrible. How do we keep a positive mindset when it seems like all hell is breaking loose? What is there to think when it seems like the "bad guys" are getting a leg up - or even winning? I suppose I'm in search mode. I am actively seeking good thoughts to grasp onto. I'm trying to remember that people ARE coming together and helping each other. Neighbors are checking on each other. Families are checking on their loved ones. What about those amazing first responders and brave souls who rush in when others rush away for safety? I'm clinging to those thoughts. I'm making a deliberate effort to seek out the good. There was an inspiring group of Somalian community leaders who made very positive statements at a press conference in Minnesota that echoes in my mind.
There are so many people working to promote love and understanding, even and especially in the midst of unimaginable chaos. In my experience on Saturday, sandwiched between two bombings was a wedding, a beautiful celebration of love. At that family gathering there was a coming together of souls. We sang songs like "We Are Family," and during "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" Joe (the male lead singer) had the whole audience chanting "Let's change the world" as an improvised ad-lib.
Although world happenings can make me feel weary, I will remember the power we all hold to effect change. I'll remember all the good people and be inspired to take action accordingly. I won't get swallowed up in anger or blame. There IS good to be found. God Bless all those who haven't given up hope or faith. God Bless us all as we face those internal stirrings that can challenge our nature.
This Monday morning we learned of a manhunt, a suspect and a capture.
There were no fatalities from the multiple bombings. Stabbing victims in Minnesota have all survived. Two homeless people found the Elizabeth, NJ bomb and notified police before any explosion. The race in Seaside Park, NJ had been delayed so that no runners were passing at the time that the bomb there detonated. Other bombs that were found did not detonate as intended. A bar owner notified police when a man fitting the suspect's description was found sleeping in his doorway. The suspect was then apprehended after shooting an officer whose life was likely saved by his bullet proof vest.
Yes. There are Blessings to be found.
Namaste,
T
"I think it is important to remember what terrorists and violent extremists are trying to do. They are trying to hurt innocent people, but they also want to inspire fear in all of us, and disrupt the way we live to undermine our values... We all have a role to play as citizens in making sure that we don't succumb to that fear. And there is no better example of that than the people of New York and New Jersey." - President Barack Obama
That's what I said early last week when I walked into the little book/gift shop that I frequent, and saw the lady behind the counter demonstrating a most interesting spinning object to a customer. She told me it was a Tibetan Prayer Wheel.
I was in a hurry that day and the shop was busy, so I returned on Friday to look at it in more detail. The shop owner explained to me that the wheel contained a prayer inside (Om mani padme hum), and the idea is that the user says his or her own prayer which is then sent out into the Universe as the wheel is spun around, having a kind of amplified effect. I was so intrigued! I had never heard of such a thing or seen anything like it. It looked important, sacred, something to be revered. I bought it and took it home, eager to learn more about the practice.
Prayer Wheel: A revolving cylinder with or containing prayers,
a revolution of which symbolizes the repetition of prayer,
used by Tibetan Buddhists. (Concise Oxford English Dictionary)
I like the idea of learning something about another culture, another practice, and deepening our understanding of our fellow brothers and sisters. At a time in the world when our differences make headlines and cause unimaginable conflict... Why not respond by finding something new and different to appreciate in a culture we may not be familiar with? I like the idea of making that a habit. What better way is there to oppose forces that seek to divide our human family than finding a way to unite our human spirit through understanding?
The really cool thing about this week is that I had the pleasure of numerous unexpected guests. They were all family members who stopped by for visits and I loved it! I had wanted to make the rounds visiting people before the end of summer and some of them beat me to it.
It always seems a little sad to me when summer winds down. The beach and the little ice cream shop close for the end of the season. Patio furniture and bikes will soon be put away for winter. The air is getting cooler (although that's a welcome change THIS year). There's the overwhelming feeling that something is coming to an end. Extra family visits seemed to make up for that though - or at least take the edge off somewhat. It's the perfect thing to be grateful for this week.
Here's to finding the bright side!
"Dancing in the Moonlight" has been stuck in my head this week.
It's featured in a television commercial that keeps airing.
It's been a while since this very special song and fundraising effort has appeared in this blog. I would like to start including a link to it in upcoming posts. This is a repost of "SPECIAL EDITION BLOG - Superhero (Song for St. Jude)" as originally posted in January of this year... Many thanks to everyone who helps us spread the word and to those who help support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Namaste, T
REPOST:
Hello everybody...
We are so excited to announce the release of our new song, "SuperHero (Song for St. Jude)," with proceeds going to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!
Some time ago, Russell and I were asked to perform at a college event to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We had seen commercials for St. Jude and were familiar with the remarkable story of its inception by founder Danny Thomas. We offered not only to perform at that event, but to go a step further and also write a song to be released with proceeds going to benefit St. Jude.
We sat down as songwriters, seeking inspiration and more information about the hospital. What we learned about St. Jude moved us to tears of joy. Its history, groundbreaking research and extraordinary contributions to families around the world affected by life threatening diseases filled us with extreme pride in their astounding accomplishments.
We learned about the most amazing children whose courage and strength are inspirational beyond measure. Words can scarcely describe their incredible spirit. To us, they are superheroes. Thus, the concept for the song “SuperHero (Song for St. Jude)” was born.
While so many of us find it easy to complain about little things, these kids fight for their very lives. They do it with bright, smiling faces and beam with positive energy. They are leaders, showing us all how to live with courage, strength, hope and joy.
Our song’s story is about a fictitious little boy who finds his strength in helping others. He is a secret superhero who delivers “heaven’s kisses sprinkled on ice cream” along with love and strength to those in need. He takes away pain and fulfills wishes inside the dreams of others.
It seems like this is exactly what the patients at St. Jude do and the facility itself does for the world by showing us all that anything is possible. Danny Thomas once asked St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, for guidance. After over fifty years of miracles, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gives hope to us all.
Thank you to all of the superheroes who have made St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital a beacon of hope. This song is our gift to you.
To help raise funds, we encourage you to buy a copy of the song for yourself and gift it to someone as well. We’ve also set up a page on the St. Jude website (link below) for those who wish to make additional donations toward our fundraising efforts. Thank you.
Early in the week I saw a news report that caught my attention. It was about a couple in Turkey who decided to feed Syrian refugees instead of hosting an expensive dinner reception for family and friends. Amazing.
The story stood out in sharp contract to other news stories. Then came the story of how police officers showed up to a three year old's birthday party when many of the guests cancelled at the last minute and the mother feared it was because of her son's autism. Beautiful.
It was so nice to hear about good, positive things happening amidst all of the other disheartening things. Later still in the week, yet another news report contained a stand out sentence. It said:
"We're often better at outrage than understanding."
- Steve Hartman
It was a story about a well-intentioned woman's community act that was not well received. One can understand the varying opinions on the building of a slave cabin - historic significance and intentions aside.
A major point in that story is how two people with very different perspectives can come to some understanding - and they did. It was another thought provoking and inspirational piece of news.
I suppose I've been watching a lot of news. I'm glad to be reminded that there are good stories. There are so many tragic things happening and so much anger and grief. It is easy to be overwhelmed. It's easy to just not watch at all, but then we'd just be uninformed.
I'll try to remember that even in the midst of unimaginable loss, amazing human spirit can be found. I don't have to stick my head in the sand in order to maintain my faith in the goodness of humanity. Terrible reports are media highlights, but there IS inspiration to be found. There IS understanding to be gained. I will look for good news. It is there too.
Namaste,
T
P.S. Just as I finished this, a news article popped up on my phone... a baby born... "amid unspeakable calamity..."
Early in the week I heard a news broadcast in which one of the featured guests said something that really caught my attention:
"You're not just responsible for what you say.
You are responsible for what people hear."
- Gen. Michael Hayden
We have ALL played the blame game. We do it all the time. Examples of it are EVERYWHERE. What if there was absolutely no one else to blame for anything? What if we had to take complete responsibility for everything we experience and every feeling we have?
Alright then... I'll make a conscious effort to notice when I lean toward pointing a finger at anyone else for the way I feel. I'll ask myself what I can do within myself to work toward a better outlook.
I truly enjoyed watching the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio! What an inspiration - seeing all of those athletes and countries come together... A commercial that keeps airing during the games features sections of a poem by Maya Angelou that has really stuck with me. The complete version is printed here.
Human Family
I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.
The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.
I've sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I've seen the wonders of the world,
not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I've not seen any two
who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.
We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.
I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
- Maya Angelou
"Olympic Opening Ceremonies - A journey through time"
I am breathing unity and human camaraderie as if they were air this week. With media highlighting our differences lately, it is positively nourishing to remember how alike we all really are.
I'm sorry to report that my ailing relative has passed away.
As family gathered and tears were shed, as we shared happy memories and love radiated at the funeral home, the departed's wife emphasized her desire to more frequently tell everyone she cared about that she loved them. Of course her husband knew she loved him - everyone did. You couldn't have missed that. I believe her point was that you can't say it enough, and that you should let people know how you love and appreciate them - and do it often.
That's at the top of my list this week.
Let's focus on our gratitude for the people in our lives. Let's make certain they know how much we love and appreciate them.
"If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure, and then
Again, I would spend them with you"
- Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle)
"But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you"
