This lovely girl (I'm going with "girl") appeared outside the diner this week.
This one (above) was at the pediatrician's office. Hundreds more appeared in a National Geographic photo sent to my phone this morning (I'd post the link, but it seems to have disappeared). Maybe there's more to the story that I'm supposed to think about.
I've been taking some time out for myself every evening before bed to read. Just a few minutes is all I need - just enough so that I am taking some action toward my own personal objective of reading a book. Last week I actually finished the book. I can't tell you how many books I have started reading over the years and never finished. My bookshelves are full of them! This time, I finally finished. Then I started another. #gettingsomethingaccomplished :)
"God is within her. She will not fail"
- Psalm 46:5
This quote begins the book I'm reading now. The quote echoes points made at the end of the previous book about how important it is to take action, however small, toward your goals (or dreams). Reflecting about the butterflies, I'm thinking of the action of their flight. They must move, fly, spread their wings. That's what's up this week - action.
Ever notice how we put things off? Busy work crowds out things we want to do for ourselves and we never get around to doing some things that we really want to. My time is short these days with the baby. (Isn't everyone's time short for one reason or another?) To-do lists are always getting shuffled, and tasks get prioritized, often resulting in nonaccomplishment of some very important goals for myself. Adding to the obstacles, we can admit that fear of failure is a contributor to our tendency to put some goals on the back burner as well.
To transform as a butterfly, action is required. Transformation can be thought about, and we can evolve in our thinking all day long, but we must act if we want to continue the cycle. We have to spread wings to fly. I've been doing well with workouts lately. I've managed to get to the gym consistently and reached a goal of lowering my blood sugar through exercise and diet. Also, I completed a book by tackling one page at a time. Now, I think it's time to identify some more goals on the wish list and take some action toward achieving them. Any action toward the goal will be a success.
"There is no failure except in no longer trying."
- Chris Bradford
"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."
- Paul Coelho
That is my continued lesson from my friends, the butterflies. :) xo
They've been all around me lately! When I was letting the dogs in, one flew right in front of my face. Russ said, "Whoa! Did you see that butterfly?"
Yes. I've been seeing them everywhere. It was a few days later that a little girl I know drew me a picture. "That's nice," I said, "What is it? A heart?"
"It's a butterfly," she informed me.
Saturday morning I noticed some pretty flowers in front of a local diner. While in the middle of a little flower photo shoot, we got photobombed...
Soon another one came along and didn't mind posing for a few shots...
The next day, a butterfly flew in front of me while I was talking to someone and literally interrupted our conversation. Later that day, out of nowhere, another friend texted me a picture of a butterfly.
"The butterfly is one of the most emblematic totem animals symbolizing personal transformation."
- spiritanimal.info
I have been thinking not only of personal transformation, but of transformation in a broader sense a lot lately. It seemed as if everyone was talking about sexual harassment last week. It was all over the headlines, the radio, the television and social media. I was surprised that anyone would be "shocked" that a powerful entertainment industry executive would be accused of (or could be guilty of) sexual harassment. (Really? Shocked?)
Then there were the comments from Donna Karan implying women were "asking for it" by presenting sensuality and sexuality in their appearance. (Again... REALLY??? Victim blaming? In 2017? From someone who designs those "presentations"?) After fierce criticism, she said she regretted making those comments and that she was in fact "shocked" by them herself.
The talk radio show discussing the general issue of sexual harassment had me listening so intently I missed my opportunity for a cardio workout, while opting instead to stay and listen in the parking lot of the gym. Some "brave" women came forward to talk about their battles. Others expressed their lack of "bravery" in similar situations. Many of us have experienced both sides of that fence.
I like the idea that the whole collective is transforming - standing up for ourselves in new ways, bringing to light things that were in the shadows. Does it mean that sexual harassment will stop? Certainly not. Our collective evolutions might ebb and flow like the Universe Itself. Is the fact that we are having this conversation helping someone? Without a doubt, yes. A flood of support has come via #metoo, with people posting the hashtag to indicate that they have also endured sexual harassment or sexual assault.
I think of all the ways culture and societal norms affect us all. What we wear and how we act are often weighed with considerations of how we will be perceived - for both men and women, for all kinds of reasons, and in all kinds of situations. What about a day when we can all feel free to express ourselves, sexuality and all, without fear of physical vulnerability, negative consequence, or judgment? What about a day when we can look into each others' eyes, see ourselves, and offer ourselves enough compassion, kindness, and respect? What if power came from within and was not attempted to be gained by dominating or judging another? What if profits made by uniting people and seeking their best interest far outweighed those made from selling fear and division? What if we as a human race were inching toward finally getting our act together? What if all things were actually happening for the education and good of all???
I'm down with the caterpillars. Let's transform.
#letsevolve #butterflyme #butterflywe #metoo
Namaste,
T
"Your natural beauty wants to be. Set your sexy free."
- Tanya Diona, Get Your Sexy On
"But it is not enough to merely exist," said [the butterfly],
"I need freedom, sunshine, and a little flower..."
- Hans Christian Anderson
"Butterflies... flowers that fly and all but sing."
Saturday was my first gig since having the baby. It felt like I was re-entering the world. #Goodtimes - and we PLAYED that song too, lol.
WHY DIDN'T I TAKE ANY PICS ON THE GIG?
Truth: I didn't think of it. I had charged up my camera the night before and forgot it at home. Upon realizing this, I thought I'd just use my phone, but then I was too busy worrying about lyrics, my shoes, my sore throat (which came out of nowhere just before the show), mic volume, trying to find the room where they served the band dinner and trying NOT to be worried about anything!
This was taken AFTER I finally got home. AFTER my hair got all frizzed out in the damp air and AFTER the bandleader texted to say I had left my iPad behind and I turned the car around and ran back inside only to find that he had already just left with it. AFTER I ran to catch up with him in the parking lot and was relieved to find him getting into his car.
"I'm a basket case!" I said, shaking my head as I approached.
"No," he said with a smile. "You're a mom."
Anyway... The show itself was fantastic and a lot of fun! It was GREAT to be back! It's such a pleasure to work with outstanding musicians who are also so very nice and have such high spirit! I loved being there with them and being a part of the music that connected all those happy smiling faces on a packed dance floor. There really was nothing to be worried about. :)
Had a blast! Hanging onto that energy this week - with a smile.
xo
We wrapped up in the studio and headed back to the NYC area - with the baby, both dogs, a trailer and a U-Haul truck. There was a lot of clearing out and making room for the new going on. I emptied out old bookshelves and put them in the new office space. The new office had been an old storage room that was cleaned up. I went through piles of mail and bins of clothes. Old composition books were replaced with brand new blank pages and clean shelves are awaiting items for new projects. It feels good.
I've been visualizing letting go of old thoughts and ideas to help new, fresh ones unfold AND we wrote three new songs! (Well... one was already started, so it's more like two and a half.) I'm calling it "three." :)
As a reward and an effort to heal my aching body, I went for a massage. (Endless smile, deep breath, exhale) The therapist said, "I think a stretch will help you" and I thought of my muscles releasing toxins and making room for new oxygen and growth. (I'd been to the gym just prior.)
Seems like mind, body and spirit are all in balance and life is good for now. Yep. I'm going with that.
