Like Magic...

I was tired. I didn't know how I was going to muster up the strength to get through the whole, four-hour-long, high-energy gig without anyone noticing my exhaustion.

A friend had sent me a selfie as I was leaving the house. I tried to send one back, but none of them were coming out well. I thought, "Geez, I look terrible." I was wearing my fatigue outwardly.

But then something amazing happened. After the long drive through the beautiful Hudson Valley and a very pleasant encounter with the nicest valet guy ever, I began to feel a little better. Upon greeting the other singer and some of the musicians, we started kidding around and laughing. By the start of the gig, I felt a LOT better. The crowd turned out to be the sweetest group of lively, friendly people, the staff was smiling and happy, my bandmates were the greatest bunch of guys (besides being awesome musicians), and I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of the whole event family. I had a fabulous time! No one would've guessed that I had started off the day so sluggish - including me! LOL.

"We cannot live only for ourselves. 

A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow man."

- Herman Melville

L to R: John, Chris, Me, Paul, Harvey, Doug

Being a part of that fellowship was truly energizing - such an uplifting experience. I drove home with a profound sense of happiness and an energetic spirit, grateful to have been surrounded by such wonderful, positive energy. Also, I was reminded that we are exactly as we believe we are. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped thinking that I was tired and started thinking that I was going to have a lot of fun.

"Every thought we think is creating our future."

- Louise Hay

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. 

The mind is everything. What we thnk, we become."

- Buddha

"The words, 'I am...' are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to. 

The thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you."

- A.L. Kitselman

I'll listen carefully to my thoughts this week. If I start telling myself "I am tired" or anything I wish not to be, I'll replace it with something more like, "I am going to have a great day!" It's just a thought, after all. It can be changed - like magic.

Namaste,

T

Making a List, Checking it Twice

(Ring Ring...)

Tan:  Hello?

Mom:  Are you writing your blog?

Tan:  No.  I don't know what to write about.  I got nothing.  So, I'm organizing my closets.

Mom:  Write about that.

In church today, the lecturer spoke about distractions.  She reminded us about how we are all connected to each other and to the Divine and that we are ALWAYS connected that way - but sometimes we forget.  Sometimes we have "Divine Attention Deficit Disorder."

That explains a lot.  Could that be the reason why we can feel lonely for no good reason at all or why good friends can feel like unfamiliar strangers all of a sudden?  Is this why it can feel like we're not going anywhere or don't have anything - when in reality we have absolutely everything we need and are exactly where we are supposed to be?

It reminds me of the holidays and how easy it is to get distracted.  It's all too easy to do what we, in our family, call twirling.  Twirling is what you do when you're not sure which way to go.  You start to go one way, then something catches your attention in the other direction so you turn and go that way instead.  This keeps happening until pretty soon you feel like you're running all over, but you're really going nowhere except around in circles.  If it happens when you're Christmas shopping - that's when you know it's time to go home and get organized.  Make a list and stick to it.  

Okay.  Can't we apply that solution to the spiritual twirl as well?  Let's see... if a list were to help me out of a spiritual twirl, what would that list look like?  Something like this?

This week, I'll try to stay focused.  I'll make lists for tasks to be accomplished and get something done.  I'll also carry around this spiritual reminder list.  If I feel myself beginning to twirl, I'll go home and regroup.  Maybe I'll organize my closets or something.  :)

Namaste,

T

P.S.

Ever since thinking of this title (Making a List, Checking it Twice),  I've been walking around the house singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."  So, I found this on Youtube:

xoxo!!!