What They Said

Why do we listen to everybody else when we know better? Who is "they" and when did they become so powerful? 

I lost my voice. People have all kinds of ideas about what might help. "They" say you should... (insert advice here). I had a moment where I just closed my eyes and went internal. It helps to tune everyone else out. I know what I need to do (and my doctor appointment is coming up). 

The idea of peer pressure and following others is all over the place. There are social media "influencers" and everyone wants "followers." We need to listen to ourselves. 

Click here for: "Speaking of Psychology: The good and bad of peer pressure" by The American Psychological Association

Sometimes we forget.

Wishing us all peace this holiday season...

Love,

T

Clear the Mind

It's more of an instruction to myself than a blog title.

Everyone has a LOT going on at this time of year already - and now we're making up for lost time too! It was our first trip back to the children's museum since the pandemic. I traveled back in time to the dinosaur age.

There was a whole bunch of family fun - and the coordinating fuss that goes along with a busy weekend of trying to do too much in too little time. 

I thought about it on my run. I appreciate that quiet time. Usually, that quiet time is when good ideas come. It's when peace comes. It's not easy to make that time, but life is harder if you don't.

Here's wishing you some beautiful moments of quiet and peace this holiday season. 

Goodnight all.

Love you,

T

The Road

A lot can happen in a day, a week, a year...

Here's to the journey! Here's to launching ourselves out there!

And to finding simple joys along the way...

Here's wishing us all some peace and well deserved comfort. May we improve our ability to go with the flow and enjoy the present moment as much as possible.

:)

Have fun with it.

Love,

T

Vote

 Vote.

Period.

Love,

T

The Everyday

We're OK. May that be the first thing you hear from loved ones as the next few weeks go by.

We went from new school protocols, to no school. From playground, to no contact with other children - not even the ones next door. From relatively normal life - to this.

As is the case for most of the world, life is changing by the minute.

Now we are heroes for keeping distance from each other, for following guidelines that require our mastery of the mundane within the walls at home.

There's a litany of things we can NOT do, but what about the things that we can? We can appreciate time together with our children. We can understand that we are all in this together. We can learn more. We can seek out positivity and do our part to promote it. We can call someone who is alone or elderly and keep them company by our conversation. We can put differences aside. We can act in a way that lifts others up and that brings us together in spirit. We can find new ways to have fun. We can do a lot to show each other love and respect.

Here's wishing health and happiness... and for the peace and comfort that comes from knowing that there are great depths of Love, Kindness, Understanding and Strength within us all.

Stay safe.
Love,
T

Click here for The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Winter Wonderland

Sorry so late. I have to sing tomorrow and I'm all stuffed up. There's no time to rest when the driveway needs to be shoveled. After two times, I finally gave up and called a guy with a plow. My body will not allow me to lift a shovel again any time soon. #Ouch. Before everything got crazy today, I thought of you though.

It was after midnight last night when I took the dogs out. The snow was falling so fast! It filled the sky and air with silvery light. For a few brief moments, it was quiet, peaceful and serene. It was one of those times when you just have to pause and take in the beauty of it all.

I'm holding onto THAT this week.

Blessings of peace and beauty to us all...

Love,
T

The Complaint Department

This is where all complaints, criticisms and general negativity are going to go...

There (dusting off hands). With that out of the way we can focus on some fun in the sun!

"I hear ya, Tan"

"Okay Mommy"

"I STILL say these make me look ridiculous"

"They're cute, Sadie"

#FamilyFun #FamilyConversations

Here's to a great week of summer fun!

A little birthday present for myself representing the "coexist" concept

Someone once told me that religion was supposed to bring people together, not separate them. That was back when I was considering dating someone of a different faith. ;) These pieces celebrate different faiths, peace, chakras and the lotus flower. #HappyBirthdayToMe xo

Click here for "Coexist (image)" on Wikipedia

Namaste,

T

Gimme A Break

I don't need encouragement, validation, pats on the back or anything like that. I just want to tell the truth. I was weary. I'd had enough, was completely worn out and felt like my composure was slipping. There were simply too many things to do and not enough time or nearly enough sleep. I ran into a friend to whom I immediately began spewing out my exasperation. She said I needed a break. I disagreed. "What I NEED, is to get my work done." I was seriously stressed.

I headed home and started racing around like a maniac trying to get a thousand things done in the time it would normally take to do only ten things. After a while I noticed the clock (5:39pm). Evening service would start at 6pm and I had just enough time to get there. ("But all the unfinished work," my brain chided me.) I flipped a coin. (Heads, so off to church I went.)

I arrived just before 6pm and noticed that a whole series of texts mysteriously vanished from my phone as if to say, "forget all about this." (Alright.) During the meditation I thought I might fall apart. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I just sat there quietly and tried to "get in tune with my heart" as the minister instructed. My heart had HAD it. I was running on empty and my heart felt it.

Amazingly and almost instantly I realized an answer. (I didn't even know I had a question!) I was not at the mercy of circumstance. It didn't matter how little time I had or what curve balls came at me. I was not powerless. I would get through. I just knew it. I was certain.

It sounds simple enough, but that little quiet break was exactly what I needed. It really only took a few minutes. I stayed for the whole service anyway, but after five minutes or so of meditation I was good.

So I guess my friend was right. I'm glad I ran into her. I'm grateful for her instruction and for the logistical ability to take that break. It truly did wonders.

Namaste,
T

The Happy Way

That's it. I'm on vacation.

S'mores time

A friend of mine recently quoted Thich Nhat Hanh:

"There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way."

I'm down with that. So when I'm wondering which way to go and teetering on the edge of chaos...

I'm choosing happiness, peace, and serenity.

My view from the winery this afternoon

Ahhh...

Have a great holiday everyone! Happy Fourth! Next stop: the beach!

xoxo

Namaste,

T

She Was...

Her son had passed away 10 days prior. She had just been to his funeral the week before she gave the lecture on Sunday. The first words out of her mouth when she reached the podium were about how grateful she was.

She was grateful for the time she had with him. She was grateful in her knowledge that he would be with her more than ever now. (In his physical form, her adult son had moved hundreds of miles away and they didn't see each other very often.)

She spoke of how we are responsible for creating the neural pathways that make us grateful and happy. She held the congregation silent and attentive with her pure sincerity. She was an inspiration to behold.

She had addressed the physical aspect of her grief with acupuncture. She understands the depth of her love for her son. She managed to touch our hearts and lift us all up despite her immeasurable loss. She smiled as I shook her hand after the service.

Oh that we might all channel her brand of faith, love and gratitude.

Thank you - for those amazing souls who teach us how to live and love.

Namaste,
T

A Moment...

I'm not even writing a blog this week. I'm taking a moment to pray.

That we all may be able to pray in peace...

Namaste,

T

Simply Put

Simplify.

This sums it all up.

So much going on! First road trip with the baby... There was a trailer, a thousand trips to the store, two diaper bags, two dogs, doctor appointments, unexpected schedule changes, a testy exchange with the lady behind me in line at Bed Bath & Beyond when I was taking too long to find my coupons, unexpected visits, a back strain and a 12 hour drive that might have been six and a half hours if I were by myself. Church sermon was about miracles, hope and freeing ourselves from our darkness - or whatever it is that entombs us. I HAD a good blog idea that included NONE of these things and I can't even remember it in the midst of all this chaos. Then I was shown this picture of vehicles for sale at a used car dealership:

HA! That's it. That's what I'm going with this week. #Simplicity. I'll take the Amish buggy on the end, please and thank you!

This song was playing at one of my stops this week and just made me happy (simple, fun):

Click here for song facts about "Why Can't We Be Friends"

Here's wishing us all a peaceful week of simple clarity and deep breaths...

Namaste,
T

Back to Basics

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.

Click here for "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on Songfacts.com

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

#TheRightSide

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.

Namaste,
T

A Little Prayer...

Today I bought a little prayer book titled "A Book of Healing Prayer." I was looking for some prayers to say for a relative going through some health challenges. The book is a compilation of prayer submissions from people who have served as healers at The Healing Temple at the Spiritualist community of Lily Dale, New York. Proceeds from sales of the book will go toward improving and renovating The Healing Temple there. The book includes "verse and prayers of many religions, ancient and modern, that embrace the diversity of our world. Spiritualism believes that Spiritual Healing is available to all life." I sat down and read it from cover to cover. All the quotes used here are taken from it.

As I read through all the prayers, I was keenly reminded of how much we are all alike. There are words written from people all over the world. Sentiments from people of different cultures and from different times - all seeking comfort, love, peace and understanding.

When I look at the statistics of people who read this blog, sometimes I am astounded at the worldwide audience. This week alone, there have been views from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Germany, Mauritius, Portugal and Saudi Arabia. I am so grateful to be able to connect here with brothers and sisters from around the world!

It occurs to me that as I seek out prayers for an ailing relative, people all over the world are doing the same thing for theirs. My hope this week is that we can all say a prayer or two keeping each other in mind. There are so many of us searching for the same thing - healing, love, peace, understanding - and asking for it in the quiet of our own hearts. May we remember that we are many. May that give us strength and reassurance.

"God Is Love

With bended knees, with hands outstretched,

do I yearn for the effective expression of the

Holy Spirit working within me.

For this love and understanding, truth and justice;

for wisdom to know the apparent from the real

that I might alleviate the sufferings of men on earth...

God is love, understanding, wisdom, and virtue.

Let us love one another, let us practice mercy and forgiveness,

let us have peace, born of fellow-feeling...

Let my joy be of altruistic living, of doing good to others.

Happiness is unto him from whom happiness

proceeds to any other human being."

- Zoroastrian Prayer

"O Great Spirit

Help me always speak the truth quietly, 

to listen with an open mind when others speak

and to remember the peace that may be found in silence."

- Cherokee Prayer

"For those who have asked us to pray for them,

For those that we have promised to pray for,

For those that have no one to pray for them,

May they know the embrace of God's healing touch and love.

Amen"

 - Anonymous 

"I ask the Great Unseen Healing Force to remove

all obstructions from my mind and body

and to restore me to perfect health.

I ask this in all sincerity and honesty

and I will do my part.

I ask the Great Unseen Healing Force

to help both present and absent ones who are

in need of help and to restore them to 

perfect health.

I put my trust in the Love and Power of God."

- Spiritualist Prayer for Healing

Namaste,
T

#LetItGo

The topic of forgiveness came up several times this week. There was a difference of opinion with someone and the conversation about it that followed. There was a completely unrelated talk with a different friend about their argument with someone. Then there was a butterfly...

While having a difference of opinion via text message with someone, I described my thoughts to a friend I was with. "I don't have to argue. I don't have to get them to understand my point of view. I don't have to be right. All I need to do is walk away," I said.

It struck me as funny how simple that was, yet how challenging that can be sometimes - to just walk away. Oftentimes when we "let it go" or walk away, we do it with an attitude or judgement toward the other party. I meant just really letting go though, without any harsh feelings.

It's easy to stew about some perceived injustice and complain to anyone who will listen. It's easy to walk away and decide that the other person is a _____ (insert undesirable name here). What about actually respecting their perception or circumstance as different than ours, not better or worse?

"To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it."

- Confucious

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Drawing upon what I learned from audio books and seminars I recently listened to (Co-Creating At Its Best, Wayne Dyer, Esther Hicks; The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle; Sacred Contracts and Archtypes, Carolyn Myss), I practiced shifting my thoughts and letting go. I actually felt lighter when I did.

"Resentments are burdens we don't need to carry."

 - Anon.

"Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools."

- Albert Einstein

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."

- Buddha

The next day, someone else I know described an argument that they just had with someone. We talked about refocusing thoughts in a way that would allow any negativity to float away like a butterfly.

Today, a butterfly fluttered across my path as I was pulling out of the driveway. It was big and yellow and beautiful, and danced away into a neighbor's yard as I stopped the car to watch it.

Here's to a beautiful new week... light, fresh, new...  and free...

Namaste,
T

Serenity 101

After the crazy hectic video release week, and a drive from Buffalo to Brooklyn and back, it was time to settle down and relax. I headed for the hills...

A trip to the Amish countryside always calms my spirit.

Then there were family visits, nature's beauty and the lake...

"Every breath we take, every step we make, 

can be filled with peace, joy and serenity."

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Then I discovered Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and Kristina Tracy's children's book, "Unstoppable Me."

"Just try to remember,

when stressful thoughts attack,

that positive actions on your part

are the best way to fight back."

- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and Kristina Tracy

This week, as I strive to balance work and play, I will take moments and breathe in serenity. I will be at peace.

Namaste,

T

The Way Home...

I am SO PSYCHED!

In one week, we will be releasing our first official music video!!! It's for the song "Only Way Home." All week, we'll be posting video snippets, photos and quotes having to do with the song, beginning with this short clip from a live show, talking about how the song / album concept was born...

This past week, as we've been preparing the promotional material, the song's concept has been at the forefront of my mind.

Home is referred to in the song as a place of peace, a place where we all strive to be. We don't always know how to get there, but with faith, if we keep pushing forward, we will find it.

So many things fit this theme over the last week. Whether it was friends traveling to their hometowns for family reunions, heartwarming conversations with loved ones, the sense of celebration and pride that filled so many hearts after the Supreme Court decision on Friday, the magic of sharing the stage with a special family of musicians, the glow in the eyes of a newly married couple, the young couple I know who purchased their first house together, or challenges overcome in the relentless pursuit of health and happiness; there seemed to be a feeling of "home" everywhere I looked. (How cool is THAT?)

The song says that the way to get home is by moving forward - as opposed to giving up or retreating into fear. It says that the way to get back home is by persevering in our dreams and hearts' desires, and pushing through in challenging or uncertain times. If we keep going, we will eventually get home to that sense of peace, that place where we truly belong, that place where happiness lives.

At "Home" on the gig - with Russ and Apollo Joe

As I post about "Only Way Home" this week, I'll continue to think about all the wonderful people, places and things that feel like home - and I'll be grateful for them.  :)

Namaste,
T

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