It feels like a marathon. I am organizing my life. Every time I go through one box of papers, two or three more appear out of nowhere. This IS GOING to get done though. (If I say it out loud like that, my chances are better.)
#KeepGoing
Bit by bit, everything will get done. I'm determined to make room for all the new things waiting just around the corner.
1. Allow anyone to steal my joy
2. March into someone's trap
3. Be swayed from what I know to be true
4. Stop speaking my mind
There are so many important things happening right now. This is no time to be intimidated into silence. Also, there is this wonderful thing called a delete button - and a block - and an unfriend (if it should become necessary).
Buh-bye troll. This is MY bridge.
Have a beautiful week everyone!
And now, if you'll excuse me, I have some fun to get back to - I may even have ice cream. :)
Give yourself some credit. Only you can do things exactly the way you do! #DigDeep. Shine on!
I did NOT feel like doing anything. I had to dig deep to summon up the energy to keep going. Despite feeling exhausted, stressed out and feverish, I pushed through and made it to rehearsal. It probably would’ve been ok to postpone, but I had already assured them I'd be there and it was important to me. I’m glad I went. It was fantastic to meet a new and wonderful team of musicians, and it filled me with gratitude to be able to do what I love!
There are times when it’s best to rest, but I needed to conquer my mental objections this week. It turned out to be a real, positive boost knowing that I was able to get through. I was far from perfect, but I stopped being self-critical and gave myself a little pat on the back. Sometimes, we earn that. Sometimes we can just give ourselves a little credit and feel good about it. :)
It was a busy week with some tough circumstances, but with help and support from a few good friends, I was able to smile. Gratitude went a long way toward strengthening my mind, body and spirit.
These were my thoughts at 7am this morning when I was staring at the popcorn ceiling, trying to pry myself up from the hotel bed. It's now almost 18 hours later and I am still thinking that.
Now, as I rest for a few hours until it all starts all over again, I wonder when I will actually be "there" and where is it anyway??? I think I'll arrive at a point when I can relax for a little while on Thursday afternoon. For now, I'll just keep going.
Thank you first to God for making all things possible...
I am absolutely filled with gratitude and love for everyone whose support and encouragement made this song, this video, and this album possible; and to all of you who click, like, tweet, post, share and leave heartwarming comments. Your kindness and love make my heart sing! My deepest thanks to all of you. It is a most amazing Blessing to be able to do what I love - and feel so good about being an artist. Here's wishing all the positive energy you give out comes back to you tenfold and that all you do, in pursuit of your heart's dream, be touched with the magic, power and strength of love...
Namaste!
T
Official Music Video: Only Way Home
"Only Way Home"
On my own in New York City
Missing home for far too long
It ain't how I thought it would be
Still I keep on pressin' on
Longing for the days gone by
Times I lay down and I cry
Thinking back on how it used to be
But I ain't gettin' nowhere
Wishin' for what's not there
Now I think I finally see
**Chorus**
Keep on taking on a new day
Don't look back upon the old way
That old place is lost
It's gone, gone, gone
Next phase, bring it on, ya got me
Steep pace, only way that I see
Boldly forward is the way back home
It's the only way to get back home
Back home, back home
It's the only way to get back home
Back home, back home
It's the only way to get back home
Everybody's got a story
But everybody's all the same
Gotta get to where we're going
But don't nobody know the way
Home is where you just can be
Friends are true and you are free
Overflowing with a sense of peace
But we ain't gettin' nowhere
Actin' like we don't care
When home is where we wanna be
**Chorus**
Somewhere along the way I swear I lost my mind
Panic-stricken in my haste I tried and tried to find
From: Nothing To Prove... Something To Say Written by: Tanya Diona (BMI) and Russell Graham (ASCAP) / Produced by Russell Graham and Tanya Diona for Red Queen Productions / Lead and background vocals: Tanya Diona / All instruments and programming: Russell Graham / Recorded by: Russell Graham at Red Queen Studios, NY and Audio Magic, Buffalo, NY / Mixed by: Russell Graham at Red Queen Studios, NY / Mastered by: Gary Tole for Chelsea Sound Labs
Special thanks:
To Russ: My best friend, love and partner in everything - we did it! :) To Vincent Buccitelli, Meg, Qina and the New York Global Marketing Solutions team: for your continual encouragement to make things better and then even better, and for your swift and reliable ability to get it done! To Jim Bush: for your keen eye, photographic talents and warm spirit. To Chris Tringali and Leon Studio One: for always doing such a great job (and landing me so many hair compliments) - you're the best. To my most amazing band of musicians, vocalists and dancers whose talents make the live shows positively magical... Kenny Hawkins, Big Mike Porter, Richii Valentino, Russell Graham, Joey Diggs, Sharon Banks, Shelly Hirsch, Jenna Beth Stockman, Meghan Hinton - love you all! To Joey Diggs (Unka Doey): for your incredible talent, tireless dedication, awesome humor and true friendship. To Robbie Konikoff: for your constant encouragement and kindness. To all my family and extended family of most incredible supporters: you truly do make my heart sing and inspire me to reach higher heights! My most sincere thanks to you all...
It is ALL about the faith
this week my friends.Faith is a
miraculous thing.Pray for
it.Strive for it.Work toward it.Keep putting one foot in front of the
other until you are there.If you
don’t believe it, just keep telling yourself it’s true until you see that it
really is.
Here’s the thing… casting
calls and rejections are a part of life in this industry of entertainment. If you do not allow yourself to be
defeated, then you won’t be.
Sometimes it is really just as simple as that. Simple, yes – easy, no. Get back up on the horse that just kicked you – and don’t
let it see that you’re afraid.
Bentley's not afraid of this nice burro named Rudy...
This is what I kept telling
myself for the last few months.
Finally, I think I’ve rounded a corner, but you’ll hear more on that
later. J
To all the young musicians
out there trying: please don’t
give up – ever. The only one who
can make you quit is yourself.
Things don’t always turn out the way you want them to. A lot of times though, if you just keep
going, they turn out even better than you could’ve imagined.
Crossing that bridge when you come to it...
Note to self: I have GOT to start posting some
band/song footage. I have so many
stories relating to this theme. It
just keeps coming up in my life.
