Repost: SPECIAL EDITION BLOG - "Superhero (Song for St. Jude)"

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.

CLICK HERE for "SuperHero (Song for St. Jude)" on iTunes

CLICK HERE for our Donation Page on the St. Jude website

CLICK HERE for the "SuperHero (Song for St. Jude)" page on tanyadiona.com

Official Music Video on YouTube

The Good News

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.

Click here for article: "The Most Generous Bride on Earth: Couple Feeds 4000 Syrian Refugees on Their Wedding Day"

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.

Click here for article: "Police crash boy's birthday party in best way possible"

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.

Click here for article: "Missouri woman builds slave cabin to bring community together"

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..."

Click here for article: "Amid death in Aleppo, a spark of life" (warning: disturbing video)

The Blame Game

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.

Namaste,
T

More Alike...

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.

Namaste,

T

I Love You

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"

- Stevie Wonder (I Just Called to Say I Love You)

With Love and Appreciation...
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

#SingLouder

On Sunday, a most lovely speaker told the congregation that when we encounter someone who seems different from ourselves, we should talk to them. We should try to find the "sameness" that exists between us because the world now requires us to join together.

I believe she was right.

Love and Peace to all of us...

Namaste,
T

Blowing in the Wind...