Monday, April 27, 2015

We ARE - We Can

Early last week, after paying all of my bills, the stitch that I had been feeling in my side all that morning miraculously disappeared. I thought this blog might be about procrastinating and the amazing things that happen when we stop doing it.

Thursday was the "We Are Family Foundation" gala in NYC. The foundation is doing absolutely incredible things to promote our global family! It was an honor to be there among such an amazing group of true world leaders - that's what I call this pool of Angels who work tirelessly to make positive changes in the world. This year's honorees included: Caryl M. Stern, President & CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF; Bill McDermott, CEO, SAP; and Chaka Khan, Grammy Award Winning Music Icon.


Chaka Khan receiving the Humanitarian Award

Kim, Nile Rodgers, Jerry, Russ performing "Get Lucky"

Graham-Fam: Russ, Mom and Dad Graham, me

On Sunday, my phone's navigator was interrupted when - for no apparent reason - it started playing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" all by itself and repeated the song THREE times! Finally, I turned it off saying, "OKAY! OKAY! I get it!"

Doreen Virtue's calendar page for last Tuesday 


Today (Monday as I write this), I see that CNN has set up a page titled "How to help victims of the Nepal earthquake" and I hear Loretta Lynch (the first female African-American US Attorney General, sworn into office today) saying, "We can do anything."



Loretta Lynch sworn in... "We can do anything."


In putting it all together, here's what I get...

We have much work to do. If we all stop procrastinating, we can accomplish amazing things together. We will all feel lifted and there is NOTHING we can't do.

I will carry these thoughts with me as I journey through the week to come. #KeepGoing

Namaste,
T

Monday, April 20, 2015

All I Need

It started off a good week. I had the courage and confidence to let go of some things that were bogging down my mind and spirit. I had a great gig in Brooklyn and met some lovely people.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden - with John and Trevor

Gig selfie - from the car

Then came the stress...

So what about when the going gets tough? What about when you just don't feel like it? (Feel like what? Feel like - anything.) Fake it 'til you make it? Just go through the motions? Keep pushing through? How? (Sometimes you need to know the "how.")

I Googled and found a variety of opinions...

Iyanla Vanzant's video on courage: "Fake It Till You Make It"


The Oprah Winfrey Network's video: "When NOT to Fake it Till You Make it"



I guess it comes down to finding something that works for YOU. As long as we don't give up, we CAN make it somehow - by faking it, or letting go, or pushing through or finding something to help. We can ALWAYS find SOMETHING to get through. 

We ARE all we NEED to get by...

"You're All I Need to Get By" written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

Namaste,
T
P.S. 
Sometimes I need - a laugh. Here's one of my favorite scenes from "The Jerk," guaranteed to make you smile.
"That's all I need!"

Monday, April 13, 2015

Laying Down the Mulch

Thursday was a fabulous day! I was having an amazing time at my gig - with OUTSTANDING singers/entertainers and incredible musicians.

I sent Russ this picture:

With John J. and Bobby D.

He responded with this picture of his own:

Russ with Sir Elton John

AWESOME!!!!!

Today (Sunday) was a BEAUTIFUL DAY! It was the first really warm and sunshiny day of the year, getting all the way up to 63 degrees. I spent most of the day outside enjoying it.

I really got a jump on the weed situation this time. Last year, I remember getting a very rude awakening to an out-of-control weed situation in September. This year, I was all over it early! I clipped, weeded, and laid down five bags of mulch. I decided I was NOT going to let it get out of control like last year.


Wish I could say Bentley was helpful...

It felt as if I was working off some steam too. I had been thinking heavily about some comments a "friend" had made the day before that were not sitting well with me - at all.

When I got back in the house and checked Facebook, I found this quote:

"People inspire you or they drain you. Pick them wisely."
- Hans F. Hansen

This week, I will not be afraid to let things go. I will choose to spend my time and energy wisely and will not allow my thoughts to become weeds, choking out new growth.

xoxo!

Namaste,
T
"I actually WAS helpful!" - Sadie
"Are we gonna have lunch now?" - Bentley

Monday, April 6, 2015

Springtime Collage

An Academic Festival, Chuck D., a collage workshop, Passover, and Easter; somehow they all stick together in a way that works. Freedom (Passover) and renewal (Easter) were concepts present in both Friday's Seder and Sunday's church service, as well as two events that I attended at NCC's Academic Festival earlier last week.

Seder plate / alter at Easter Mass
(Seder plate photo courtesy of Danielle Graham)




Russ and I both attended a keynote address given by Chuck D., founder of rap group Public Enemy and social activist, titled “Rap, Race and Reality.” He was inspirational, sharing his experience and encouraging everyone to be students of the things about which we are passionate. He talked about the value of sharpening our talents into skills, love as power, collective voice and appreciation of artists that had to “say something.” (I gave him a copy of my CD – “Nothing to Prove, Something to Say.”) He spoke about not becoming a slave to corporate plantations ("CORPlantations") and told us to use the brain in our pocket (phones) as a tool instead of a toy. He asked that we not let “common nonsense” replace common sense; implored us all to be smarter than our smartphones and not be renters of our own mind. He pointed out that we can design ourselves from the inside, by developing our intellect and learning to define the things we love. He reinforced the idea that we can all have goals to provide a cultural service and can all be cultural-ists, "earthizens," and optimists. 

His message was delivered with sincerity, humor, down-to-earth style and a voice that combined experience, well-honed knowledge and purpose. More than an inspiration, Chuck D. was a shining star igniting us all. According to Connecticut newspaper The Hour, Chuck D. has delivered this lecture at over 600 colleges over the last 23 years and NCC President David Levinson described his presence at the Academic Festival as “phenomenal.” Thank you, Chuck D.!

with Russ and Public Enemy's Chuck D.
(Somebody could've told me to fix my hair - lol)

Chuck D. and me


The next day I attended a workshop titled “If You Can Envision It, You Can Achieve It!" - described as "A collage workshop on making your own inspiration board.” I thought it would be a lecture/demonstration. It was not. There was a table set up with magazines, print designs, rubber stamps, markers, cardboard, scissors and glue; and a Professor of “Creative Voice” to guide the way. It was not what I expected at all, but I LOVED IT! Professor Melissa Slattery explained that the idea was to just pick out what seemed attractive to us, from the available materials, and our collages would naturally evolve themselves. Her handout instructed participants not to try to make it perfect or right, but to be playful and “JUST DO IT.” The idea was to create a talisman having something to do with “identity, hopes, goals, sense of humor, playfulness, resourcefulness, and commitment to your academic growth.”

with Nick and Paul

with Professor Slattery


What a great way to get in touch with what motivates us creatively! I picked a gray cardboard slate that said “Cloudy Bay,” but then proceeded to fill it with rainbows of color and words like “Make it Happ...” (which could stand for "Make it Happen" or "Make it Happy") and “Just Do It.” Every piece I glued on was something that I liked - for the color, the picture, or for the thought it provoked. I colored edges, and stamped and glittered sections. My collage represented the idea that we can make anything we desire out of our circumstance. 

As my “Cloudy Bay” transformed into “Colorful Delight,” the piece became a metaphor for life to me. It was all done by simply finding little pieces and scraps that I liked, and arranging them all together. By the end, the whole thing told a story. I truly enjoyed myself, made some new friends in the process, and watched images and ideas that I value, magically unfold in story form right before my eyes.




It seems we can nourish our mind, body and spirit in a natural order with freedom, creative expression, self-discovery, revival, and renewal; then take it all to the next level with education, action and purpose. We can redesign ourselves from the inside out with the proper nourishment. We can spring back to life (just like my kitchen plant) with the proper care.

Before and after watering...

This week, I'll be on the lookout for that which inspires me. I will carry the ideas of Chuck D. and Professor Slattery along with the traditions of Passover and Easter; and nourish my being with the things I love, learning about them and growing myself with purpose and direction.

Namaste,
T