Remember that vocal journey I started back in October? I've been posting video snippets on TikTok, but maybe I should post them on IG and FB - even Twitter too. What do you think?
It started like this:
I've just put up day eighteen of the thirty-day journey, and another, deeper journey is unfolding. I'm reminded to be grateful and make time for precious moments.
This week, I'll look up and appreciate the beauty all around.
To all those Angels who sacrificed everything for this country, for the idea of this country and for what it meant to you...
Thank you.
Also, I am sorry.
You would think that one common enemy would have brought people together, but we continue to be a work in progress. I am sorry for not working harder, for not understanding more, for being too busy, and for not being involved enough in our democracy's processes. May we all remember you with the deepest respect and move ourselves to action in renewed commitment to this same country that you died for. May we all honor you - better than we have. May we arrive ever closer to those ideas of liberty, justice and freedom that so many have strived for - and ultimately make you proud.
May our efforts show our gratitude and appreciation.
A walk in the rain can bring a beautiful new perspective.
While rain carries a beauty all its own, it also helps us appreciate the sunshine - much like the way tears of sadness help us know the sweetness of laughter with deeper understanding.
Sometimes in our effort to stay positive and happy, it's tempting to bury our heads in the sand. We don't want to feel the rain.
Only we know how much rain we're capable of dealing with at any particular time. As for me, I'm down for a walk in the rain. I'll meet you out there if you want. I'll understand if you'd rather stay inside though too.
It's amazing how many things we may have taken for granted. Just carelessly running out for groceries was such a Blessing. Wouldn't it be great if we developed a profound sense of gratitude for the incredible Blessings we still enjoy? The sky is so blue and beautiful.
I'm torn. I want to tell you all about how I flew to Las Vegas and had a fantastic time performing with Rick James's Original Stone City Band. The problem is that this earthly world lost my sweet, Great Aunt Josephine and the legendary Aretha Franklin this week as well.
Just back from my travels last night, I came to the coffee shop to sit and write this today. First I looked up funeral arrangements. Aunt Josephine's funeral was this morning and I'm sorry to say I missed it.
An Angel Feather at Rehearsal
I think I'll wait until next week to share the show details with you. Right now - I'm going to have some quiet time and reflection.
A tremendous "thank you" to all of those who came before us and helped guide our path. May we pass on the kindness and inspiration with Love and appreciation.
Remember when we had to call everyone on Thanksgiving and the list would be so long and everyone would be getting hungry and there would always be someone who you wanted to call but didn't because there just wasn't enough time? Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little (not really) but there were only so many people we could get in touch with. I usually only got to the closest family members. We wouldn't get to see everyone else's Thanksgiving table right away unless we went around visiting. Pictures would come later - if at all.
How times have changed.
Fun with Snapchat
Russell and Me on the Thanksgiving Day Drive
I'm feeling grateful to be able to stay in touch with so many people! Along with having a great time posting, I got a firsthand view into the homes of so many friends over the holiday. Texts, pictures, videos, funny stories, laughter... all made Thanksgiving even bigger.
All of the special people in my extended family and all of the people I've met and worked with over the years don't always know how much they mean to me. Projects change, people get busy, time slips by and sometimes I think of people that I haven't seen in years and wonder how they're doing. Now they're just a click away. That's great!
Sadie came home from the kennel wearing ribbons. She promptly took one out.
#ThatDogsGotTheRightIdea
:)
This week I'm celebrating the gift of staying connected with family, old friends and new friends from all over the world thanks to social media. Here's to a week filled with Blessings...
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"
It did seem a little sad when the snowman melted...
Then I happened to catch this segment of The Andy Griffith Show - when Opie had to set some birds free...
"The cage sure looks awfully empty, don't it Pa?"
"Yes son, it sure does. But don't the trees seem nice and full?"
- The Andy Griffith Show
Then the sun came...
But my favorite part of this week was sitting quietly by the creek for a little while...
As the water flowed toward me, and then away, I was reminded to live in the moment and appreciate what is here now. Things come. Things go. All is just as it is supposed to be. :)
These past couple of weeks, I've been sending out mass emails and links and posting things all to do with our song "SuperHero (Song for St. Jude)." Something seemed missing. There are so many people we know who we greatly admire, and are dear friends... a mass email felt impersonal. We sent them out that way so that they could be easily forwarded, but it still felt strange.
I remembered my intentions for the New Year about wanting to reach out and spend more quality time with loved ones. Why not spread some love? Why not reach out personally? Why not tell people how much I appreciate them? I started to send out copies of the song as gifts.
iTunes has a feature where you can either buy the song for yourself or "Gift This Album." You can also share on social media sites or copy the link.
In the weeks and months to come, we'll be working hard at spreading the word about the song and posting and sharing. We've only just begun this adventure. I will make it a point to keep in mind the spirit of the song and all the people who inspire me. I'll send out the song with a little note (you get a section to send a message when you "gift" the song to someone) and tell people how much they mean to me. I'll keep meeting new friends and share with them too.
I'm so grateful for all the heroes. All the people who inspire us have a profound ability to influence us in a most positive way. Thank you to the superhero kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, who inspire us so, and to all those who move our hearts toward appreciation and gratitude for all they do. You teach us so much! :)
It’s not exactly my favorite time of year – when the patio
furniture and the bikes get put away, the sky goes gray and the night comes early.
“A lot of people like snow.
I find it to be an unnecessary
freezing of water.”
– Carl Reiner
I’ve been searching for somethingpositive… Soup is good. :)
As I dig out the winter coats, boots and scarves, I’ll try
to keep focused on the positive. I’ll find some of my favorite soup recipes,
get the Crock-Pot going, fill up the house with the smell of cinnamon apples,
and replace my dresser drawer of shorts with long sleeve shirts that I forgot I
had.
There’s no use in complaining. I’ll keep finding things to
appreciate and smile when I do. Maybe I’ll make a snowman.
I’ll wear my Gryffindor sweatshirt. I’ll look around outside
and remember the crystal shaped beauty in a single flake of snow, then zoom out
and realize how much beauty surrounds us. I’ll place battery operated candles
in all the windows and smile when I come home at night to see their glow.
It’s just winter. It’s not that bad. It’s not really bad at
all. :)
Looking back on last week, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for the most wonderful group of creative people I have been Blessed to work with.
"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."
- Oprah Winfrey
It was a busy week with video shoots, props, costumes, travel planning and gig performance. Through it all, there were teams of creative minds coming together to make artistic endeavors come to life like magic. I loved every minute.
"When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; its you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself."
- Steven Spielberg
Teamwork is beautiful! When we build upon each other's ideas and push ourselves and each other to keep making everything "even better," the most amazing things happen.
On location shot - for one of our scenes
Here's to an upcoming week filled with inspiration and collaborative efforts! My most sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to our upcoming new song and video. It is a true honor and Blessing to be able to work together with all of you.
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...
