#FollowYourPassion - Bob Dylan

An actor came on late-night television this week and said that he didn't think actors should get involved in politics. (I guess no one told THAT to Ronald Reagan.) Maybe that actor would've made a more accurate statement if he had just said that he HIMSELF did not want to get involved in politics.

So many entertainers have made a difference in the world by following their passions and speaking their minds. Most notably this week - is Bob Dylan.

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 has been awarded to Bob Dylan "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

#AWESOME!

After the announcement by Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, she was interviewed...

"Mr. Dylan, 75, is the first musician to win the award, and his selection on Thursday is perhaps the most radical choice in a history stretching back to 1901."

 - The New York Times

Click here for full New York Times article with video

The Times They Are A-Changin

Come gather 'round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone

If your time to you is worth savin'

Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin'

Come writers and critics

Who prophesize with your pen

And keep your eyes wide

The chance won't come again

And don't speak too soon

For the wheel's still in spin

And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'

For the loser now will be later to win

For the times they are a-changin'

Come senators congressman

Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway

Don't block up the hall

For he that gets hurt

Will be he who has stalled

There's a battle outside and it's raging'

It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls

For times they are a-changin'

Come mothers and fathers

Throughout the land

And don't criticize

What you can't understand

Your sons and your daughters

Are beyond your command

Your old road is rapidly agin'

Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand

For times they are a-changin'

The line it is drawn

The curse it is cast

The slow one now

Will later be fast

As the present now

Will later be past

The order is rapidly fadin'

And the first one now will later be last

For the times they are a-changin'

- Bob Dylan

Thanks Bob Dylan for showing us all how to #followyourpassion.

Namaste,
T

The Complaint Department

What if we were our own complaint department? What if every time we complained about anything, we had to answer for it?

I'd like to imagine a world where, instead of complaining, we all DID something toward positive change of the things we don't like. If we're not sure WHAT to do, we would LEARN.

I watched two documentaries this week. One was about Trump, the other about Clinton. They can both be found on demand at CNN.

Click here to stream "All Business: The Essential Donald Trump" and "Unfinished Business: The Essential Hillary Clinton" on CNN On Demand (click on "Shows" in the left-hand column)

How many of us complaining about one candidate or the other have visited each of their websites, or learned more about them, have taken any kind of stand on the issue that we complain about, have written our congresspeople, have volunteered for a cause?

Click here for Donald Tump's Website

Click here for Hillary Clinton's website

I found myself complaining this week (unrelated to the candidates or the election) and it was not pleasant. I had to make a conscious effort to ask myself what I could do to change my situation. After taking some action toward accomplishing some goals, I felt better. It seems as if to complain is to sit back and put blame on others, while giving our power away to them. We have our own power. We can do SOMETHING. In activating our own personal power, we can generate a more positive outlook within ourselves. If THAT is our state of mind, then we can open up our own creativity and be a part of solutions instead of just being a part of a chorus of complaints.

I'm going to put a complaint box on my dresser. I'll be responsible for what goes in, and I'll be responsible for answering all complaints as well.  #LetsTryIt

Namaste,
T

Perception is Everything

At a memorial service on Thursday, the dearly departed had given instructions to have this song played. It was beautiful.

How wonderful of her to have known ahead of time exactly what she wanted us all to hear after her passing. She managed to reach out from wherever she is now to tell us all that she is fine. It's amazing that she had such strong faith that she would be fine. How beautifully touching that she, while facing her own mortality, was so concerned with the well-being and comfort of those she had to leave behind here on this earth. She spoke directly to us and inspired us from beyond her own physical existence. Endless thanks to her for showing us all another perspective - hers, from where she is now.

Here's to remembering that there is always another perspective besides our own. There is another viewpoint beyond what we can imagine on almost everything. Here's hoping that we all remember that, and try to open our minds a little and show some understanding to other perspectives. #LetsLearn

Keeping the idea of different perspectives in mind, I noticed something. I have often gazed at the shower tile and seen an image of an Angel in the design (above). In some of the other tiles, I've noticed what seems like the image of a sheep (below).

The really neat thing I noticed THIS week is that - the two images are in fact the same.

Looking around the room at the tiles, I noticed both images on almost every tile although some are turned in different directions. After that, I started paying close attention to varying perspectives on news articles. Obama was talking about the different sides of the National Anthem controversy and encouraged everyone to be understanding of other points of view. There was also a story about a forger, Adolfo Kaminsky, who while breaking the law during World War II, managed to save thousands of lives by answering to his own, higher law.

"I saved lives because I can't deal with unnecessary deaths - I just can't... 

all humans are equal, whatever their origins, their beliefs, their skin color... 

There are no superiors, no inferiors. That is not acceptable for me."

- Adolfo Kaminsky

#Amazing how we can view so many things from different perspectives.

Namaste,
T

Click here for: "On Colin Kaepernick national anthem protest, President Obama calls for understanding from both sides"

Click here for: "If I Sleep for an Hour, 30 People Will Die" (story on Adolfo Kaminsky)

We Don't Need No Education... #Debatable

I started a class this week. It's something I like to do when gig season gets a little slow. An assignment  this week is to find news articles relevant to the course material and I am quite astounded by the lack of substance in available magazines and newspapers. Apparently, more people are interested in fashion, celebrity gossip and and slow cooker recipes than things like psychology, human development and educational topics.

On the way back home from the store that had a large magazine selection, a low tire pressure light came on so we stopped for air. As we waited a long while, with a trunk full of groceries getting warm and takeout food getting cold, the guy using the air machine before us continued fussing around with his tires. Finally, he asked Russ if HE knew how to check air pressure. The young man had overfilled one of his tires by an extra 12 lbs. and underfilled others by 11 lbs. Russ helped him fix it and began filling our tires when another car pulled up with three young males who began asking Russ questions also. "What is that thing you have there?" (It was a tire gauge.) "How do you know how much to put in?" I marveled at how little these drivers knew. I tried to imagine them doing taxes.

I've long wondered why taxes are not taught as part of high school curriculum. How do we all manage it? I remember going to a small business help center that was a pilot program sponsored by the I.R.S. and STILL ended up at a tax preparation service for help. I've attended countless music industry events aimed at teaching music business, read many books and had consultations from  music business attorneys and professionals. I am thoroughly impressed by the knowledge that some industry professionals possess, while being completely astonished by other, successful individuals who lack the most basic knowledge of publishing and who don't read contracts at all.

AAAAND... Here we are getting ready for the first presidential debate this evening. Sigh. I've refrained from getting political here on the subject of candidates and I try to be respectful of other people's freedom to choose for themselves. Here's the problem though...

People are very busy nowadays. I don't mean this as a valid excuse (I mean, if so many of us can find time for social media surely we can find time to do a little research on candidates before we vote - or don't vote - for them). We (because WE ALL DO THIS SOMETIMES) get our information from unreliable sources. We believe things that we hear. We oftentimes do not adequately investigate enough to form our own opinions, but rely on what others are saying. What about when THEY TOO are misinformed? Social media posts that are completely incorrect often fly around like crazy. Fact checking has become our own responsibility much of the time and we don't do it.

Remember this commercial? Remember when we made fun of people who believed what they were told on the internet?

What about political candidates? If they say something it must be true too right? Uh, no.

So tonight, as an estimated 100 million people tune in to watch the debate, my hope and prayer is for people (myself included) to learn more. Why couldn't we all just do a little more research, find a little more information from varying sources about a topic that concerns us? I have this as an assignment for school. Why not apply the same work to a very important decision, right and responsibility we all have to collectively determine the course of our country, the world, and history? It's easy to complain about government and the system. How many of us that complain are actively involved in solutions?

Here's to our education. Let's just find out a little something more - DO a little something more.

Namaste,
T

Click here for more on "Another Brick In The Wall" on Wikipedia

WHAT IS HAPPENING???

(These are the words I wrote on Sunday evening...)

WHAT IS HAPPENING???

On Saturday I had a gig in the Jersey Shore area. I had seen on the news that morning that a bomb had detonated at a charity race about twenty miles south of where my show was to be. The show was still on and traffic was not expected to be heavily delayed. So that afternoon I drove straight in that direction, stopping just twenty miles short of that site, and I sang with one of my favorite bands for a beautiful wedding reception.

On the way home (I left there about 9:30pm) I stopped at a rest stop and caught a bit of a news report saying something about an explosion in NYC. Turning on the radio, I learned of the Chelsea bomb as I drove back home, heading straight for NYC and the George Washington Bridge. My final destination was about 45 miles beyond the city. 

Once home, I turned on the news and it stayed on all day Sunday too. I quickly learned of the terrible events in a Minnesota mall and just now....

As I sit here writing this on Sunday evening, a "breaking news" report just came on about a suspicious device found in Elizabeth, NJ, where train service has been shut down in an ongoing investigation. 

All these events are enough to swallow up my spirit. I think of war torn parts of the world where this kind of activity is the norm - terrible. How do we keep a positive mindset when it seems like all hell is breaking loose? What is there to think when it seems like the "bad guys" are getting a leg up - or even winning?

I suppose I'm in search mode. I am actively seeking good thoughts to grasp onto. I'm trying to remember that people ARE coming together and helping each other. Neighbors are checking on each other. Families are checking on their loved ones. What about those amazing first responders and brave souls who rush in when others rush away for safety? I'm clinging to those thoughts. I'm making a deliberate effort to seek out the good. There was an inspiring group of Somalian community leaders who made very positive statements at a press conference in Minnesota that echoes in my mind. 

Click here for CBS Minnesota's coverage of that press conference with video

There are so many people working to promote love and understanding, even and especially in the midst of unimaginable chaos. In my experience on Saturday, sandwiched between two bombings was a wedding, a beautiful celebration of love. At that family gathering there was a coming together of souls. We sang songs like "We Are Family," and during "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" Joe (the male lead singer) had the whole audience chanting "Let's change the world" as an improvised ad-lib.

Although world happenings can make me feel weary, I will remember the power we all hold to effect change. I'll remember all the good people and be inspired to take action accordingly. I won't get swallowed up in anger or blame. There IS good to be found. God Bless all those who haven't given up hope or faith. God Bless us all as we face those internal stirrings that can challenge our nature.

This Monday morning we learned of a manhunt, a suspect and a capture.

There were no fatalities from the multiple bombings. Stabbing victims in Minnesota have all survived. Two homeless people found the Elizabeth, NJ bomb and notified police before any explosion. The race in Seaside Park, NJ had been delayed so that no runners were passing at the time that the bomb there detonated. Other bombs that were found did not detonate as intended. A bar owner notified police when a man fitting the suspect's description was found sleeping in his doorway. The suspect was then apprehended after shooting an officer whose life was likely saved by his bullet proof vest.

Yes. There are Blessings to be found.

Namaste,
T

"I think it is important to remember what terrorists and violent extremists are trying to do. They are trying to hurt innocent people, but they also want to inspire fear in all of us, and disrupt the way we live to undermine our values... We all have a role to play as citizens in making sure that we don't succumb to that fear. And there is no better example of that than the people of New York and New Jersey." - President Barack Obama

Click here for full article/video on CNN.com

The Spinning Wheel

"That looks so cool! What is that?"

That's what I said early last week when I walked into the little book/gift shop that I frequent, and saw the lady behind the counter demonstrating a most interesting spinning object to a customer. She told me it was a Tibetan Prayer Wheel.

I was in a hurry that day and the shop was busy, so I returned on Friday to look at it in more detail. The shop owner explained to me that the wheel contained a prayer inside (Om mani padme hum), and the idea is that the user says his or her own prayer which is then sent out into the Universe as the wheel is spun around, having a kind of amplified effect. I was so intrigued! I had never heard of such a thing or seen anything like it. It looked important, sacred, something to be revered. I bought it and took it home, eager to learn more about the practice.

Prayer Wheel: A revolving cylinder with or containing prayers, 

a revolution of which symbolizes the repetition of prayer, 

used by Tibetan Buddhists.
(Concise Oxford English Dictionary)

Click here for "Prayer Wheel" on Wikipedia

Click here for "Om mani padme hum" on Wikipedia

I like the idea of learning something about another culture, another practice, and deepening our understanding of our fellow brothers and sisters. At a time in the world when our differences make headlines and cause unimaginable conflict... Why not respond by finding something new and different to appreciate in a culture we may not be familiar with? I like the idea of making that a habit. What better way is there to oppose forces that seek to divide our human family than finding a way to unite our human spirit through understanding?

Here's to our new discoveries and appreciation!

Namaste,
T

The Bright Side

The really cool thing about this week is that I had the pleasure of numerous unexpected guests. They were all family members who stopped by for visits and I loved it! I had wanted to make the rounds visiting people before the end of summer and some of them beat me to it.

It always seems a little sad to me when summer winds down. The beach and the little ice cream shop close for the end of the season. Patio furniture and bikes will soon be put away for winter. The air is getting cooler (although that's a welcome change THIS year). There's the overwhelming feeling that something is coming to an end. Extra family visits seemed to make up for that though - or at least take the edge off somewhat. It's the perfect thing to be grateful for this week.

Here's to finding the bright side!

"Dancing in the Moonlight" has been stuck in my head this week. 

It's featured in a television commercial that keeps airing.

"Summer Breeze" - Ah... summer. :)

Namaste,
T