(not necessarily in that order)
I have no idea who wrote this, but I completely concur. Except I would also add: SING more music!
Of course, singing is — in and of itself — an unprecedented challenge in this Age of Covid. But we’re working on it…and we will find a way.
It’s been like wading through molasses but I’m finally getting my email backlog caught up.
However, it’s taken me late into the night, leaving no time to share anything else.
Oh well.
A Facebook friend asked the following question in a post on his timeline:
How are YOU maintaining a positive perspective?
This is how I responded:
Not easy, but these help: limiting my intake of news; listening to uplifting music; singing; walking; meditating.
Not even an hour later I happened across this cartoon, which absolutely nails it! This is exactly the challenge that I feel so many of us are facing.
But I’m realizing that I can’t simply ignore the news altogether. True, I need to stop reading it with the goal of “making sense” of things; I mean, that way lies madness!
So, yes, I have to do my best to sort through the false, sensationalist, crazy-making narratives. And then I have to choose carefully which articles to read, being prepared to stop as soon as I feel my energy plunge or if I start to get upset or depressed or sunk in negativity. Because I can’t be part of the solution if I’m upset, depressed, and negative!
But you know, I think the main reason why I still need to read some news is a matter of solidarity. I don’t want to cut myself off from what’s going on. Sure, I have to honor the limits of my tolerance for violence and despair, but I need to tune in enough to feel connected with the rest of humanity as we move through these unprecedented times…together.
I didn’t feel all that great through most of today. Tired, plus a setback with some pain in my shoulder. What helped? Listening to more Rodgers and Hammerstein!
In addition to buying the soundtrack of Cinderella (and singing along with Julie!), I revisited gorgeous melodies from Oklahoma, The King and I, and State Fair. And they made me feel better. Seriously better! I feel like we should assign a nutritional value to beautiful melodies, for they truly do provide nourishment.
I grew up on musicals, many of which were by Rodgers and Hammerstein. I sang along to the soundtrack recordings of The King and I, South Pacific, and Oklahoma. I didn’t know Flower Drum Song, Carousel, or State Fair quite as well (meaning I didn’t have every single melody, lyric, and inflection memorized!😂), but between piano sheet music, concert band arrangements, orchestra pops concerts, and catching the occasional television broadcast, I was pretty familiar with those as well.
But I missed out on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella completely! True, I had the vaguest of memories of seeing something on television — once — when I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until many years later that I found it once again on the internet (that was the 1965 version starring Lesley Ann Warren).
What a revelation! I realized that hints of the songs had lingered in my awareness, even after only one viewing, and it was so wonderful to finally know what they were and where they came from.
Well…imagine my surprise when, just this past year, I stumbled across a DVD of Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella…with Julie Andrews in the starring role! I just watched it for the second time tonight and now I’m looking forward to the treat of getting to know all these songs really well.
Having the voice and gracious beauty of Julie Andrews combined with the sublime melodies, witty lyrics, and emotional depth of Rodgers and Hammerstein definitely takes me to a very, very happy place deep inside.
Oh, and let’s not forget the humor; love this!🤣
The photo and text below are from Ananda Portland’s weekly newsletter. I felt moved to share it because this so perfectly aligns with what I’ve been working on lately, which is trying to extricate myself from too much focusing on all the world’s problems in order to free up my energy to contribute more fully to the solutions!
(And how fun: I just discovered how to change the color of the font in these blog posts!)
When we help others, we both soar in the light.
Many people are feeling isolated and anxious about these times.
Reach out and share the light!
Call someone and have an uplifting chat.
Use a free Zoom account that has unlimited minutes
and have a Zoom tea.
Look up fun and friendly E-cards and send them just because.
Use old fashioned letters and stamps to communicate friendship!
Invite someone to take a walk, with masks and distancing.
Sit out on the patio and listen to music together.
Energize, meditate, do affirmations and prayers with
a friend over Zoom or FaceTime.
Share one inspiring passage from our teachings
with someone every day.
Do one act of service, anonymously, every day.
Pick a “secret pal” every week and see how you can
share the light all week.
Help someone in their garden, wearing masks and distancing,
then invite them to help in your garden.
Write a message on your friend’s doorstep using chalk.
I have a few more to add to the list:
Sing together (outdoors, spaced 6-8 feet apart, of course!).
Read PG Wodehouse or Jerome K Jerome stories out loud.
Watch uplifting and/or funny movies.
What about you??? 😊
We’re gearing up for Ananda’s next Global Virtual Choir project and this video is fueling my inspiration!
To be honest, Eric Whitacre’s earliest virtual choir videos (the first was ten years ago!) didn’t do much for me. But now — with so much divisiveness and uncertainty in the world — and as we seek to negotiate this strange new reality without the option of even gathering together, much less singing together! — well, let’s just say that I find myself both receptive and deeply appreciative.
And, indeed, “Sing Gently” really speaks to me. I am especially moved by the visual imagery of the separate “pieces” connecting — first by two’s, then four’s, and then more and more…until they gradually become one united whole. So profoundly satisfying and uplifting.
Here are the lyrics…
May we sing together, always.
May our voice be soft.
May our singing be music for others
and may it keep others aloft.
Sing gently, always.
Sing gently as one.
May we stand together, always.
May our voice be strong.
May we hear the singing and
May we always sing along.
Sing gently, always.
Sing gently as one.
– Eric Whitacre
The last time I read anything by Albert Camus was in my high school French class, but this quote really grabbed me.
Now I want to know more about him; I would also like to understand the context of the quote. Of course this is not the time to start searching the internet for more info, because I’m determined to be in bed before midnight!
It can wait until tomorrow…
I’ve been feeling rather out of sorts lately; struggling to wrap my mind around a lot of different projects but feeling stuck. And I suddenly realized that — due to the COVID-19 crisis — I no longer have access to my longtime favorite “go to” strategy.
So many times when I couldn’t get going and get productive, I would take myself out to breakfast and work in the restaurant. I think it was the double whammy of distracting myself with a change of environment while at the same time rewarding myself for finally knuckling down and getting to work.
But I haven’t been to town, much less eaten in a restaurant, since mid-March. So I obviously need to find new ways to distract and reward myself. 🤔
We performed “Well Done, Lord!” for Sunday service today. It had been a long, long time since we last sang it (not sure why, because it’s one of our favorites).
Seeing as how it’s a rather wordy and poetic song, I was a little worried about remembering all the lyrics. But going over them mentally before service began, I was pleased to discover (yet again!) my tried-and-true secret for remembering words: go deeper into the meaning!
I’ve sung this song hundreds of times over the past twenty years, but today for the first time I really felt the laughter of the mountains as the gypsy clouds sailed by; I could imagine the fields of wheat or wildflowers smiling up at the sun while embracing the morning warmth; and I understood the elation of the trees…every true heart in creation in speechless wonder is bowed.
And once again I bow at Swamiji’s feet in gratitude for the amazing gift of this music.
Well Done, Lord!
In India there lived by the banks of a stream
A hermit whose prayers chose applause for their theme.
He gazed at the flowers, and he smiled at the sun,
Then he clapped with delight: “Lord,” he cried, “Oh, well done!”
Well done, Lord! Oh, very well done!
The mountains that laugh with the gypsy clouds!
The fields smile to welcome the sun;
All nature sings praises aloud.
The trees dance to show their elation:
A day on God’s earth has begun;
And every true heart in creation
In speechless wonder is bowed.
Well done, Lord! Oh, very well done!
The joy that You’ve planted in children’s hearts!
The thrill known in bearing a son;
The hope when a trial departs.
The gladness of men in their neighbors,
Of youth, in its victories won!
Our joys are the proof of Your labors:
How wonderful, Lord, are Your arts.
Well done, Lord! Oh, very well done!
At last I’ve discovered the mystic key:
The world’s joy, O Secretive One!
Replies to Your sweetness in me.
For here in my heart lies the answer:
Your love shedding light like the sun!
All life seems to leap like a dancer,
When, gazing, I see only Thee!