(not necessarily in that order)
The first time I attended a meeting about Ananda’s outreach ministries was about twenty years ago.
The one I attended tonight was probably my twentieth, but I found it just as inspiring as ever.
It’s thrilling to hear the stories and know in more detail how people all over the world are touched by what Ananda has to offer.
I’m also grateful to remember that — a little over twenty years ago — I was one of those people.
What a blessing.
I think this is something many of us need to hear….
…over and over and over again. 🐝
The highlight of my day was sitting on the patio and soaking up some sun rays while blissing out on the view.
I sat and I read. Then I sat some more and read some more…on repeat.
At a certain point, I noticed plants that needed to be cut back and weeds growing in my planters. So I did some light gardening.
Then I sat with eyes closed and face up to the sun…again.
I was a perfectly glorious way to spend an afternoon.
At the end of this week’s choir rehearsal, one of our guitarists played the unmistakable opening chords of this song by the band Chicago — and just like that I was transported back to the early 70’s!
Of course, I had to go home and listen to the whole song (which I’ve also done a few more times since).
I’m making it tonight’s blog post partly because it fits my recent theme of things that bring me joy.
But there’s also realizing how I appreciate everything about this song just as much today as when it came out all those years ago. The horns, the percussion, everything is just as satisfying as ever.
Plus, there’s one area that I appreciate even more than when it first came out, and that’s the lyrics. Back then I didn’t tune in to what the song was saying, but the words really do capture how it feels to be young and falling in love for the first time — experiencing the thrill of new beginnings.
Beginnings
When I’m with you, it doesn’t matter where we are
Or what we’re doing, I’m with you, that’s all that matters
Time passes much too quickly when we’re together laughing
I wish I could sing it to you, oh no
I wish I could sing it to you
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Mostly I’m silent
Mm, silent la la la la la
Never think of bad words to say
When I kiss you, I feel a thousand different feelings
The color of chills all over my body
And when I feel them, I quickly try to decide which one
I should try to put into words, oh no
Try to put into words
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Mostly I’m silent
Silent la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Silent
Only the beginning of what I want to feel forever, yeah
Oh no whoa
Yes, only the beginning of what I want to feel forever
Only the beginning, only just a start, yeah
I’ve got to get you into my life mama
Got to get you next to me, yeah
Only the beginning, only just the start
I saw this cartoon on the Sandra Boynton Fanatics Facebook page and thought it was the perfect follow-up to yesterday’s post about dancing for joy.
The caption said, “Today is National Spread Joy Day,” which made me curious because I’d never heard of any such thing.
Well–! Turns out there are a number of special days dedicated to joy…
January 8 is National JoyGerm Day
April 3 is Inspiring Joy Day
May 2 is National Natural Joy Day
June 25 is The National Day of Joy
October 11 is National Spread Joy Day
November 17 is National Joy Day (on the “What national day is it” calendar)
December 2 is National Build Joy Day
December 7 is National Joy Day (on the “Holiday calendar”)
Maybe someday they’ll all get rolled into one BIG joy holiday that really makes an impact. In the meantime, I find it heartening that so many people are seeking to spread joy now.
I love randomly stumbling upon an amazing person like Gurdeep Pandher, who is committed to sharing joy, hope, and positivity through dance — specifically Bhangra, a vibrant and energetic folk dance originating from Punjab (India).
And he doesn’t just dance, he also writes.
From his article in The Gurdeep Magazine on Substack (Joy Is Even More Needed During Tough Times): “Like a determined flower pushing through unyielding concrete, maintaining joy in the face of tough times represents both a powerful act of defiance and an inspiring testament to the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.”
It’s reassuring to realize how many people are choosing to respond to challenging times by becoming ever more determined to shine their light and share their joy!
I’m struggling with this one right now.
I don’t want to be a “chicken little,” running around in a panic. On the other hand, some really big, serious stuff is going down in our country right now.
Of course, I already know that a big part of what I can do (and need to do) is spend more time in deep meditation.
So that whatever I end up doing, I’ll be acting and not reacting. Coming from my center and grounded in my inner truth. Sharing divine love, light, and joy with the world…no matter what.
LATER (after ensemble rehearsal):
I feel much better, because (as usual) music helps…a whole lot! Especially if it’s positive, uplifting music that raises consciousness (thanks, Swamiji). 🥰
I totally recognized myself in this cartoon, although it was “practicing” I needed to get done, not “writing.”
Another good one is from poet and author, Dorothy Parker: “I hate writing, but I love having written.” My translation: “I hate practicing, but I love having practiced.“
Getting myself to consistently practice was a push-me/pull-me, tug-of-war challenge throughout the years of my classical flutist career.
The worst was when I gave recitals, and there was a reception at my home afterward. I would get caught up in a frenzy of cleaning the whole house — I simply couldn’t help it! But it was to the detriment of my last-minute musical preparations. Totally crazy-making.
“Don’t worry about what others think. You do you.”
(Sandra Boynton Fanatics Facebook group)
I can’t resist sharing this Sandra Boynton drawing along with the lyrics to an inspiring song by Swami Kriyananda. They have the same title; other than that, it’s rather a contrast between the silly and the sublime!
Dare to Be Different!
Dare to be different!
Dare to be free!
Dare to roam far
Like wind on the sea.
Fly like a gull:
Soar high on the air.
Be strong in your courage
When others despair.
Never in anger,
Never in haste,
Go without pride,
Be never abased.
Freedom is yours
If freedom you give—
To all give it freely:
In freedom you’ll live!
Mountains that stand up
Tall to the sky
Tell us no dreaming
Is ever too high.
Dare to climb boldly:
Brave that high peak!
You’ll never know failure
If bravely you seek!
Dare to be different!
Dare to be free!
Dare to roam far
Like wind on the sea.
Fly like a gull:
Soar high on the air.
Be strong in your courage
When others despair.
Artist Sandra Boynton and I go way back to the mid-70’s.
Not that she knows who the heck I am, of course. But I loved giving and receiving her greeting cards back in the day. There are even a couple that have been stuck in my memory all these years (decades!).
I was living in San Francisco on 38th Ave and one of my birthday cards had a drawing of a cow standing in a big meadow. The card said “Happy Birthday to someone who’s outstanding in the field.” I still giggle over that one.
And then there was a card that we gave to some friends who had just had a baby. “Congratulations on your new little one. Wishing you joy and wonder and some sleep.” I’ve remembered it all these years for its whimsical sweetness combined with a touch of reality.
But I never knew anything about Sandra Boynton until last week when I discovered her music videos. I’ve been totally enjoying everything I’ve learned about her since. This paragraph from her autobiography will give you a taste of her (not surprisingly) quirky take on life…
“Between the first two recording projects, giddy with my new-found calling, I wrote and composed a most unlikely non-children’s album (with illuminated book) Grunt: Pigorian Chant. It’s plainchant and polyphony written in Latin and Pig Latin. I like to think of Grunt as the culmination of a lifetime of joyfully squandering an expensive education on producing works of no apparent usefulness.”
I’ll close with another of her delightful videos, this one a bedtime story and instrumental lullaby featuring Yo-Yo Ma.