happy – Music. Life. Joy.

July 23, 2024

“The Music Man” to the rescue

I was in a bit of a slump this morning. Just having a really hard time getting going.

After a bit, Ramesha left for the office, while I sat at the table trying to get up the energy to stop scrolling and start doing.

But then I happened upon a video of the composer (and flutist, which I never knew), Meredith Willson, explaining his non-rhyming lyrics to the song “Trouble” from The Music Man.

Well, The Music Man was one of my favorite musicals growing up, so after watching the video I had to listen to the version from the movie. Then I had to listen to the rest of the movie soundtrack (for the first time in decades).

The funny thing is that while I was listening I started doing a few things. Making the bed. Folding and hanging up some clothes. Putting away books. You get the idea.

But what’s really interesting is that when it got to the “Ya Got Trouble & Seventy-Six Trombones” point in the soundtrack, I jumped up and started dancing and marching around the room!

It’s like the music just forced me up and about, and I suddenly felt so happy!

I’m sure it was a matter of joyous childhood memories combined with the happy, upbeat melody and rhythm. But whatever it was, I was just glad to finally feel my energy moving again.

June 7, 2024

Finding joy in movement

“Collective joy”—a state of ecstatic self-transcendence and belonging that comes from moving with others, often to music.

The above quote is from a book I’ve been reading lately, called “The Joy of Movement,” by Kelly McGonigal. I’ve been having lots of “aha” moments, but it’s also been bringing up all sorts of thoughts and memories and realizations.

For one thing, it prompted me to remember that, maybe ten years ago now, I wrote a list of “activities I loved.” I had even forgotten that I wrote a blog post about it; perfect timing for me to re-read it!

With all this on my mind, I got to the office in the late afternoon yesterday. I intended to do some work, then go for a short walk (trying to get myself moving!). But thinking about past activities I used to do brought to mind a song that I used to absolutely LOVE doing aerobics to. Of course, this was back in the day when most of the time I didn’t know who the artist was and one couldn’t just run home and Google the information. So it was many years later that I learned the group was the Pointer Sisters and the song was called “Jump (For My Love). ”

If you like to dance, I challenge you to listen to this song without moving. In fact, I put it on out of curiosity — just wanting to hear it again, you know — and next thing you know — I was up and dancing!

It felt so good that I quickly found the video for Gino Vannelli’s “Brother to Brother” — another one of my all-time favorite dance songs — and I danced around the office to that one as well.

Afterwards I felt so happy. I do believe I’m slowly finding my way back to my original joy in movement.

May 28, 2024May 28, 2024

This makes me so happy!

L-R: Chika, Shamini, Nayantara, Bharat, and Shivendra

For years now, Ramesha and I have wanted to travel to India to work with Ananda singers there, but issue after issue and obstacle after obstacle have repeatedly gotten in the way.

We do our best to connect when people come to visit Ananda Village, or via Zoom when in-person isn’t a possibility, but still it’s been a little frustrating.

However, in this moment I’m feeling completely heartened, encouraged, and inspired by the way this group of singers from Ananda India are taking ownership of the music and forging ahead with presenting it with enthusiasm, deep attunement, and JOY!

I found Bharat’s introductory remarks to be especially impressive.

It feels like a breakthrough moment for the music in India and for our worldwide music ministry.

April 26, 2024

Happy siblings

Not a great or a posed photo. But the three siblings were laughing and enjoying each other’s company so much that I simply had to try and capture the moment.

It’s times like these that make the time and energy expended on the journey feel totally worth it.

March 19, 2024

Spring has sprung!🌷

I was surprised to realize 2021 was the last time I shared this video in honor of the vernal equinox!

It’s my all-time favorite springtime song. Why? Because it just makes me so happy every time I hear it!

The words are by Shakespeare; the music and the performance are by Swami Kriyananda.

Happy Spring!

It Was a Lover and His Lass
It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o’er the green corn field did pass,
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.

This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flow’r
In springtime, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.

And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
For love is crowned with the prime
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.

December 5, 2023

Clang, clang, clang!

Today I made the delightful discovery that Voctave has recorded “The Trolley Song” — one of my absolute most favorite songs of all time!

My first introduction to this song was on my Dad’s recording of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, featuring Paul Desmond on alto saxophone. I was in high school and saxophone was my main instrument at the time. So, Paul Desmond was basically my hero, but more than that was simply how the song made me feel. It’s just so buoyant and happy.

It wasn’t until many years later that I saw the movie, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and finally heard the original version of the song, sung by Judy Garland. I found it to be just as buoyant and happy as ever.

Which brings me back to Voctave. In addition to the buoyant and happy song itself, I love the over-the-top fun and creativity they brought to their version.

January 26, 2023

Relieved and happy

I’m very happy to report that our big meeting about new directions for the music at Ananda Village went really well.

But what a week it’s been! I’m totally ready to crash for the night.

December 31, 2022

Ending the year both healthy and happy

This afternoon I replenished my stock of microbiome mash. In the seven weeks since I made my first batch I had forgotten just how labor intensive the process is!

This time I used Brussels sprouts, yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, carrots, radishes, a golden beet, radicchio, little Japanese turnips, bok choy, kale, dandelion greens, and green onion.

Then we balanced out that healthy endeavor with a fondue dinner (followed by panettone and sparkling pumpkin cider) with dear friend Prashad as our special guest.

Ah, duality!

September 21, 2022

The 21st night of September

I was scrolling through Facebook this morning, when a friend’s post reminded me that it was the 21st of September — time to boogie!

Of course, I remember this Earth, Wind & Fire song from when it was released back in 1978, but I’ve never really tuned into the fact that many people all around the world have been celebrating the 21st of September like a holiday ever since.

When I put it on this morning (with earbuds, of course) I felt instantly happy.

Then I listened to it again this afternoon and even danced around the room a bit (making up for the walk I didn’t feel up to taking).

Then I found various videos of people dancing to the song and decided this would be the focus of today’s blog post: how a simple pop song can embody so much joy that forty-four years later people are uplifted when they listen and/or dance to it.

This video from Japan is particularly fun. So much energy!

July 17, 2022July 17, 2022

Choose well

I find this fascinating. All extremely common words, but it would never in a million years have occurred to me to compare the number of letters in each one.

But I’m grateful that it occurred to someone (thank you, whoever you are), because it has caused me to reflect on how important it is to choose rightly.

So along those lines: I choose love, friends, and truth; I choose to be positive; I choose to rise above and to live in joy; I choose to be happy; I choose what is right; and I choose to heal.

And so it is.