I Know Who I Am

We watched an old River Phoenix movie tonight......I think it was filmed in 93 about songwriters in Nashville.   It was interesting and poignant and brought back a lot of memories.  Through the years, Rick and I have spent alot of time in Nashville.....for years, we spent our talent, time and energy writing for others.  There were good times, good friends and good songs.......but we both reached a point where we looked at each other  one day and said let's write for ourselves.....forget radio, forget other artists, let's write the songs and sing them the way we want to sing them.

To me, that is when our songs truly became good.  We wrote from the heart, and sang from the heart and all that mattered was the song......the good thing, we never became bitter about the music business, we didn't let it destroy us or our talent......we just chose to create and write for the love of doing just that.......we write and sing for the pure joy of it now.......and that is how it should be.

I often hear singer songwriters complaining because they can't make a living in music.......but my thoughts are these, if the only reason you are doing it is for the money, you need to quit right now, get yourself an MBA and go make money.  Creating music, art, stories, anything you create has to come because of your need to create.......you can earn money doing almost anything.  Creating is the energy that comes from your heart and soul, it is the reason you exist and you will do it no matter what.......and honestly, you will do it until you die or you are no longer capable.  And sometimes, if fate and the gods smile upon you......you will make money.

I am a singer/songwriter.......it is in my DNA......it doesn't matter if you like my voice, you like my songs or even if you like me......it is who I am.   It is my life, though I may not earn a living doing it.
I can fry burgers, teach yoga, do many things to make money.........but I am a singer/songwriter.
No one has to validate it, I know who I am.

Out of Sorts

Out of sorts, that has been my state of mind and being for the past few days.......is it spring fever,
pollen, fatigue?  Who knows, but it is like being suspended in some jello kind of time.......there is energy, but it is hard to harness......a driven kind of feeling......yet also, a tiredness.


This too shall pass........I cleaned closets today, and had serious thoughts about working in my flower beds.......but the closets won.  Our musician's "think tank" meets at our house tomorrow.......maybe an overflow of creative energy will be the fix I need.

Forgive, the short post.....but I am wrapped in my warm fuzzies and my purple flannel sheets are calling my name.
Good night, Sweet dreams

All The Good

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can,  to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."  - John Wesley


Those words pretty much sum it all up, don't you think that is why we are all here?  I like to think that is why we are here, to do good, to help. But, then I suppose good, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What if this weekend, we all do as much good as we can, to everyone we meet, at every place we go.  What would happen, how would we feel? Would our lives change, would the lives around us change?

All the good we can......to all the people we can........as long as we can.

Permission to Sleep

The storms have moved through......thankfully no damage here to our place, but in south west Alabama, damage.  I know that many of you are dealing with snow and ice......interesting day, scary day.  Honestly, I'd take snow and ice any day over tornadoes.....and through the years, we have had both in the same day.

But tonight, the air is clean......no sticky pollen.....just the water dripping from the trees.
I did a sleep cd for my students today.  Because of the threat of severe weather, I only taught one class.  Half of that group will be leaving next week, they were thrilled to get the sleep cd......I hope it helps.

I hear that complaint often, not being able to sleep and not just from my students at the rehab center.
I think it has become quite difficult to turn off the day's events and sleep.  I urge my students to take that last hour before bed and let go of the world........don't watch tv, or check your e-mails or play a video game.  Take a warm bath or shower, read, listen to soft music or just sit quietly and allow the thought process to slow down.  It  is important to give yourself permission to sleep, to remind yourself that you deserve a good night's sleep......and remember to breathe.

I hear the rain drops falling on the tin roof,  it is the best sleeping pill of all.  Both dogs are snoring, no thunder and lightening to disturb their dreams.  I am about to take my own advice, warm water on the face, a glass of cool water to drink, and a book.
Good night, Sweet dreams.

Spring Rages

Looks as though we are under the gun again, storms headed our way.  I have it down to an art now,
do laundry, shower, wash hair, clean house, make sure generator is ready to go, non-nonperishable
food supply, all phones, lap tops etc. charged and ready.   Welcome to spring.

It is 80 degrees here tonight, it is 50 degrees in Little Rock......somewhere in the middle Mother Nature is going to pitch a hissie fit.  We don't even have the damage repaired from two weeks ago......this too shall pass.

But it is beautiful here in Alabama, the azaleas, red buds, dogwoods and all things spring are in full bloom......so are the pine trees.  The pollen is so thick, there are cloud of the yellow gunk drifting thru the skies.  Ingrid looks as though some giant with a nasty cold sneezed all over her.  Everyone is coughing and sneezing......the rain will wash it all away.....and hopefully the wind will not blow us all away.

If you live where the storms are raging, stay safe..........blue skies will come back soon.
Good night, Sweet dreams

Treat Like A Human

More than once, people I work with tell me that my students make the same comment about me .......they say that I treat them like humans and actually the students have told me.  Each time someone tells me that, I am astounded......how else would I treat someone?.......why would you not treat another human as a human?

Judgement and fear are destroyers........of love, of spirit, of humans.  Mistakes, bad choices, poor decisions......those all make up the human element......the good stuff is there too, like love and compassion......but we all are yin and yang......lightness and dark.

How can we humans expect to grow, to expand, if we continue to treat each other badly?  Treating another human inhumanely surprises me.....and saddens me.  To respect, to treat with kindness, is it that difficult?  What makes any of us think that we are better or morally superior to anyone else?

To be treated like a human, is that too much for any of us to ask?   I think the Golden Rule goes hand in hand with that thought......."do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Humans treating humans as humans........it's not that difficult.

I Will Sit Up and Sing

"At the end of my life with just one breath left, if you come, I will sit up and sing."  - Rumi


This quote has haunted me all day.  I shared it on our FB page, and I am sharing it with all of you tonight.  What can I say? It resonates all the way to my soul and heart.