Wishing you Peace, Light & Inspiration this Holiday Season

As we reach the winter solstice, we look forward to lengthening days. The cold and darkness makes us appreciate the company of others in warmth and conviviality. 

The older I get, the less I care about all the expectations of the holiday season. I just look forward to sharing cheer and music. 

I invite you to embrace simplicity, openness, sharing, patience, and music. This is a difficult time of year for so many among us. For me, making music, sounding with others in rhythm and song is a powerful way to connect and heal the heart. 

Holiday music goes straight into my heart. Sometimes I feel light, other times I feel nostalgic, and lately I feel more bright sadness. I particularly enjoy periods of quiet time alone, cocooned in a warm environment, letting memories, thoughts and ideas flow through me. I also feel lucky to have family and friends near to celebrate with. 

I wish you peace and inspiration this holiday season!

Blog Dated November 29

This one never went out but I thought I would share it.

Morning Sunrise - From my Studio Window

Presence + Process = Patience

As my frozen shoulder begins to “thaw” I find myself reflecting on patience, and have come up with a simple equation: presence + process = patience. That is being present in the learning process. 

LIke Tai Chi, I slow down every movement so it can be more mindful, effortless and graceful. It’s the only way I can avoid stabbing pain in my shoulder, or injuring the shoulder of  my less dominant arm. It took me a while to come to this. Initially my constant frustration with increasing stiffness and pain made everything worse. This shift of allowing my recovery to be about discovery has restored a certain sense of calm, physical grace and acceptance. I celebrate each time I regain what feels like a millimeter increase in range of motion. 

We take for granted the obvious, like freedom of movement. 

Boy does this apply to learning and life.

We push ourselves relentlessly  to reach goals, forgetting to enjoy the journey that brings us there. 

For those of us with less experience improvising, patience is key. Experienced musicians are so used to having it all written down, and don’t know how to begin creating music from nothing. Take it one note at a time, and enjoy the small victories knowing that over time it will feel more natural. 

Patience is also about kindness, compassion, surrender, and active listening - and that is towards ourselves and those around us.