First Episode of SongBird!

My latest project is a YouTube channel featuring my original music! The idea came about quite suddenly, like a flash of lightning in the middle of the night. Songs and books. 

I used to write songs for school assignments back in high school, and a few years ago, I wrote a song based on the book SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. I write music about things that move me, and often the thing that moves me is a really good book. I'm so excited to bring together my love of children's books and music. Hope you enjoy!

In Defense of Participation Trophies

Yes, I’ll take that participation trophy please!

My son played soccer for the first time this season and we just got back from the end of year party where they gave out trophies to all the kids who played this year. That’s right, the dreaded PARTICIPATION TROPHY, that has been basically maligned as a cultural quirk of the entitlement generation.

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Spiritual Resources for Seasons of Transition

Things have been quiet on the blog, but not with me. It’s been a season of last minute homework, lost soccer socks, false starts, and a whole lot of noise (both outward and inward). The summer left me drained, and it’s taken longer than I thought to get filled up again. It was not, as I naively expected, a matter of pushing the “go” button once the kids got into school. Apparently, when you neglect self-care and slip into old habits it takes a while before you can sprint again. Go figure.

I am taking baby steps as I wade back into the process, and in the spirit of wholeheartedness, releasing the feelings of guilt and shame for not having written (#sorrynotsorry).

With that, my first post of the season is simply to share some of the things I've been reading/listening to as I navigate this terrain:

 

Rising Strong, by Brene Brown

If you are already a fan of Brene Brown, then this book will feel familiar but still illuminating. I listened to the audio book and was surprised at how fast I got through it, but don’t be fooled by the length, the content is dense. After the recording was over, I actually went back to the beginning and started it all over again. I plan to buy the hard copy for reference, too. Be ready to face strong emotions, to cry, laugh, and possibly throw the book against the wall. (It’s okay, she gets it)

 

Pema Chodron Audio Collection

This is a collection of three different talks, “Pure Meditation,” “Good Medicine,” and “From Fear to Fearlessness.” This is my first experience with Pema Chodron, (where have I been?). I haven’t finished the whole thing yet, but already I have found tremendous lessons and practices. In particular, the practice of “Tonglin” has affected me deeply. Pema Chodron’s open and inviting style was exactly the kind of gentleness I needed to confront some of the things I have been struggling with. In that way, it feels like a natural compliment to Rising Strong. If Brene Brown is your straight talking favorite aunt who cheers you on in the arena, Pema Chodron is your wise grandmother who wraps a warm blanket around you and gives you hot chocolate while she tells you you’ve got it all wrong.

 

Spiritual Guide for Writers and How to Plot a Novel, Memoir, or Screenplay

These are video tutorials from the amazing Martha Alderson, who I came to know through her plot whisperer books, blog, and community. These are two separate series, but they both deal with the “Universal Story”, one in figuring it out for your characters, the other for yourself.  I have been watching them and doing them simultaneously (each video is about 5-20 minutes long) in the mornings as a way to get back into the routine of writing. The videos help me to be consistent and give me a boost to get a little bit done every day on projects that I’m passionate about but don’t have any deadlines or external expectations attached to them. It’s not always easy or fun to sit down and start writing, and it’s easy to put off writing that is “just for me”. Some days it feels almost impossible. But watching a video is easy, and usually, that ten minutes gives me the motivation I need to dig in.

 

The Woman Who Fell From the Sky, by Joy Harjo

Reading poetry is a spiritual practice, y’all. You will never convince me otherwise. Harjo is one of my favorite contemporary poets, and this collection was the first I read of her. In the way that sometimes great art, whether it be a book or a song, finds you at the exact right time and strikes the perfect emotional chord, this collection did for me. Revisiting it many years later is a soupy mix of nostalgia and epiphany. I wrote a song back then based on the poem, “Promise of Blue Horses,” and reading it now still makes me want to sing.


What are you reading right now? What are your go-to reads/listens for a spiritual lift? 

Beat The Post-Vacation Blues

I just got back from a wonderful vacation. My family rented a big house near the beach for a family reunion. It was wonderful being able to spend time with family that I don’t often see, and to see my kids enjoy time and making memories with their cousins. The ocean, the family, the sense of calm and relaxation that comes when you put your life on pause, it all went too fast.

Yesterday was my first day back, and I will say that I was more than a little blue. I know we’ve all had it, those post vacation blues where before you can even unpack your suitcase, the real world comes rushing at you like a 400lb linebacker. Between having to say goodbye to the vacation, and looking ahead to all that needs to be done, it’s no wonder that the first day back feels so heavy.

As we slowly regain our momentum and transition back into the real world, here are some tips and suggestions to help beat those post-vacation blues:

  1. Slow down- part of the vacation mindset is being in the moment. We’re not worried about an upcoming deadline, or yearning for some past memory, we are thoroughly enjoying whatever space we are in— soaking up the sun, touring some historic place, or just spending time with family and friends. Bring some of that awareness to your everyday by centering yourself in the present. Meditation or a mantra like, “be here now” is a great way to change up your mindset, or simply look around and think about what you are grateful for right now in this moment.

  2. Treat yourself- another glass of wine? Second helping of dessert? A nap in the middle of the day? Hey, I’m on vacation! Let yourself indulge a little and make room for pleasure in the midst of the regular grind. Do something that makes you feel happy, relaxed, or pampered.

  3.  Reflect- Take some time to think about and write down memories from your trip. Physically writing things down is a great way to make the memories more concrete, both because you have a physical record of them, but also because our brains will store the information better. You will get to relive a little bit of the fun and magic of the vacation, and also have a great keepsake to look back on to preserve those memories.

  1. Stay in contact- If you took a trip with friends or family, make an effort to stay connected on a regular basis. Meet someone interesting on the trip? Write them a letter or give them a call! Your shared connection will help keep the spirit of the trip alive, and may even blossom into a long term friendship.

  2. Cherish your keepsakes- Print out your pictures, put a souvenir on your desk, whatever it is, keep a physical reminder of your trip in a place you will see it often, or perhaps in a spot where a reminder of happy times could enhance your experience there. (I’m thinking about printing a picture from vacation and hanging it in the laundry room!)

  3. Get adventurous- Bring some of the spirit of adventure to home by exploring places you have never been to, trying a new restaurant or exploring some of the local culture. Turn off the tv and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Discover a new park where you can read a book or go for a bike ride. Go to a nearby museum or attend a concert. No matter where you are, there are always new things to discover. Be a tourist in your own town and regain some of that open adventuring you had on vacation. You may even learn something or find a new appreciation for where you live by seeing it through different eyes. 

Be grateful that you are able to take a vacation. Be proud of yourself for having given yourself that time and experienced something new. Cherish your memories, and if nothing else works, you can always start planning your next vacation!

This post first appeared onmogul.com

photo credit: via photopin (license)