Week 5 - Wise

If you are feeling lively, burst into song. If you are feeling jealous, burst into song. If you are feeling ecstatic, burst into song. If you are feeling blue, burst into song.
- Nina Wise, from A Big Free Happy New Unusual Life

The difficulties of last week led me to music. I spent a good part of the weekend downloading music to my computer. First things first, you need to understand that if I could have any talent in the world it would be singing. When I was very young, I wanted to be Cher from the "Sonny and Cher Variety Show" days, to wear beautiful costumes and sing, to be a V-A-M-P. Alas, I was not given that gift, but there is still a part of me that clings to that fantasy. Second, music really takes me there; Urs, more than anyone, knows that certain songs make me transcend, make me feel the Holy Ghost. Music is like silk, or leather, or cashmere, or cotton, sensuality for the soul. Do I want to wrap myself in Sade, Teddy Pendergrass, George Gershwin, Madeleine Peyroux or Janis Joplin? Shall I go to Brazil, or France, or Cuba? Travel back to the '50's or the '70's? Should I take a seat in an intimate, smoky lounge or happily let the music keep me on my feet?

When I was dj'ing, I so enjoyed figuring out what songs I should play on the radio, which ones were special to me, what stories to tell about them, what mood I wanted to create for my audience. I have all sorts of playlists that take me different places: "The Brazilian Songs", "The French Songs", "The Soul Songs", "The Classical Songs", "The Disco Songs", "The Funk Songs".

The playlist that I put together on Sunday I titled "The Sexy Songs" and includes: "Crying" by Rose Royce, "Love Won't Let Me Wait" by Major Harris, "Simply Beautiful" by Al Green, "Between You and Me Baby" by Curtis Mayfield, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" by En Vogue and "Joy in My Tears" by Stevie Wonder. Silky, smooth, sexy. I have been walking around feeling passionate and sensual, wonderful, like a V-A-M-P.

Question: What songs are the soundtracks of your life? What do they do for you?


A Big New Free Happy Unusual Life: Self Expression and Spiritual Practice for Those Who Have Time for Neither

Cryin' - Rose Royce
Best of Rose Royce from "Carwash"

Joy Inside My Tears - Stevie Wonder
Songs in the Key of Life

Week 4 - continued (Living The Life You Imagine)

What a blessed week! I have such wonderful friends and, in different ways, I was surrounded by so many of my angels with love and support. Sherry helped me see what I had forgotten was important. Lilyane helped me be honest with myself. Simone was Simone, unguarded and honest. Tonya and Laura really took on the question about living the life you've imagined. I wasn't able to answer it last week, but here's what I can say now. Living the life I imagine means being free to make choices that lead me to delight. It means following the threads of creativity, adventure, passion, beauty, fun, love and seeing where they lead me. It means holding on to my dreams as if they were precious babies, nurturing them and letting them grow, until they have a life of their own; accepting that kind of responsibility and with it, knowing the satisfaction that will come when my dreams are fully in the world. It means sharing my life with the wonderful people in it already and those yet to come.