look...

Even
After
All this time
The sun never says to the earth,

“You owe Me.”

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky.

~Hafiz

to thank...or not to thank.

It's thanksgiving here in the States tomorrow and for such a 'thankful' holiday it's interesting to witness how much grief it brings people. Obligations and anxieties about family get togethers and how long to spend where. What to take, what not to take, what to wear, how much to drink beforehand....

It seems like far too much pressure for a day of thanks.

Now, lets not even go into the meaning behind the actual day. That's a whole other fucked up story.

On this day, I am choosing to be even more conscious for the things I am thankful for. To have gratefulness in my heart for my life and for the people who love me. My plan is to take some time when I wake up to meditate...to reach towards something bigger than myself and just say thank you.

And then go out and eat, drink and be merry and laugh with people who love and are loved by me.

Happy day of thanks mates.....

xxM

The Art of Non-Conformity....

(reposted from The Art of Non-Conformity )

If you are confident, they will say you are arrogant.

If you are deliberate, they will say you are too sure of yourself.

If you have a sense of purpose, they will say you are self-absorbed.

If you know who you are, they will ask, “Who are you, anyway?”

If you believe in kindness and compassion, they will say you are naïve.

If you are a dreamer, they will say “join the real world.”

If you are a rebel, they will try to shut you down.

The instructions include:

rein it in
slow it down
wait it out
pull it back
take your time
play it safe

But you will know:

They are envious because they want what you have.

They are afraid of change even as they crave it.

They are projecting their own regret into resentment of you.


As for the others, well, you will remember what Gandhi said:

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

The Rally Cry...

I sang Hallelujah to a group of people last night who were gathered to show their support for kids who get bullied in school. To say 'it's not okay'. We lit candles in rememberance of the kids who have taken their own lives because of what bullying has done to them.

It starts with us. Us older folks, us adults, us ones who teach them ones to be different. It starts with our churches, our community leaders, our politicians.

It starts with us saying 'you are you. i am me. that's okay'.

It was a freezing cold night and a few hundred folks stood in the chill to raise their candles high and I felt proud to offer my talent, to have it stand high too. To be part of something and some cause bigger than myself.

Thanks for having me IYG.....thanks for having the balls to put the rally together, to speak out and on behalf of all of those who feel like they have no voice....or no choice.

xM

the great big wow.....

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”                                         

Martha Graham  (American Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer of modern dance, 1894-1991)

Nothing is too scarey.
Nothing is too much.
There is a path.
There is no crisis.

There is but a moment to stop and say, 'wow.......'
(usually quickly followed by a 'holy fuck, look at that sky'....at least for me). 


xxM

Saturday Nights Magic....

And grateful I will be for all the love in the room...

Here we go....

Here we go people....today is the day.

Everything is ready.

Well...almost....I have to wash my hair.

THEN I will be ready.

I am doing my first ever live solo recording tonight. The show is sold out, people are excited, I am excited..and a little nervous. I have been working on releasing attachment to anything being perfect. The idea is to catch a live show..in all it's glory...and I want to remember that as I play, as I speak, as I be. I was  dreaming last night of things I want to say and hopes I have for the night and for what is captured.

I also had a dream that I forgot to thank everyone for all their work and promptly woke up and reminded myself that the show hadn't actually happened yet and it was okay...

Honestly, I mostly want to forget that it's being recorded and just do what I do. Be who I am. In all my glory.

I am sure more will be posted on here throughout the day, and if you are friends with me on facebook there are already a tonne of photos and video up there. I am blessed to have wonderful people around me as we all walk into this experience together and know that I couldn't be doing it without the talent,  belief and the love of all of them too. My heart is so turned towards community that I feel myself well up when I think and see all of their faces in my mind. How is it that I am blessed by such amazing hearts.

So...here we go peoples.

See you on the other side!

xxM