Music Play

"It was always a joy to play with Miles. It was full of risks, full of mystery. We weren't afraid of the unknown. We relished the unknown. We loved getting lost and making something happen almost out of thin air. . . . we were more like magicians maybe. That was what Miles paid us to do. To reach down deep, to really concentrate, really focus. And not on what we were doing as individuals but what we were doing collectively." - Herbie Hancock, pianist for Miles Davis 

Miles Davis explored new territory with his trumpet in a freeflow manner. He attracted musicians for his group with a similar improvisational magic. Davis provided sketches of scales and melody lines and told everyone to improvise. He called for almost no rehearsal time before a recording.

Even if this is not your type of music, let it knock you around and push you to the edge.  Let it cause improvisation in your writing.  Just go with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcg2Do13RJc

Absorb the intensity of notes. Start writing with nowhere to go except a translation of the energy. Take risks, mine for mystery and get lost in a rhythm of words.

Go down deep and explore as your fingers play the keys as a pianist might, inspired by the other musicians.

Did you feel jangled and write in a different style?  

Star Pine Strength

During my morning run, I approach my favorite star pine and breathe in its strength. Arborists moved the hundred year old tree about four feet to make way for construction at the La Jolla Contemporary Museum. 

Thankfully, they decided on a costly project to avoid chopping it down. Although branches are brown, green is shining in places. It holds its stature. A kite flew in to bring attention to its majesty the other day.

Grateful for our recent rains, it will continue to outlast its challenges.

I've named it Marco-Sabrin after my sports heroes.

In our trying time, find a focus on a natural scene that represents vitality and strength. Make sure you acknowledge it daily. Name it after a Hero.

In his magical book, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, Discoveries from a Secret World, author and forester Peter Wohllebenun shares the story of why trees are so magnificent and why they affect us. Trees live, breathe, eat, sleep, make mistakes and learn, communicate, cooperate, and compete, as they ceaselessly reach for light and water.

Sunrises and sunsets also provide stimulation and inspiration. Pay attention to the wonder.

"Our true home is in the present moment." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Allow the Outrageous

Now's the time to think beyond barriers. What will you create today?

Discover and name colors.







Bello
    turqween
              aubergine

Fill in empty spaces.










Swirl in arcs.

Create a scene with tangerine.

Let go into the Outrageous.

Share a GLAD Today

Spread GLAD
     Grateful for Love and Devotion
         Grateful for Laughter and Delights

Work on your one sentence or two. Discover phrases and quotations that energize your spirit. Add a photo or three. Feel the strength of Glad instead of mad.

Share a GLAD today.

Learn About the Real Pollyanna

When they talk about our current medical challenge, I hear many newscasters say, "He or she's a Pollyanna," to mean someone unrealistically optimistic. 

They have not read the novel to understand what designating someone a Pollyanna really means. 

They miss the full story from the novel written in 1913 by Eleanor H. Porter. 

Pollyanna learns a positive attitude from her father who advises her to look at the bright side of life. She develops a philosophy, "The Glad Game." 

Pollyanna feels encouraged to discover something Glad in every situation, no matter now bleak it appears. 

At Christmas, Pollyanna wishes for a doll in the missionary barrel but finds a pair of crutches. Her father tells her to be glad about the crutches because she does not need them.

When Pollyanna becomes an orphan, she has to live with her Aunt Polly in Beldingsville, Vermont. Her Glad Game helps to distract her from the aunt's attitude. 

Pollyanna teaches several of Beldingsville's frustrated inhabitants to "play the game." Aunt Polly eventually adopts Pollyanna's buoyancy, although she resists the Glad Game longer than anyone else.

When a car hits Pollyanna, she loses the use of her legs. Lying in bed, she feels no gladness. 

The townspeople come to her rescue. They share with Pollyanna how much her encouragement has improved their lives. 

Pollyanna decides she feels Glad that she has experienced her legs. 

Pollyanna learns to walk again and appreciates the use of her legs as a result of being temporarily unable to walk.

Check out the Disney movie with Haley Mills: https://movies.disney.com/pollyanna

Now you know the story of what becoming a Pollyanna really means. Search for a Gladness in all your challenges. Share it with family and friends.

Make Something Marvelous

Psychologists indicate our basic human emotions include: Happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, fear, and surprise.

What about other types of emotions and feelings?

Cathy Park Hong writes, "Minor feelings occur when American optimism is enforced upon you, which contradicts your own reality, thereby creating a static of cognitive dissonance."

Do you feel cognitive dissonance with the current health situation, state of events, and your personal reality? Where and how will you search for balance?

Let boredom and irritation lead to a cathartic outlet or breakthrough. Use your creative mind to get beyond static solutions.

Recall a memory when someone provided a teaching experience that has stayed with you.

Trace the origin of negative feelings and turn them around.  Make something marvelous happen.

In straw sandals and with a bamboo staff, I roam three thousand worlds

Dwelling by the water, feasting on the wind, year after year.

— Ikkyu

Stay Connected

“I believe that America is the engine of ingenuity, ” says Dr. Sullivan of the Cleveland Clinic. “We should be creating ways to stay connected or inventing something interesting or fun right now to be creative. And we should be coming up with these ideas and letting our kids participate in them to help build their emotional IQ and their self-confidence as they’re navigating this normal as well,” he explains.

“I think we can utilize this time to be innovative and to be creative in terms of how we’re going to cope with this, and we can also use it for good. Meaning, we can look at what we still have in our lives and be grateful for that versus what we’re missing right now,” adds Dr. Sullivan.

Develop ways to stay in touch during this time of sheltering in place. Connect with friends and relatives on social media or face time. Talk about fun adventures, add humor, and avoid a focus on the news..

Write an email with photographs. Shine together rather than struggle alone.

Imagine writing a letter to someone far away? Do you still know how to write in cursive? Find a pen that flows and go for it.

Journal writing will also assist with ways to flick fear into fresh ideas. Start with a concern and see how many ways you can write it into a creative idea.

Avoid a news burn out. Go in for a quick view and then shut it down. If you see a negative find three possibilities to replace it. What would you do to help?




It's close to spring cleaning time. Get a head start on, "throwing instead of stowing." Box items for Good Will or your favorite charity shop.

Embrace moments. Find a discover in nature's as a way to renew.

Push Possibilities

I believe in Possibilities. If we use calm, creative thinking, we can combine ideas to overcome fears and obstacles. 

"With the new day comes new strengths and new thoughts." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Believe in Possibilities. Here are a few to get you motivated.

Take a walk and observe. Engage away from your internal chatter. notice shapes and shadows. Listen for bird song. Breathe in nature's nurture. Find a flower to examine by touch and scent. Hug leaves with fingertips.

Housework is not everyone's favorite activity. "Ecstasy, then the laundry" is a Zen proverb. Find the joy in the task at hand. While making the bed, loading the washer and dryer, notice your hands and fingers. Notice the wonders your body performs for you.

Do you have a favorite indoor plant?  If not, find one to transplant for an inside and insight delight. Tend it daily.Water it when necessary and turn it towards the light. Shine its leaves. Smile and find mindfulness as you live in the present moment  and think only of it.

When eating, ponder the source of the items.

What did it take to get them to your oven and table?

Imagine the individuals who grew, processed, or prepared the foods.


Consider your body's vitality and digestion. Slow down and taste each flavor. Let sensations delight.


Sunrises and sunsets remind of us of nature's promise. Take advantage of their effects.

'Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created for something new to emerge.' - Eckhart Tolle

Enjoy a variety of diversions. Ask, "in what ways will I make this challenge the Best opportunity and possibility."

Happy Birthday To My Father

My father would celebrate his 130th birthday today - March 23, 2020. Each year since his passing in 1977, I have written a letter to him about the world and me.  

With his background in broadcasting and passion for international communication, he would be quite a fan of the internet. He'd revel in the technological gadgets that abound.  A cell phone with all its applications, super digital camera, and a huge screen for sports viewing would attract his attention. 

He might feel frustrated by the sensationalism and inaccuracies of the media, at times. I will not get into politics or leadership, he would think I was teasing him.

With our current virus troubles and confusions, I know he would have faith in possibilities. He'd believe in ways to develop ideas and new institutions.  

We meet early in the morning.

"Let's not do our usual breakfast today, Daddy."

'What's that about?" He hugs me.

"We're kinda shut down because of the pandemic I told you about."

"Look outside, air is clean, clouds abound, and sunshine," he responds.

"Let's just wander until sunset, " I suggest.

He continues to remark at the scents of the flowers and watches pelicans and seagulls testing the currents. A pod of dolphins delights him as they jump and fish. We laugh at the sea lions and their poses.

"Do they still make coca cola?" he always asks and, "Wow, cameras without film so you can take shot after shot . . . Really?"

He turns, and chuckles, "Petsy, I miss hot dogs and Delaware Punch!"

I get a whiff of his Old Spice and watch the curling smile at the corner of his mouth.  

"Now, show me that communication net again," he asks. "Stock market still around?"

I don't want to frustrate and disappoint him so I use distraction.

"See that star pine? They moved the 100 year old tree three feet to adapt to their new building construction. It's struggling, but will do well by fall," I say.

We walk near a closed café where he could go WIFI, play all day and acquaint himself with world politics. Adjusting easily to the keys, within minutes he would master the world wide web. I distract him again. 

"Did I ever tell you about stories I discovered researching relatives when I traveled to Salt Lake City?" 

He looks at me with eye rolls, a smile, and a head shake. He knows what I'm up to. Then his eyes glance at the clouds turning into animals and shapes. "Nature hasn't changed, has it?" he says. "It's still a marvel."

Just before sunset, we arrive at a bench by the sea and watch our “great ball of fire” ease past the horizon. 

"Still haven't caught the green flash with a photo," I say. 

"Don't give up hope, Petsy. I'll return next year. You'll capture that flash."

Happy Birthday, Daddy.  Same time, next year.