Dear Reader,
This is a personal post, sharing a bit of my life and current transitions in this blog and my work with The Art of Freedom.
If you’ve been following my blog-writing over the last 8 years (I started writing about life and the Alexander Technique at my Balance and Harmony blog in 2011, before starting this blog for musicians in 2014), you may have noticed that I’ve been blogging less and less frequently. Here’s why…
I’ve gone through some pretty major life events over the last few years, including setting out on my own and getting divorced after 25 years (still can’t believe it was that long!!), buying a house (HURRAY!!), dealing with the inevitable glitches involved with that, and working through other things of a more personal nature, too. This has been an amazing period of huge challenges and opportunities, all of which have been resulting in tremendous growth and improvement for me on all levels.
I am in awe of the Grand Design and the incredible power of the human mind when committed to Goodness, aiming forward and up!
As I’ve been transitioning into my new circumstances and happier living environment, I’ve been aware that the focus of my work has also been shifting slowly along with everything else. This has allowed me to keep giving more and more of my best work to my students, but it has also meant that this blog has been neglected.
No more neglecting the blog – I’m back!
One of the things I’m realizing in a powerful new way is that my way of being an artist has always included much more than music. I’ve always loved words (favorite game? Boggle!), and I’ve loved creative writing for as long as I’ve been able to write.
Suddenly, I’m starting to own this:
I’m an ARTIST…a musician AND a writer – wow!
The proof? Besides blogging for 8 years, I just finished the outline for my first book, and I’m about to dive into working on the manuscript this week!! More about that in an upcoming post, I’m sure! 🙂
So… all of these things are waking up a lot of emotions in me (of course, that’s what happens to all Artists; after all, heart-felt emotions are the stuff of Great Art! (By the way, that will be a big theme in my book… 😉 )
***
Today, I had a profound experience that I’d like to share, because I feel that it is a natural consequence and a harbinger of this new “phase” of life/work that I’m stepping into, one day at a time.I expect the content of this blog and other media presence to reflect all of this more and more in the future.
Here’s what I experienced this morning (which I just posted to Facebook):
I’m feeling overwhelmed with gratitude today.
Most of the time (or always?) we are oblivious to the magnitude of the blessings and goodness that come our way – ALL THE TIME – which have very little, if anything, to do with whether we “deserve” them or not.
This morning, as I sat in my sunny living room, looking around at the beautiful space I’ve managed to create, just enjoying the perfection of the moment, I was flooded with a bigger picture of where I’ve come from – including a long line of ancestors, teachers, and helpful people – and where I find myself today.
It was humbling, and it brought me tears of gratitude to experience this kind of peace, quiet, and happiness in such a simple and powerful way.
When you’re granted a glimpse of that, you also realize that you can’t contain that kind of abundance – it’s not meant for you to keep to yourself.
When we become aware of the magnitude of the influx of goodness, all we can do is realize we’re a hub for positive energy: we need to let it pass through us with deep appreciation, and let it pour itself out into the world, for everyone we come into contact with – and everyone else.
I firmly believe that everyone we send that kind of positive energy to receives it, whether they want it or not, and whether they’re aware of it or not. No matter who they are, or where they are.
Today, I’m especially grateful for the people who love me and have always supported me, including my parents and other family members, past and present. There are some family members who have recently cut me off (which is still shocking to me and brings up a lot of sadness if I let myself think about it), but I include them, too.
Everyone is struggling and needs OUR Unconditional Love.
And… I feel grateful for my friends… and my students… and so many many more people whose lives have intersected with mine – even in the smallest ways….and I’m grateful for you, too.
I’m just so thankful today – and it feels GREAT!! 
Blessings to you, dear Reader! May you catch a blessed glimpse of the infinite goodness coming your way, too!
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Congratulations on your transitions, Jennifer. I don’t know all the details of what you are going through, of course, but I can relate somewhat since this is a time of transition for me, too. I am taking small steps back into the world of writing music after almost two years off, and I am recently divorced, as well. Doing this doctorate is hard work, and it’s not going to get any easier if I want to be a professional! Times of change are intimidating, but can be very exciting. I look forward to hearing more about your book in the future. Take care.
Thanks so much for writing, Skye! How exciting about your return to composition – that’s really great; one of the best ways to express what needs to be expressed, for sure. I have no doubt that your hard work with the doctorate will pay off, and don’t worry – it CAN get easier! 😉 All best wishes, always!
Yes, it IS possible to be a performer, teacher and writer! I am glad to hear you are beginning to write a book. More people need to hear the message that playing music can be done with ease and freedom. Even “difficult” music can be played with ease and freedom. Your explorations for finding that ease are a really valuable resource worth sharing. Wishing you all the best with writing, re-writing, formatting, editing, etc.!
Thanks so much for writing, Stephen, and for your appreciation! My book is temporarily on hold (other priorities), but I do hope that I’ll get back to it sooner rather than later. I really do believe in the universal freedom to experience Ease! 🙂 Wishing you all the best!
Thank you, Jennifer, for your open honesty. It gives me hope to see the commonalities between us and some reassurance of maybe reaching that place of comfortable ease and poise can belong to me too, despite the negative circumstances that have been dealt. Hope and reality that there is life, and it can be good, on the other side. Keep shining even though others can’t stand the light!
Yess!! Huge hugs, Tisha. Comfort and ease and poise ARE possible – and you’re well on your way already. xo