Category: Optimism

Reflecting on Flowers growing through Cement

Reflecting

For our WPC theme this week Nancy Thanki wrote: “Whether it’s water or some other reflective surface, what have you seen recently that has changed your perspective on the view?”

Here’s my take on it. It is my mission in life is to learn how (and teach others) to    Choose a Perspective.

There was no sunrise yesterday morning. I’m not kidding. The sucker just didn’t come up!! No Sun. Just continued darkness…inviting the kind of depression that comes with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

This is the chair I fight the cats for each morning, when the sun comes up and is streaming in from all sides, but not yesterday!

 

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Then I remembered three things.

  1. This IS Washington State after all. The weather can change in an instant. We just don’t like to spread the information about how truly gorgeous it can be when that sun does come out. We are crowded enough…
  2. I am the Queen of blooming where I’m planted, making the best of things, Choosing HOW I look at things, so I better use all that knowledge now.

3. Since my other posts this week were on Reflections, I wanted to do one on    Reflecting, so I did that. I Reflected for a while…most of the day actually…and    sure enough, true to its reputation, the Northwest Spring changed it’s mind about  everything!

So I went for a walk…just one block…and here’s what I found!

OH, and THIS!!!

And then THIS!!

And lastly, THIS!

If all that glory, on a single block, is not enough to shift your perspective, then I suggest you reflect on this; with whom will you be doing some psychotherapy…and how QUICKLY!

Song Lyrics Sunday 3/12/17 TIME

https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2017/03/11/song-lyric-sunday-theme-for-31217/

 

Well, I’ve just spent an hour searching for the song I wanted to share. I thought for sure I could find a video with it playing in that haunting beach scene from the movie “Coming Home” but no luck.

So here is the song (and lyrics). If you are over 60, crank up your volume, hold onto your heart and get ready to be transported back…in TIME!

https://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/csicrimesceneinvestigation/timehascometoday.htm

 

And here is the scene from the movie that comes up in my search and in my opinion, won Jon Voight the best actor Oscar that year.

 

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Song Lyric Sunday 12-18-16

https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/song-lyric-sunday-theme-for-121816/#respond

So the theme for Song Lyric Sunday (this week) is to post a song that makes you feel better. 

My first choice is this delightful anthem from Cris Williamson. I always feel better after playing this LOUD and singing along with this wonderful choir of women!! I feel so connected! I dare you not to smile at the very end!!

Chris’s voice is so clear and powerful. I LOVE her joyous, sometimes poignant and always and “heartful” singing!

I have used Williamson’s music often in my work. And one time, I had the extreme pleasure of being at a Bonnie Raitt concert (she’s my favorite), when Bonnie invited local treasure, Cris Williamson, up on stage to sing Angel from Montgomery with her!! WOW!!

 

Song of the Soul

Song of the Soul
(Cris Williamson)

Love of my life I am crying
I am not dying, I am dancing
Dancing along in the madness
There is no sadness
Only the song of the soul

cho: And we'll sing this song
     Why don't you sing along
     Then we can sing for a long, long time
     Why don't you sing this song
     Then we can sing along
     Then we can sing for a long, long time

What do you do for a living
Are you forgiving, giving shelter
Follow your heart, love will find you
Truth will unbind you
Seek out a song of the soul

Come to your life like a warrior
Nothing will bore yer, you can be happy
Let in the light, it will heal you
And you can feel you
Sing out a song of the soul

Love of my life I am crying
I am not dying, I am dancing
Dancing along in the madness
There is no sadness
Only the song of the soul

Lyrics from http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Song_of_the_Soul.htm

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SongLyricSunday-Gratitude #2

https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2016/11/19/song-lyric-sunday-theme-for-112016/#respond

Choice number two for this week’s Song Lyric theme of Gratitude from Helen Espinosa has to be…

 

Thank U
by Alanis Morissette
Lyrics by Google Play

How ’bout getting off these antibiotics
How ’bout stopping eating when I’m full up
How ’bout them transparent dangling carrots
How ’bout that ever elusive kudo

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

How ’bout me not blaming you for everything
How ’bout me enjoying the moment for once
How ’bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
How ’bout grieving it all one at a time

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

The moment I let go of it was the moment
I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it
Was the moment I touched down

How ’bout no longer being masochistic
How ’bout remembering your divinity
How ’bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How ’bout not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence

Written by Narada Michael Walden, Walter Afanasieff, Clarence Clemons • Copyright © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, The Bicycle Music Company

 

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Song Lyrics Sunday 11-13-16

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One of my favorite songs for reminding me that no matter how big the “powers that be” are (or think they are), I can ALWAYS tap into my own personal power….

Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 was NOT the biggest of the big pictures…

 

(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around
Joan Baez
Ain’t gonna let nobody, turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let nobody, turn me around
Keep on a walking, keep on a talking
Gonna build a brand new world
Ain’t gonna let the administration turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let the administration turn me around
Keep on a walking, keep on a talking
Gonna build a brand new world
Ain’t gonna let no first-strike policy turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let no first-strike policy turn me around
Keep on a walking, keep on a talkin
Gonna build a brand new world
Ain’t gonna let Indira Gandhi turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let Indira Gandhi (how’d she get that name?) ’round
Keep on a walking, keep on a talking
Gonna build a brand new world.
Ain’t gonna let that Henry Kissenger turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let that killer Kissenger turn me around
Keep on a walking, keep on a-talking
Gonna build a brand new world.
Ain’t gonna let nobody, turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain’t gonna let nobody, turn me around
Keep on a singing, keep on a swinging
Gonna build a brand new world
Songwriters: Joan C. Baez
(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing LLC

ChosenPerspectives on Chaos for WPC

Chaos

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Up close sometimes, I can’t see anything but Chaos

 

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But given a little distance, I can see some order

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And from the new perspective, even beauty…

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This complicated magnificance was not visible when covered by Spring and Summer foliage.

I had to wait it out to see the full picture…