I had the most amazing opportunity this past weekend to spend time in nature and be with a group of songwriters! We had a time of connection and reflection. I wrote a couple new songs, songs that mean a lot to me. I was struck so much by the fact that the extra supports were so helpful- meals being provided and yoga, hikes and True Nature Writing. The writing really opened things up for me. I got writing about things I had no idea needed to come to the surface and it felt like once this happened there was more continue reading…
Lifeiswideopen
Be the Unexpected
I have been working on a signature program (keynote address) this last week.This is a program of songs combined with stories that add up to an inspirational message. My business coach told me a while ago that this would be a good idea. I had a few friends over on the weekend to run through my material and they gave me some feedback. I am so grateful for the helpful feedback. The main thing I need to do is to be more specific and focus on the three main things that I want to say. This was helpful to hear continue reading…
Trusting Ourselves and Being Kind
I was fortunate enough, a couple weeks ago, to go and spend a week at one of our provincial parks here in Saskatchewan. Cypress Hills Interprovincial park is close to where I grew up and is a place I often go for inspiration and rest. Before arriving at the park, I wondered if I knew what I was doing? Would I really find inspiration here? I was planning to write and finish some songs. As soon as I arrived and got unpacked I realized that I was right to come, that I did know what I was doing. I remembered continue reading…
February is the month of love
February is the month of love! I think we can view this more broadly than romantic love as love can show up in our lives in many ways. I have been playing different love songs for Wednesdays with Wanda this month and when I played a show in Saskatoon I tried to think about different types of love and love songs. I played some songs about romantic love, the good and bad sides as well as some songs that I love. I had a few lovely moments at the show in Saskatoon. A two year old and his dad come continue reading…
Transitions
I realized a few weeks ago that transitioning out of my life as a nurse was going to be a little more challenging then I thought. I will be retiring July 1st. I have been so tired from my work as a nurse that I had assumed that there would be no issues with this change. Then I realized that I have a lot of pride in what I have done in my nursing life and that I wanted to leave it in a thoughtful way. I have come at this in a couple of ways. Firstly, I went to continue reading…
Christmas is nearly here.
Christmas is nearly here. I decided this year I would play a few shows during December as part of my music biz plan. People like music at Christmas and I had a Christmas single to play so it seemed like a sound decision. I have enjoyed playing although I have only just gotten into the spirit of the season. I received a couple Christmas cards a couple days ago and that helped. It is interesting to sing Christmas tunes and not actually be in the Christmas spirit. It was fun to have people sing along. It was also a stretch continue reading…
Christmas is Coming
We are in the month of November, Halloween has come and gone and Christmas is just around the calendar. That’s how things are for those of us in Canada. Remembrance Day was this past Sunday (Veterans Day in the United States) and we don’t talk a lot about Christmas until we are at least past November 11th. When I mention to people that Christmas is very close, there is a variety of responses. There is either joy at the idea that their favorite time of year is here or dislike at the mention of it. Christmas brings out feelings like continue reading…
New Season, New Beginnings
It is eleven months since my album Shifting Sands was released. It is nearly impossible to believe that it was such a short time ago. I have come to love and understand these songs more and more as I play them. As I head out on my tour/trip I understand again the words of the song Thanks Past Me. I find myself almost daily being grateful that I can depend on something I have done or learned in this past year. I bought some new sound equipment yesterday and was proud to realize that I do understand some of the continue reading…
New Connections
I have had a lot of chances during this last month to experience some new connections and for this I am very grateful. I just finished a trip to the UK where I met my first grandchild. It is impossible to express how grateful I am for this new person who has come into my life. The most amazing things are often the ones you don’t expect. I had never really thought about being a grandma but here it is and it is so cool, new connections indeed! Before I left for my trip to the UK, a wise friend continue reading…
New Perspectives 2
I am in the middle of a trip to the UK. It is always interesting to travel and see things from a new perspective. As well, to be reminded that there is more then one way to do things. This can be as simple as how people eat their food. Apparently I don’t use my fork and knife quite right as compared to people here. I would have never guessed this was a difference in the past. I had a colleague review my album Shifting Sands recently and I was so pleased with the review. What struck me was the continue reading…
