I have never been one to make resolutions at the turn of a new year. The words “resolve” and “resolution” for me immediately call to mind music theory analyses of great compositions–specifically works by Wagner, Berg and Schönberg, among others. I’ve always felt trite commitments such as “lose weight”, “quit drinking” and “get organized” carry with them negative connotations that attract unwanted energy and undesired outcomes. They also bear heightened expectations that go frequently unmet and can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction.
So this year I am making a pledge to myself to work daily at being the best person I can be. There is an expression I like and is paraphrased, “Imagine life as you wish it to be and trust in the knowledge the Universe will provide it for you.” While I like it very much, I acknowledge I haven’t always believed it. However, I can cite examples in which actions undertaken with belief in … Read more »
A week ago I attended the first annual Boston Book Festival. It sounded fun and there was a superb lineup of speakers/authors. While I didn’t get to attend every session my heart desired, I did sit in on three great ones that were not only informative but which left me, surprisingly, with a single realization that I’ve been pondering all week: few of the people I heard attained the goals they set out to achieve.
John Hodgman: John Hodgman wanted to be an author and, in fact, did end up an author, but only after publishing a single (but brilliant!) short story in the Paris Review, becoming a literary agent instead, appearing on The Daily Show, making a-bajillion ads for a computer company that shall remain nameless but is my favorite nonetheless, acting in movies and amassing a small army of slightly off-kilter but passionate followers.
Scout Tufankjian: American photojournalist Scout Tufankjian didn’t know … Read more »
Today was one of those unusual days where I was experiencing this rush of bumness and realizing an utter failure to flourish.
I mean, what have I been doing?
Feeling as though I hadn’t blogged forever when in reality it has only been five days made it seem as though I haven’t accomplished anything with my life. (Ridiculous-sounding, I know. It appears even more so when in writing.) Coming down off the Massachusetts Lottery-Stop & Shop-Film Festival Circuit high has been a bit rough, especially when combined with the busy schedule I have been maintaining as well as the spate of ten days of no singing due to Attack of the Crud. (Not singing due to illness really makes me a grumpy girl. It’s probably the lack of endorphins.)
My voice seems to be on the mend now, but my breath support has gone out the window. Thankfully that’s only temporary; some études will solve that setback. I’ve had some exciting brainstorming about a potential … Read more »
I need a vehicle–a vehicle for my talents. I’m realizing this more and more. I know who I am and what I want and what I like and where my strengths lie, and I am grateful for the many opportunities that have come my way to date, but I need the right vehicle for my talents.
Where are you vehicle? I’m ready and waiting for you.
In many cases it is the vehicle that has propelled a relatively or completely unknown artist into a promising career. Look at Sylvester Stallone in Rocky, Kevin Costner in Bull Durham, Orlando Bloom in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Robert Duvall in To Kill a Mockingbird, or Daniel Radcliffe in David Copperfield. It’s that break-out opportunity that all artists desire and which best showcases the burgeoning skills of the talent in question. … Read more »
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