It's all about the conditions.

Flowers bloom. So do people and lots of things… in the right conditions. As a teacher I know this and it is so easy to see that children already know how to grow, learn and love life. There is no forcing necessary, only the preparing of the environment for life to do its own thing. This is why I love teaching- because I get to work with one of the best secrets of life, that if you can help a child along the way of understanding themselves and their own gifts, there is no limit to the miracle of what emerges, unique and necessary to the world. The problem comes when we don’t trust this process, when we want something to be different than it is. When we don’t trust the wisdom curled up inside and help it to find its own expression, we can actually be working against nature and our goals.  

Flowers bloom. So do people and lots of things.

I walked outside this morning, Nov. 1st, and saw a flower had come up that I didn’t remember planting last year, as it didn’t come up this summer. We had a hot (for England) and dry summer, and the usual plantings just didn’t behave predictably. Now that it is slightly cooler and wet, everything is popping out saying ok! I recognise these conditions. It really got me thinking as to my own career and art and anything we want to create in life. We do all the preparing and follow the steps, and sometimes the results aren’t predictable. This is frustrating! I find myself going into ‘trying harder.’ Working hard is good, but there is a difference. It is so easy to go into a forcing mode and want to just do more, more, more of whatever it is- sell more CDs, write better songs, practice more, get more press- all of these things are important but the minute they become the goal, the energy is misplaced, and not going into what it should be- the art. Sometimes it calls into question the very thing we are trying to create and we begin to doubt ourselves, doubt that it’s good enough,  doubt that it is worth it. This is when nature is the best   teacher, and I find myself like a beginner at times in my ability to allow the organic process to occur, as much as I believe in it.

It is such a relief and a blessing to see these flowers this morning (even if it is unseasonably warm) and to be reminded that, duh, things happen. People grow. If I plant a seed, and go about the daily work of nurturing it, chances are it will grow. And it will grow into what the conditions allow. We can’t control all conditions; this is the hard part to accept. Some conditions don’t allow for what we originally had planned for, but I do believe that the creative process is still beautiful, worth sharing and taking part in. Keep cultivating the conditions. Beyond fate, we are made of stuff that is programmed to bloom.

Make a Joyful Noise...

or... Small Children with Loud Instruments

Today was Harvest Festival for the 7-9 year olds that I have the privilege of teaching music to. 80+ kids crammed into a very small village church and I was in charge of the music- Two hymns and one very fun upbeat song which I had arranged with multiple parts and... 25 rhythm instruments. (Why?!) The great thing about leading others (especially children) in song is that you REALLY have to let go of the outcome. I am not performing; I am preparing and, hopefully, inspiring others to experience the joy of music and share it in a performance. That said, I would of course have liked all of the various parts to come out exactly as rehearsed, exactly as I imagined them to sound in my head... although I have worked with young children long enough to know to expect the unexpected :) 

Another lesson I have learned is that sometimes this unexpected, imperfect stuff is the best bit. And with children it is adorable anyway! The kids sounded gorgeous today, and that wasn't a perfect sound but an absolutely joyful sound. When they sang their favourite bits at the top of their lungs it made my heart sing as well. Then there were the 25 rhythm instruments... Starting and finishing together was a long shot but we pretty much managed it! Although one child in the front was so in the moment that she kept on playing her shaker very loudly while singing, when everyone else had stopped shaker-ing. Brilliant.

The parents who spoke with me afterwards were glowing and some said it brought tears to their eyes. I feel really lucky to have this as my 'day job' and to be a part in helping people share their joy and touch hearts through music. I can't think of anything more fun than coming up with songs that make others want to join in, and seeing how children instinctively 'get' the spirit and fun of music (or anything creative really) is such a great reminder that being creative is about the being bit, so much more than it is about the outcome. What makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs? Or what form of creativity calls to you to express your (imperfect/ unexpected) joy?   LD

Commitment

Commitment

Over a year ago, I started a blog. I published one entry and then didn't write again as I was absorbed in finishing my CD. I wanted a daily, or even weekly practice of blogging as a way to keep myself honest about being creative on a consistent basis, and to share this process with others who are looking to do the same. I got so caught up in thinking about how I wanted to do this, share it, how often etc. that I quickly felt a back-up of creative ideas that I wanted to share, and didn't know how to begin. Sound familiar at all? Sometimes I have so many things I want to start that I just don't.  SO.......... I am starting! I was on a walk this evening and looking out at this view I decided I just needed to commit. It feels really good actually to imagine dipping into this creative space as often as I can, and to share it. As soon as I made the decision I felt a buoyancy and delight... which reminds me how important it is to SHARE our creations... it completes the process. I am excited to begin this journey and look forward to hearing from people who are on similar journeys, and who want to start being more creative on a daily (weekly/monthly!) basis, whether that means making art, music, or just looking at life through the lens of creativity as the force that drives us... I become more and more convinced that for myself, engaging in the creative process makes me feel more like me, more alive, and connected to what I am meant to be doing. I'm curious how you experience creativity in your life- is it a part of your daily life and if so in what way? LD

Come Into (Sneak peek video :)

Having fun practicing for live shows! Bob and I are working up acoustic versions of songs from my new album. It's so nice just playing around with arrangements to play live rather than for recording.
Here is a sample from our recent practice session!

CD is finished!!!

     Now that my CD has been released I'm starting to get very excited about the thought of playing live again- instead of spending my spare time recording, writing, re-writing, mixing, I'm feeling that feeling again that I had when I first started to play out (way back when). That buzz of playing live, for other people, who are actually in the room. The fun of picking up instruments and hearing and feeling their live sounds. People talking in the back, coffee machine whirring, or the moments when you can hear a pin drop because all are listening. All of it. Live music. Along with scheduled gigs, I'm going to play a bunch of open mics this summer, to meet other artists and just enjoy making music for the fun of it. I kind of wish all gigs were open mics in a way- if you could get paid for sharing the stage with many others, and having an audience who are up for anything and could discover a great band and make a real connection. This is the atmosphere I want to be in and create...sing-alongs, folk-style community shows where all share in the music-making somehow, where everyone knows they need the music like air: performer, listener and organiser alike. Time to start this at the grass-roots level and see what happens! 

                      Me at open mic in 2007 :)