You may have noticed that I skipped posting a gratitude/happy things blog for April. That wasn’t exactly intentional, but it does reflect that I was having more trouble noticing the positives in April. Honestly, May has been tough too. It’s not that there was an absence of things to be thankful for, but instead there … [Read more…]
In The Backward Way is written in waltz form. What dance is more reminiscent of times past, elegance, and romance? The waltz is a ballroom dance, in 3/4 time, and characterized by a step-slide-step pattern. The dancing couple is touching throughout the dance, and was considered somewhat shocking in the late 18th century because of … [Read more…]
Definition: According to the World Health Organization, workplace burnout is an occupation-related syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It involves ongoing emotional exhaustion, psychological distance or negativity, and feelings of inefficacy. Studies show that workplace burnout leads to increased absenteeism, increased risk of depressive disorders, increased risk for diabetes, … [Read more…]
I decided that I wanted to write a minuet. Why? I have no idea. Actually, I had the title first – As It Ever Was. This is a line from one of my favorite books by Nora Roberts, in the Dragon Heart Legacy. The meaning is “as is always the case”, “as has long been … [Read more…]
Its that time again. A time for gratitude, and a time to recount the “happy things” that I noticed in the past month. I’m sure there were many more that went unnoticed or unrecorded. How many times can I write down “bacon?” February Happy Things Sometimes when people are writing in gratitude journals or making … [Read more…]
Some pieces of music seem to flow or to touch my heart more than others. Song From a Secret Garden is one of those. Song from a Secret Garden, not to be confused with the children’s novel about Mary Lennox, was composed by Rolf Lovland and was released on the album of the same name … [Read more…]
It seems I’ve known this song forever, as far back as my early Girl Scout years. It was something we would sing around the campfire. I can’t really say that I knew what it was about back then. I loved the melody, and really liked adding harmony with it. Recently I had the opportunity to … [Read more…]
I am renewing my committment to keeping track of things that make me happy each month. Of course there will be some repeats each month because I’m always happy for massages, dogs, and music. But this time I want to intentionally be aware of new things I can add to the list each month. A … [Read more…]
Softly and Tenderly was written by Will Lamartine Thompson in 1847. It is a lovely song to sing and I also really like playing it on the harp. The verses flow easily, but I think my favorite part to sing is the chorus. I’m proud to say he grew up in my home state of … [Read more…]
May Our Hearts Sing of Peace is a choir anthem I wrote in 2023 using the words of John Birch with his permission. The song is a prayer asking God to help us feel and express His peace, His joy, His forgiveness, His Grace in the world. The final words are a reminder that we … [Read more…]