Thankful, For Good
Hey Friend,
Oh, I'm feeling it this morning. I drove to Chicago on Thursday to be with my kids that night through Saturday night. On Friday the weather report started forecasting sever storms that threatened life and property. The longer the day went on, the more I became concerned about getting back home. Even though my tires are bad, it's the other people on the snowy icy roads that cause me concern.
So last night just after 10pm, I got on the road to return home. It's a 6.5 hour drive. I drank a couple cups of coffee before heading out. My error was that I didn't get a 5-hour energy drink. I made it home at 4:49am this morning. I was in pain the last 90 minutes. I talk to myself loudly. I talk to the few other drivers on the road. I talk to my body. I get rather animated to keep myself awake. I'm sure it's a sight to behold.
I like going to the movies on the holidays. Last year we saw Wicked. This year we followed it up with Wicked For Good. As a musical it stirs up all sorts of emotions about friendship, purpose, goodness, perspective, the human condition, belief and of course, love. The songs are sweeping and dramatic.
I like the way music accesses my soul. As a carrier of word containers, it deposits phrases into my emotional center evoking all kinds of feelings. Words alone are powerful to do that. Layer them in music and we're defenseless against it inciting sentiment.
MUSICAL
It's like coating a pill with peanut butter for a dog. It bypasses our normal defenses and slips right into our passion core. That is the allure of music entirely. It's the most incredible vehicle to take us on a ride we didn't know we could traverse. What if you and I possessed the power of music to do that for, and with another?
From the last Wicked to this, I've been on my own turbulent emotional journey. Wanting to access peace and wanting to give access to peace. Wanting to grasp onto stability and provide stability. Desiring to overflow with joy and be a fount of joy for others. If only I could make music, sing, and create a symphonic environment we could all bust out in song in.
Alas... I cannot. But what I can do is be grateful for this day that I am alive. What I can do is be grateful for how I'm learning and growing. What I can do is be filled with gratitude for the deep and meaningful relationships the fuel my life with such variety, wonder and perspective.
MINDSHIFT
What if our life was a thanksgiving musical all year long?
PLAY LOUD
Being thankful is the self-applied rhythm to enter all the parts of our soul that sometimes seem distant or inaccessible. If you can't play three chords and the truth, maybe muster a little thanks, grace, and appreciation. It unlocks our soul, releasing melodies of delight.
I'm keeping it short probably because I didn't sleep much and I want to go watch the snow accumulate. I hope this week you rock a concert of gratitude, producing good in your world. #ShiftAway
