Keep the Dream

                                                   













        Loose your dreams,
 and you will loose your mind,
           to life unkind ...

Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones


  I found myself imparting this pearl of wisdom of the Stones to two colleagues at work today.  Certainly my dream of being a musician, has pulled me through many a tough period of my life.  Persistence, courage, and the support of friends and loved ones have fueled my path.

Tonight after a walk along a rain swollen Sligo Creek, I retired to the practice room.  Beginning with an Alexander Technique lie down, I allowed my body and mind to connect.  Slowly allowing the concerns of my week recede into the ether, I simply enjoyed this simple but powerful practice of the lie down.  Noticing my body let go, but not completely.   A slight holding on in my left elbow and shoulder reminding me to direct my thinking and offer freedom to this limb.  What am I holding onto?  Why am I holding on?  Yet I do hold onto my dreams.  Is this a positive example of holding on, or just another form of delusion?  However this dream of being a musician does offer sustenance to my life. I can only hope that this dream offers something to others.

In my practice room there are many pictures of loved ones.  Tonight as I was playing, I looked into my sister's baby picture.  Actually, one of those that illustrate the good use of the neck, that children have before we train them.  Such a warm smile, full of life.  And I knew that she was smiling at me and for me, as I once again made the small effort to keep my dream alive.  Keep your dreams alive, the world needs them.

Shifting Shadows

I woke today from a dream where I was lost and afraid. The factors contributing to this were noted in my journal, but still the physical manifestation of the dream was in my body. Using my meditation practice, I was able to let go of the physical, examine the emotional aspects, and plant new positive seeds in my mind.

Today is our last day at the beach. This time together has been relaxing, inspiring, and creative. The new piece of music continues to challenge me, baffle me, and to surprise me. I sense I am close to completing this piece, but even if I do not find the ending,  the musical learning journey has been time well spent. Time - musicians work with time, play with time. Today unlike earlier this week, I have the sense that there is not enough time. The end of this particular process - the process of Vacation.

Vacation - from the Latin root vacare - to be empty. Certainly this has been achieved to a great degree this week. Now as my return to home and work approaches,  the mind begins to fill once again. May I be able to notice the notes I am placing on the score of my mind, our mind.

Standing in the surf, the sand shifts below my feet. No matter how firmly I may plant my feet, the sand will shift. As does life. Yet before me, when I raise my eyes to see, there is an ocean of love. May I float on this ocean, and in doing so allow my fingers to float across the strings of my guitar. Availability is the key - am I available to music; to love; to life?

The Clock is Ticking

 

Times Square Ball 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37005493@N04/ / CC BY 2.0

Time waits for no one. So what am I doing with my day, this moment, my life? I have dreams, aspirations, & projects. Am I working on what is important to me right now? My needs are met and then some, my dreams are known to me. Am I doing everything I can to pursue my dreams? Particularly the dream of being a musician. Something I wanted since childhood that was sidetracked by behaviors that did not serve that dream nor even the practical aspects of my life.  But then I put those behaviors behind me and began chasing my dreams. Today I have love in my life, great family, music, and hope.

I have enjoyed many hours practicing, listening, learning about music. Taking risks with other musicians to stretch my musical abilities and personal comfort. Bearing countless encounters with my inadequacies relating to performance. As the Guitar Craft aphorism states: Small incremental changes are transformative.  I know this is true through experience. As this year winds down, my years wind down am I doing all that I can to truly be Livin' the Dream?

Now back to practicing...