Tag: morning edition (page 1 of 1)

October 2, 2013 / 2 Comments

What I Want To Remember About September 2013

“And the music don’t feel like it did.” – The xx, Teardrops

Yoga became a thing I like to go do.

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I might like a lazy Saturday but I love an active weekend.

I’m not too old to go to shows (though I do appreciate when they end before 11). 



The Xx * Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 29 2013 —- Seriously beyond proud and happy for them. Palladium to Bowl. Flawless. #thexx | #hollywoodbowl

Certain relationships manifest beautiful serendipities.

For my sister, it’s all happening.



Andddd we're off. Headed to Austin, TX for show #6! #theidenticaltour

Most of us aren’t Emily Bear.

And, by that, I mean that discipline and unrepentant passion for something isn’t intrinsic for most of us. It clearly isn’t for me. At the age of 12, Bear has composed 350 pieces of music and released six albums. Even though I enjoy both immensely, I have to remind myself to read books and write something on a daily basis. I’m not called to it. I’m not called to anything, really. I’m interested in many a thing but I’m passionate, truly passionate, about little.

That’s not true. I’m passionate about always getting better. I’m passionate about doing the right thing. I’m ardent about encouraging people to aim high and go for it. It doesn’t matter what the “it” is.

I have notions of how to make me better and I have made commitments to myself to do those things in a consistent fashion. I stumbled a bit with some of them in September. I’m not Emily Bear or those like her for whom, it seems, can’t get enough of doing the things that make them great and bring them joy. I’ve got to remind myself these things are worth doing.

The rewards are rich when I’m not a victim of the inertia of the couch and the tv and my internal dialogue.

And that’s what I want to remember about this September.

January 19, 2013 / 1 Comment

Do You Pray?

“Just outrun the demons, could you?” – Frank Ocean, Bad Religion

I do and I don’t know what to make of it, because I feel like a hypocrite. But I only do it when I’m at my most scared or my most fearful … and my most vulnerable. I don’t know what to do with that because it really does not align with anything that I’ve said all day today, yet I still find myself doing that. – Kyle Simpson in NPR’s On Religion, Some Young People Show Both Doubt And Respect

I’ve prayed several times over the last month. Any time I hear a siren, I take a moment to think, “may they reach their destination  in time and may those in need have it.” When I know I’m powerless to change someone else’s condition, I pray they find comfort, serenity, joy, and strength. I prayed for all those moved by the passing of my father-in-law sending out both a kind of spiritual hug and thoughts of gratitude for those who sought to ease the pain for those I love so dearly. I prayed for myself. For a good night’s sleep. For empathy. For solace.

I didn’t pray to a g-d, though. At least, I don’t see it that way.  I refer you back to Faith. I prayed because I believe our thoughts matter. I prayed because I do feel a connectedness and rhythm to the life and that maybe, just maybe, good thoughts, strong thoughts, powerful thoughts can nudge us all a little more towards right. In some previous location of my writing, I’ve mentioned a gift from my friend, Michelle: The Book of Jewish Values by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. The very first lesson is what to do when Hearing a Siren. I think about it daily. We love by what we do to and for others but we also love by recognizing that we are all linked.

In the last two weeks, I’ve been reminded in the best ways of this connection. No matter the differences in beliefs, I felt akin to those grieving with me. Appreciative. Sympathetic.

And so I prayed.