Oscar Bound

"Why Walk When You Can Fly"

"Why Walk When You Can Fly" by Mary Chapin Carpenter

I've loved this song ever since I first heard it, but it has new meaning to me lately. I'm embarking on a whole new phase of my life and and really feel as if I'm about to "take off" and fly...not exactly sure where I'm going to land, but I'm definitely up for pushing some boundaries and taking some chances.

Lyrics:

"In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, baby
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world there's a whole lot of trouble
But a whole lot of ground to gain
Why take when you could be giving, why watch as the world goes by
It's a hard enough life to be living, why walk when you can fly

In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
In this world there's a whole lot of shame
In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
And a whole lotta ground to gain
When you spend your whole life wishing, wanting and wondering why
It's a long enough life to be living, why walk when you can fly

In this world there's a whole lot of cold
In this world there's a whole lot of blame
In this world you've a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings
There's a star on the far horizon, rising bright in an azure sky
For the rest of the time that you're given, why walk when you can fly"

"Unwritten"

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

Lately I've been getting the message that I need to start writing about the next phase of my life as it unfolds, and the lyrics to "Unwritten" (see below) keep coming into my mind.

Some of what I want to express will inevitably end up here on my blog since I love sharing music, but I'm pretty sure I will also be working on a book project that is just coming into shape in my mind.  More to follow...but think "Eat, Pray, Love" meets "The Secret".  

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, yeah, yeah

"Takes A Little Time"

"Takes A Little Time" by Amy Grant

It takes a little time sometimes
To get your feet back on the ground
It takes a little time sometimes
To get the titanic turned back around
It takes a little time sometimes
But baby you're not going down
It takes more than you've got right now
Give it time

As we head into Labor Day weekend, it occurs to me that I have actually been absent from my own life since around Memorial Day weekend...ouch! Of course, I've been here physically, but in truth, I haven't been of much use to anyone...and I feel pretty crappy about that (official apologies to my amazing children and my understanding and patient friends and biz partners). There are excuses, and maybe even some valid ones (the death of a close friend, the break-up of my marrriage, career-related stress, and even some minor but nagging physical issues), but what really bothers me most is that I somehow managed to lose sight of myself for a little awhile.

However, as a rough as the past few months have been, there is always, of course,  the opportunity for growth and insight to occur. The blessing of this summer for me has been that I definitely know for sure what I DON'T WANT in my life anymore...and can now focus again on what I DO WANT. 

First and foremost on that list is inner peace -- which for me comes from an absolute belief and trust that things are unfolding exactly as they should be in my life for my highest good, even when it doesn't feel that way in the moment. I lost that trust a bit, but now feel more certain than ever that I'm on the path I'm meant to be on...and am heading in wonderful new directions (both personally and professionally) which I can only begin to imagine today.

I want excitement and adventure in my life -- and to feel present, alive and motivated every day. Calm moments are good too...but I want to feel energized by every aspect of my life vs. drained. 

I want to spend the vast majority of my time with people who make me laugh or inspire me in some way. I'm happy to say this is already more and more my reality every day.

I want to do a better job of nurturing myself (this includes a long list of things I won't bore you with) and in turn, others I care about.  

I want to be an inspiration on a larger scale...whether through my current work or unknown endeavors that lie ahead of me. 

And I'm back to trusting this will all unfold as it should...for now all I need to know is WHAT I want...not HOW it's going to happen. I'm letting go of the HOW and the WHEN (that part is admittedly the hardest for me...when I want something, I want it now, lol).

SO, as my kids prepare to head back to school after a year of home-schooling, I'm heading "back to myself"....the new and improved version of myself, that is. It's "taken a little time" to get there, but I have a good feeling it was time well spent.

 

 

A Sign

Last Saturday I attended a memorial lunch in honor of one of my dearest friends -- Karen Cummings. It was a tough day for me as I really hadn't fully grieved her passing (on June 2nd). As one of many friends who got up and spoke, the theme of my comments was that we had "had each others' backs" over the years.  

About a week before she died, I happened to be with her at the hospital (along with her husband and our close friend, Mary), when she suffered both a heart attack and a stroke. One of the only things she could manage to say that night was "Don't leave me," which, of course, we didn't.

A couple of days later, she had recovered some of her speech and I had a few precious moments alone with her. She looked at me and said,  "That was a rough night." I nodded...and she then said, "Thank you for having my back.". These were, in fact,  the last words she ever spoke to me, and it gave me such peace that she knew I had been there for her. 

After the lunch, I went outside to wait for Mary...and told her to take her time because I had brought a People magazine with me and just wanted to relax on my own for a few minutes. I sat down and opened to the cover story, which happened to be about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt....Imagine my surprise when I read the title of the article....in big bold letters it said, "We Have Each Others' Backs."  WOW!

In that moment, I felt Karen's presence as surely as if she was sitting beside me. Thanks for the message, my friend! I've felt you around me over the past several weeks....and now I know for sure.

Day 166: "I Told You So"

Also love this one by Keith Urban...."I Told You So"

"Sometimes in our lives
We get to where we wonder if
The long road that we're on
Is heading in the same direction
When it comes to you and me
We're right where I know we should be"

Day 165: "You're So Vain"

One of my all-time favorite songs...I never get tired of it!

Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"

"You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't You? Don't You?

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and..."

Day 164: "Heart of Stone"

Playing catch-up on my songs....just finding some old favorites. Not sure WHY this is one of my favorite Cher songs, but it actually is...."Heart of Stone" was from her 1989 album of the same name...it was her 20th studio album and her first to go Top 10 in the U.S.

"Look at the headlines
Big crowd at the crazy house
Long queue for the joker's shoes
Ten rounds in the ring with love
Do you lose and win Or win and lose
Sweet rain like mercy in the night
(Lay me down, wash away the sorrow) Caress my soul and set it right
(Lay me down, show me your tomorrow) Summer tears, winter and the moment's flown
Don't you sometimes wish your heart was made of stone
Mercy, mercy wish your heart Was a heart of stone"

Day 163: Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite 1

The same friend who asked me if I like Prince, also asked me if I like Bach...which of course I do. Here's the amazing Yo-Yo Ma with the Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite 1.

Beautiful....

(P.S. Ignore the guy talking at the end...)

Day 162: "Little Red Corvette"

A friend asked me today if I liked Prince's music, and I said "Well, I like some of his old stuff." To which he replied...."Does he have any new stuff??" lol  Good point :)  But it got me thinking that I still love the song, "Little Red Corvette".  Here's a rare live performance of the song from 1983....Enjoy...

"And honey I say:
Little red corvette
baby
you're much too fast.
Little red corvette
you need a love that's gonna last."

Day 161: "Two Princes"

Just re-discovered "Two Princes" by The Spin Doctors while singing on the X-Box (Lego Rock Band) with the kids...forgot how much I liked it.

"Said, if you want to call me baby
(Just go ahead, now)
An if youd like to tell me maybe
(Just go ahead, now)
An if you wanna buy me flowers
(Just go ahead, now)
And if youd like to talk for hours
(Just go ahead, now)"