Happy New Year to you all!
Hope this year has started with a Yahhooo! for y’all.
I have a recommendation and a request for you.
Recently, while attending a workshop, I heard a song that I fell in love with. The song is “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard from the “Once” movie soundtrack. When I asked about the song, several people in the room highly recommended the movie so I went in search of it soon after. Even the teenager renting the movie to me felt compelled to give his stellar review of it. I have to add my name to the growing list of fans. I love coming across a movie that I have overlooked initially and then have it become one of my favourites. The movie is a modern day musical. I loved how simple the movie was with what I took from it as messages about hope, timing, friendship and following one’s passion and dreams. I’m still reflecting on the movie weeks later, not to mention repeatedly playing the soundtrack. If you do check the movie out, I also recommend watching the section in special features on the making of the movie. The added information there added to my appreciation of it.
This brings me to my request. I’ve always found music a great way for me to anchor my experiences. Nothing brings me right back to a place in time quicker and more clearly than a particular song. Music has a way of bypassing our conscious mind -- which for most of us is a very good thing! -- and allows us to dive into our subconscious. Music will sometimes move me to tears the way that nothing else will. Many workshops that I have been a part of use music as a way to access feelings and to help people remember what they’ve experienced there.
For quite some time I’ve been thinking and talking about creating a Mastery Songs playlist. A list of songs that we can play at the Mastery to add another layer to what we already do in the weekend. For those of you who have heard me talking about this for some time, I assure you, this is the year it is going to happen! What I ask of you, is to send me names of songs and their artists that, for whatever reason, speak to you in a way that reminds you of the Mastery. Perhaps it is a song that you think fits with a particular assignment, or a song that evokes a particular feeling in you, or the words in the song that are consistent with the messages of the Mastery. Whatever they are, if they come to mind after reading this, they are the songs I’m looking for. Please send them to me at jillkennedy@shaw.ca.
May we all use this coming year to drink in the moments, dance and create beautiful music, and follow our passions and dreams.
With much love and appreciation,
Jill
Perfection-ish
I received a book from Jill called Ish .
It is about a little boy who loves drawing and draws everything all the time.
Until his older brother criticizes his efforts and questions what exactly it is he is drawing.
So he crumples up all his drawings, and stops doing the thing he loves.
One day he goes into his little sister’s room and her wall is covered with his slightly crumpled drawings.
" Why " he wants to know. And she tells him how much she likes each drawing – " the one that is Tree –ish looking, or dog-ish, or fish –ish. "
" But they aren’t perfect " he yells. " But I love them just the way you drew them " she says.
And so he starts to draw just what he sees again , and he loves it.
So I am resolved to follow his lead and be a perfection –ish kind of person. Do what I love and do it as well as I can while still having FUN.
And do things I have never done – because when my standard is perfect-ISH I can do anything to that standard. Even the very first time.
So join me in opening up our lives this year. Let’s try new things and reengage the fun in everything we do.
That is what being a Mastery grad is all about anyway , isn’t it ?
Enjoy life as a Perfection –ish –st.
Hugs,
James Downie
