"No one can be dubbed with any kind of self honor. All these things come from within ourselves, and as soon as we start looking outside to see who is seeing that we are what we want to be, we’re lost." - Odetta (excerpt from the radio transcript from the Pacifica Radio Archives Preservation & Access Project).

Dare you to listen to Odetta's deep, warm, soulful voice and travel inwards to see what needs recognized in yourself.

For me this song is a self affirmation and joyous invitation to be our whole human self.

The challenge for me at times is to embrace the "hit or miss" part. 

It's easier to feel empowered and sure of who I am when it "hits a mark". When I see that something I do, share or say resonates and is well received,  supportive, or recognized by others...then I'm like "hell ya, I'm on the path"! 

It's another thing to keep believing even when it's a "miss".

Here's where I invite you to caravan with me. Ask yourself;

• What would I do differently if I I focused less on how something is received by others and more on what's important about it? 
• How do I keep believing, even when I expose myself or share my creative idea or my truth... and it "misses"? 
• How do I feel about disappointment? (aka: another case of a "miss).
• How will I recognize in myself something I'm waiting for someone else to see? (that's a bit of a Vulcan mind meld- take time to chew on that one). :) 

Be you... hit or miss! 
xo 
T.rose

"When we listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are constantly being re-created. There is this little creative fountain inside us that begins to spring and cast up new thoughts and unexpected laughter and wisdom. If you are very tired, strained, have no solitude, run too many errands, talk to too many people, drink too many cocktails, this little fountain is muddied over and covered with a lot of debris. The result is you stop living from the center, the creative fountain, and you live from the periphery, from externals. That is why, when someone has listened to you, you go home rested and lighthearted. It is when people really listen to us, with quiet fascinated attention, that the little fountain begins to work again, to accelerate in the most surprising way." - Brenda Ueland; Strength to Your Sword Arm: Selected Writings

I adore this quote by Brenda Ueland. The image of our "center" and our "creativity" as a fountain speaks to me and leaves me wondering what I'm doing to keep the water fresh and flowing (although, I'm all for honoring debris or a beaver dam from time to time). 


Here is some metaphor moxie to play with:

• If we are constantly being re-created, what's the "new" or "current" YOU?
• If your home (or work or relationship) could be a place of re-creation, what would that look like?
• What keeps your water fresh and creativity flowing? What debris is mucking up your waters?
• How do you live from the center? What activities make that possible?
• Take this inner journey OUTWARDS now....Who can you listen to today? Spot the fountains around you and invite them to fill up!

Caravan On,
Tammy Rose

The song before you is, "The Sun is Shining Down", by Jj Grey and Mofro.

I’m crushing out on this song big time, it’s on my vibin' playlist for workouts, it’s playing in the car, and it’s hummed while shower water runs. Have a listen yourself to see if it stirs anything for you. For me, there is a soulful grit mixed with an exposed tenderness that speaks to lived experience + lived loss. Its truth weaving…with an achingly honest love, commitment and tribute that soaks into the heart and helps me feel the beauty in this up + down thing called life.

Honor this song, honor yourself, turn off all flashing-beeping-messenger-apparatuses and give yourself 10 minutes to let this song sink in.

Let it sink WAY in.

Feel what’s going down here.

Notice what it sparks in you.

Then flex your reflective music moxie:

• What little things make your life worth living?
• What expectations might be getting in the way? (self expectations or expectations you hold on others or life).
• When and where and with whom do you feel most alive? How can you use that knowledge to build aliveness and resonant action in other areas of your work/life?

Want to go really deep? The beauty of this song was inspired by Jj Grey’s grandmothers’ story of driving her husband to the hospital when he died on route. Think about that.

• How are loss, love and aliveness connected?

Watch near the end of the videoclip when Jj Grey walks off stage. There is a flash moment where he places his hand over his heart and he lets something in (or maybe out, or both);

• What is something that touches you deeply and could use a little “heart pat” acknowledgement?
• What could you let in? let go? send up?

Feel it, express it, and let the sun shine down. Mofro style! 

Caravan on,
​Tammy Rose
p.s. Let;s chat...share your music sparks below.