How differently we view the world.

I heard this interesting story from my new friend Michael Menzies. He and his partner Eduardo have both kept journals all their life. Sometimes they'll play a game, picking a random date from years gone by to see how each viewed the events of that day. When comparing notes, in most cases each one's "take" was completely different!

We're all looking at the world through our own prism...of experience, our underlying hopes and dream, our particular bend of nature. Some of us are "half full" types, and others tend to see things from a less optimistic point of view. I, for one, am a hopeless optimist. I simply refuse to believe people are "evil"-- as one God-fearing Christian woman I met in the market assured me we ALL were. Life is not evil; it's just...Life! Our point of view gives it meaning. What we feel about it, and what we give attention to, or simply trust, will be the measure of our experience.

As we embark on another year, the year of Life, 2011, let's remember that we're all in this together. Let's trust that the ever-evolving process of which we're all a part is taking us to the place we SAY we want to go: to a world of peace. It's possible if we give attention to it. But it starts by first considering...at least considering...peace. Happy New Year!

I've been thinking about Christmas.

What is a savior but the answer to our prayers. So we can celebrate Christmas every day if we count our blessings and be a savior to someone else. To expect salvation only somewhere in the afterlife is to undervalue the rich potential of every moment here and now...because "now" (which is forever) is all we've got!

The teachings and life of example which Jesus came to demonstrate said we can all be saviors. Celebrate Christmas every day by being someone's savior: even a simple kindness, easy as a compliment or an encouraging word. By "being", you'll realize that you have it to give. It's easier than you think, and a first step to the Peace on Earth we've dreamed about for so long.

Thank you, Matteo Zanetti

The young man who came to help me in my studio...editing video; shooting video; doing what a good producer does: serve as confidant, champion, AND devil's advocate...Matteo Zanetti has returned to Italy to finish his university studies. Matteo, whose picture you may view on my website, came to me out of the blue, and I can only wonder at the deeper reasons (some old connection) for the blessing of his active and dedicated presence in my life.

I was already in a highly productive period, but with Matteo's very focused help, his humor and incredible willingness to try new things, I was able to accomplish in just two months what might have taken me the best part of a year.

One hopes the experience was rewarding for him, but as for me...well, you wouldn't even be reading this, OR know about my novels, OR have "Peace Talks" and music videos to view were it not for Matteo being so ready to be useful. There's no other word for it. And because Matteo was useful to me, my wish now is that the results of all this--our--"productivity" will be an inspiration to you, kind reader.

Thank you, Matteo. Thank you, my new friend.

A New Word for your Vocabulary

Not sure why, but I woke up thinking about a great word that you might want to add to your vocabulary. The word is "individuation".
The fact is (and it is a fact), we're all part of One Thing, made of One Energy, and everyone and everything is included...no exceptions. Of course, we are not the same; our paths are different. A tree is not a flower; my thumb is not my pinkie. But we're all part of one great body. From the cells in our fingertips to the furthest reaches of the universe, everything is part of--an individuation of--that One Thing: Life.

As we consider the state of our world, knowing we CAN do better, that there IS another way, we may start to look for a healing place by considering how deeply connected we really are. By relating to each other with this as a kind of "root assumption", we'll make new choices about HOW we can change (and alter our political, financial and religious constructs), in ways that reflect this expanded understanding of who we really are.

Embracing our fundamental Oneness; recognizing--and celebrating--the fact that we are all individuations of Life itself, is, I believe, our best starting point as we look to heal an ailing world...and finally consider peace as a realistic option.

Making Music

On Tuesday I went into the recording studio for five hours to lay down some of my original piano music (forty years in the making!). Interesting that even the oldest pieces don't sound dated; in fact, Scott Fraser, the recording engineer was completely surprised that some of the work was not written just this year; then said something interesting: that melodies don't date, and my music is very melodic. True enough.
Part of the recording time included my assistant Matteo Zanetti video taping two of the pieces: "Consider Peace", the title track, and one other breezy little number called "Driving with Andy". Fully-cut (and visually tweaked) videos of both should show up here--and on YouTube--very soon.
Also on YouTube, the first of my "Peace Talks" will be released on January 1st, and string out at regular intervals through 2011, snowballing, I hope, as we continue to get the word out about embracing Oneness and the Peace which WILL result...if we believe it's possible. It all starts by...you guessed it: considering peace.

A dream I had.

I dreamed last night about a sky dense with stars, where all the astrological signs were imprinted in clearly-delineated clusters, vivid and bright and awe-inspiring. I was reminded of my friend Matteo Zanetti explaining in his vivid logic that he didn’t think peace was possible. It made me look again at what I’m doing here with this blog, these posts, and the numerous short “Peace Talks” I’m currently recording on video, which will spread out over the weeks and months of 2011.

I am trying to inspire peace. Yes, it can seem extremely illogical in the face of the relentless devolution going on in the world…for all our best intentions as individuals. My Peace Talks speak of a seemingly idyllic dream: a world that embraces Oneness with peace being the inevitable result. Is it illogical? Maybe this dreamer’s aspiration is just what we need right now. Of course there are a million reasons “why not”; but believing is seeing. If we don’t start believing that peace is possible, then no seeds will be planted.

That is all I’m doing: planting seeds of hope that peace IS possible in a world that feels hopelessly stuck in beliefs that just aren’t working. We know we can do better, but we can’t seem to get out of our own way to affect lasting change; to create that state of peaceful co-existence we’ve dreamed of for thousands of years. Is it too late? If we believe it is, that will be the result.

But if enough people start to believe in peace—just consider it!—we will begin to see it, of that I’m sure.