Poet, Author, Composer....
A Morning Idea
A Morning Idea
Lately I have begun to recognize that in the morning I sometimes have an idea—a brainstorm. Sometimes it ends up being a dud. Sometimes I forget it in the process of starting the day.
Today it was: in this time of the corona virus, when people are being isolated, when concern and fear are rampant, when there are questions about how long it will go on, this is the very time when we need to reach out in whatever ways we can.
The interesting thing is that when I have an idea, it begins to be reinforced by the next few things I read. This morning as I ate breakfast I sang a blessing and read my usual devotional stack of books.
The last line of the blessing I sang was: “and share somebody else’s load.”
The prayer in The Upper Room said, “Loving God, help us through the crises and tragedies in life.” Daily Guideposts was based on 1 Thessalonians 5:15 which says “Always seek to do good to one another and to all.”
So I’m reaching out today by email or telephone, by making a welcome home sign for a grandchild returning from Ecuador, by writing a letter I’ve owed for a while, by sending the Healthy Living group I’m in one of our own mottos that we come up with every session. I may send them one each day for a while—
Take one minute (time it) and breathe…
Done is better than perfect…
See yourself surrounded by light…
There is the saying “It is what it is…” Pat Summit always added “but it becomes what you make of it.” Amen.
Writing Down Blessings-New Addition
I’ve been writing down blessings every day since January 31, 2014. I’ve filled numerous small spiral bound notebooks and as I recorded them each night before bed, I smiled to remember the blessings.
Some days I found myself struggling for something new to write, but would finally get it. And then the next day I would consciously look around, saying to myself, “Oh, I can use THAT tonight in my blessings book.”
The years have continued. The notebooks have accumulated.
And today I just got a new idea for that practice. It was Elizabeth Sherrill’s writing in the January 1, 2003 Daily Guideposts. (I don’t always use the correct year.)
She suggested that sometimes you look around and see what you’ve begun to take for granted, and don’t even think of as a blessing.
I immediately can look around the room I’m in and see so many things: the marquetry picture that hangs above my desk of a lakeside cabin with a sailboat on the lake; the new gnome on my desk that I just got for Christmas; my life-like sea otter puppet which has sparked many conversations when I take her into meetings or to the post office.
In the kitchen, my refrigerator; my stove which produced wonderful oatmeal cookies last week; ordinary things which I take for granted and are still absolute blessings in my life.
I have found that writing down blessings helps me open my eyes and see in a new way.
[SONG] Take Back The Night
Survivors
The interesting thing about this song is that it started out being about women——and it still can be about women and their struggle in this country and all over the world to survive.
All of the words apply to women—rough times, strong barriers, wrong rules, slow, slow change, anger, rage.
And at the same time the song never uses the word women. It can also be about race, or LGBTQI, or those of us in this country who are working toward justice and reason for the common good.
It can be about refugees.
But along with the frustration words, there are other words—standing firm together, forging a strong bond, growing in new ways, birthing dreams and visions growing.
But ultimately it says that through every day we will survive because we’re survivors.
[SONG] Mother May I
Mother May I
If ever there was a time for a woman to not ask permission, it is now. Whether it is mother, teacher, preacher, husband, next-door neighbor, congress-person, I’m ready for each woman to think it through, ask questions for clarity, and decide for herself.
No asking, no putting myself in that position. If I make a mistake, so be it. I learn from that too. But I don’t learn from leaning or from dependency.
Just go for it.
Worst or Best
How many times do you imagine the worst case scenario? Well here’s a chant that I wrote in the April Writer’s Digest PAD Challenge. That stands for Poem-a-Day all through the month of April.
Don’t just read it. Create a tune for it and sing it—over and over, until you believe it. Sing it over and over until it comes true!
Worst or Best
(Chant)
worst case scenario is
not gonna happen
best case scenario
is !!!
© Copyright 2019 by Ann Freeman Price
Making Decisions – a Quote and a Story
Making Decisions – a Quote and a Story
There’s a quote of unknown source that says: Be decisive. Right or wrong, make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.
The story is a true one. I was driving on a road not heavily travelled and a squirrel started to run across the road. I braked. He almost reached the other side and then quickly turned and started back. I braked again and looked quickly in my rear view mirror to confirm that nothing was coming behind me.
Once again he almost reached the other side, then changed his mind again and started back across the road. This time I stopped. He turned and looked at me, then calmly started walking in front of me down the middle of the road as if he were leading a parade. I followed slowly.
Now that’s indecision and he’s very lucky that he lived through it.
[SONG] Survivors
Survivors
The interesting thing about this song is that it started out being about women——and it still can be about women and their struggle in this country and all over the world to survive.
All of the words apply to women—rough times, strong barriers, wrong rules, slow, slow change, anger, rage.
And at the same time the song never uses the word women. It can also be about race, or LGBTQI, or those of us in this country who are working toward justice and reason for the common good.
It can be about refugees.
But along with the frustration words, there are other words—standing firm together, forging a strong bond, growing in new ways, birthing dreams and visions growing.
But ultimately it says that through every day we will survive because we’re survivors.
[SONG] Bitch
Bitch
I really do have a necklace made of sparkling rhinestones that says “BITCH” and I wear it when I perform this song. I claim the word for women. I claim the word that says “Be yourself. Don’t always try to please. Stand up tall. Let him call you a bitch – it beats being a doormat. Smile. I’m not 5’7” like I used to be. I still have a dark hair. And if going after what I want is selfish, then so be it. I’ll sing it in a minute and stretch as tall as I can as I sing “I’m just a tall, brown-haired selfish bitch.”
[SONG] Restroom Door
Tendering
The first song in the CD Woman Songs Peace Songs is “Tendering” and I still identify with the very personal focus that spurred the original writing. Now there seems a whole new level on top of that personal one. It’s the level that speaks to the whirlwind of things going on in the world, in this country, sometimes in our own backyards. And it definitely speaks to that feeling of being alone and overwhelmed.
Please, right now, I need some tendering. I want some tendering. And I give some tendering too.
Mother May I
If ever there was a time for a woman to not ask permission, it is now. Whether it is mother, teacher, preacher, husband, next-door neighbor, congress-person, I’m ready for each woman to think it through, ask questions for clarity, and decide for herself.
No asking, no putting myself in that position. If I make a mistake, so be it. I learn from that too. But I don’t learn from leaning or from dependency.
Just go for it.
Restroom Door
I still notice the sign on the restroom door as I enter. I would say that in the last thirty-five years the signage issue has improved and many more restroom doors say “Women” than used to. But I stay vigilant because occasionally there are still attempts to be cutesy.
That’s easier for me to tolerate than when the other door says “Men” and my door says “Ladies.” I wrote a song once that isn’t in this collection that said, “Hey you need to know I’m not a lady—never have been one so I’ve been told. And I don’t intend to be a lady—it is just not one of my goals.”
Just put Women on the restroom door—Thank you.
——————
[SONG] Tendering
Tendering
The first song in the CD Woman Songs Peace Songs is “Tendering” and I still identify with the very personal focus that spurred the original writing. Now there seems a whole new level on top of that personal one. It’s the level that speaks to the whirlwind of things going on in the world, in this country, sometimes in our own backyards. And it definitely speaks to that feeling of being alone and overwhelmed.
Please, right now, I need some tendering. I want some tendering. And I give some tendering too.
New Release!!
Daybook of Personal Faith
Mama and Me
