Spring is here and I can hardly believe it. The year is passing with lightening speed and I am wondering where I will find the time to put into motion all the ideas I have for the coming months. As some of you may know, when I am not singing and wandering the streets of various cities around the world, I teach young teenagers, mostly from Mexico, how to use correct grammar and write a decent composition. They are hilarious and infuriating and I both dread and long for the last day of school. This year in particular I have connected deeply with my students. Every day I learn patience, acceptance and to not take myself so seriously. I learn forgiveness, as every day is a new day with children, every moment is another opportunity to start again, no matter what mistakes have been made in the past. This is not always the case with adults. We have such well-formed pictures of ourselves and who we are in relation to the rest of the world. We react to one another and hold onto material attachments, insecurity and resentment as if they were some sort of life-line. And they are, but only to an illusion that prevents us from ever discovering of how capable we truly are of making our dreams come true. And to be happy. And to feel loved. Which is my next big adventure.
June 2nd I will end my career as a public school teacher and begin this journey back to myself. I am envisioning myself traveling, singing and teaching others how to tap into their own well of creativity using tools I have discovered from my own healing and creative evolution over the past ten years. While I will continue booking performances throughout the Texas and Pacific Northwest regions, I will also begin offering one-on-one and small group workshops centered around cultivating creativity through yogic principles and body/mind/spirit alignment.
One of my goals at the beginning of this year was to seek out teachers and mentors where and whenever I could. Here are a few examples of people I have run across so far who are inspiring me and confirming that I am indeed moving in the right direction. To start, Melina Meza is a yoga practitioner and teacher with over twenty years of experience. She has recently published her second book on seasonal vinyasa and ayurvedic nutrition. At the moment she is entered in a contest to be on the cover of Yoga Journal Magazine. Vote for her by clicking here!! She is also super passionate about music and has been spending a fair amount of her down time here in Austin, TX soaking up live music and sharing her expertise at various yoga studios around town. We are planning to collaborate in the fall and present a seven day retreat during October where we will practice yoga and creative expression through the voice and song. Campfire song circles with secret special guests and even a night out on the town will all be part of the fun! Contact me to learn more as space is limited!!
Another incredible person I have discovered is Darden Smith. An award winnning songwriter and recording artist, Darden has also created a program called "Be An Artist" in which he travels to schools over the world and teaches kids that creativity lives in everything and in every person. Then, he writes and records a song ON THE SPOT with the kids. I am hoping to offer something similar to groups of young people, or at least be Darden's roadie! Check out the link and support his program in any way you can because it is awesome and kids deserve to be encouraged to express themselves artistically as much as they are encouraged to become athletes and doctors.
Next on the list of Havilah's Inspiritor of the Year Awards is Jeffrey and Christine Smith who run the David B, a small cruise ship out of Bellingham, WA. They take small groups of people on cruises through the San Juan Islands, up the Inside Passage to Alaska and various other stunning hidden corners of the Pacific Northwest waters. They are wonderful friends of mine who are a perfect example of how creative vision, determination and hard work are all you need to live life straight from your heart. Conversations about offering a Singing and Songwriting cruise in 2012 have occurred!
The final award (for today anyway...) goes to Erika Randall and Daniel Beahm, super duper husband and wife team who wrote, filmed, directed and produced a full-length feature film on virtually nothing but raw talent, determination and a shit ton of LOVE. I am blessed to have several songs in this film entitled "Leading Ladies" including the opening credits which I am offering as a free listen right here for the first time. Having created quite a buzz among the independent film festival circuit world-wide, a distribution deal is right around the corner. Help out by going to IDMB and rating them a ten. I also heard a rumor that the soundtrack will be released by the summer which includes my song "All Night" and the opening credit song "Sister, Sister" which you can listen to right now!
Ok, this is turning into a book instead of a blog so I will save more for later. Please stay in touch and by all means contact me if you are interested in participating during any of the afore-mentioned events or collaborating on something similar. I am so excited for the new directions my life is taking. I encourage you to find new inspiration in your own life and to follow the quiet voice in your heart. Most important, be happy and compassionate to yourself and others. Namaste.
And here is a little something live for your listening pleasure:)
