GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO "SING YOUR SONG"

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I don't know if I will ever change, probably not, but before I can get myself to get moving toward bed, I want a feeling, I feeling that something moving has touched me, it can be music, mine or others, it can be writing down some of my own heartfelt feelings, thoughts, reading someone else's words that touch me. It is like the day can't end even though it is very late until I feel a connection to something deep, beautiful, soulful....So, on that search, I found myself listening to Tom Waits (on youtube) give a speech, sing a few songs. What I love about Tom Waits, is that there is absolutely nothing polished about his "singing" and he apparently has no hesitation to sing - so many of us, me included, sing and think we are not good enough. But if we want to sing, that is all that is important. Tom gives us permission to sing. 

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson

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Join in and blog for peace on one day, November 4, 2012

Facebook: BlogBlastForPeace

Light a candle for peace

MY HOMETOWN OF PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND, USA ON BBC AMERICA

My town just voted to not give the money to have year around music and art in the elementary public schools.

To Fund Or Not To Fund

...that was the question

There was a 30% voter turn out

Not to Fund
Option 1
2,198

To Fund
Option 2
1,690

The difference: 508 voters

Final Tally

Thanks to David D Croston

Precinct 2701 (Prudence Island Fire Station) — Option 1: 51; Option 2: 6

Precincts 2702 and 2703 (Portsmouth Multi Purpose Senior Center) — Option 1: 373; Option 2: 270

Precincts 2704 and 2705 (Common Fence Point Community Hall) — Option 1: 352; Option 2: 197

Precincts 2706, 2707 and 2708 (Portsmouth Town Hall) — Option 1: 604; Option 2: 514

Precincts 2709, 2710 and 2712 (Aquidneck Island Christian Academy) — Option 1: 818; Option 2: 703

This is the letter that arrived in the mail, the day before the vote. It has falsely stated opinions in it. Who wouldn't have voted "no" to funding the schools, if you believed this letter to be true?
Click the letter image to enlarge.

Commentary: Divided We Fall

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On the facebook page to Save the Arts and Sports in Portsmouth, RI, a person wrote that we need new leadership in the volunteer group who tried to save the arts and sports programs in our town's public schools.

I wrote this in response on that page:

I think it is not time for new leadership. The leadership was outstanding and I am grateful for it. It is simple to put down leadership. It is not simple to lead. When anyone criticizes leadership or says we need to have new leadership, I wonder why that very person isn't the one to be the next leader. Possible reasons are that it is time-consuming, thankless and very difficult.

Even good leadership needs people who are interested. Caring about the community's responsibility to provide funding for education is a touchy subject because for many people it will always come down to how one feels about teachers getting paid via the local tax dollars. And those who didn't vote who have children in the schools - have children in schools now that are offering a half year of what has always been offered the whole year long. There is a great divide and if those who have children in the schools, and those like myself who don't and are in our sixties, but still care about the education of "our" community's students, don't vote when voting is our way to say what our priorities are, then those who are motivated get their way. It takes more than leaders, it takes the rest of us to get involved.

❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧❧

Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Portsmouth Public Schools and Portsmouth family on BBC America

Thursday, 30 September 2010

Portsmouth, Rhode Island on BBC
BBC News - World News America - Economic woes hit the next generation

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Uploaded by mariacallass

HERE IS MY RECOMMENDATION TO ANYONE WHO HASN'T STARTED THE LIFELONG ACCUMULATION OF THINGS

Brenton Cove
Newport, Rhode Island
May 1, 2010
All photos by Sandra Hammel

To enlarge ~ Click on the photo

Sky at Brenton Cove
May 1, 2010

May 21, 2010
Five minutes from my house is the Newport National Golf Course
with walking paths.

All photos by Sandra Hammel

May 21, 2010
Newport National Golf Course
with walking paths.

All photos by Sandra Hammel

All photos by Sandra Hammel

Kings park, Newport, Rhode Island May 23, 2010
All photos by Sandra Hammel

My son asked me yesterday how I came to start blogging and what my first post was.
This is all it was:

Whatever you can do

or dream
you can

BEGIN IT.

Boldness has genius,

power and magic in it.

Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe
( listen)
That's it.

Today, I began what will take me - what I hope is - the rest of my life, in a way. I say "I hope" it will take me a long time, because that will mean I will be able to stay in my home until "it" is over. By "it", I mean "my life". I began organizing rooms that are disorganized with things I started and never completely finished, cleaning out closets. Someday, the attic, the garage... Here is my recommendation to anyone who hasn't started the lifelong accumulation of things: don't buy so much stuff.

I am not good at throwing things out. I carried the architect drawing board downstairs from the attic, only to get downstairs and see the potential to use it for the possibility of using it to paint on. The easel doesn't suit me to paint. But, nevermind that I haven't painted for a few years now.

But, I did bring some things down to donate to the Salvation Army. And they are still there.

I have dreaded doing this for so-o long. But here is how I look at it....I can start. But, I won't be able to be impulsive about doing it and stay up until it is done as is my typical behavior. So, I will do it little by little. I hope I stay with it frequently and consistently. I, also, have to keep up my piano and singing practicing on an almost daily basis. And I want to start my writing. Again. And that is a huge project, with a lot of organizing and sorting through so much writing over a lifetime. Then there is the video making. You get the idea.

I want to create.

And I have put those impulses to create off for my whole life for the most part.

But, I actually get excited knowing I am going to do these things. And then I do them. I am trying to discipline myself not to stay up so late, so that I don't waste all morning sleeping in to make up for the lost sleep in the night.

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To be more creative,

I am waiting for…

Inspiration
Permission
R e a s s u r a n c e

The coffee to be ready

The stakes to be lower

M o r e t i m e

An obvious scapegoat

The two-minute warning
T o m o r r ow

Jacks or better

The stakes to be higher

A clearly written set of instructions

AN END TO POVERTY, INJUSTICE, CRUELTY,
DECEIT, INCOMPETENCE, PESTILENCE,
CRIME AND OFFENSIVE SUGGESTIONS

This meeting to be over

You to go first

David B Campbell (Adapted)

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I don't know what is going to happen. I may have to go back and jump overboard from this place of actually living the life I want. But I am going to give it a try for a few months anyway.

So, if the Universe is listening - send me some signals that this is the thing for me to do.

I wrote in my journal May 10, 2010: I'm not going to die with all the creativity still inside.

It is a cry of hoping I am not going to die with the creativity still inside of me, as much as a declarative sentence.

As I sort through my stuff, I come across treasures. One I came across today was moving, even to me. A letter I had written years ago and sent to my mother.

As I was choosing books to donate, I came across The Element Guide of Low Self-Esteem by Elaine Sheehan. I don't know why, but I leafed through it and at the end I found this:

Whatever you can do or dream you can BEGIN IT.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Then, I pulled Goethe's Faust - Part One off my bookshelves, translated by Carlyle Ferren MacIntyre.

And I began to read in the back of the book: Appendix II, Prologue at the Theater (A Manager, A Dramatic Poet and A Jester)

I couldn't find the text online anywhere. It so moved me. I have typed a portion with bits here that moved me the most of what I read while sitting briefly in the rocking chair, pausing from the mundane to the sublime.

Manager
You two who have stood by me so often in need and trouble, tell me what you hope for in Germany from our undertaking. I wish very much to please the crowd, especially because it lives and lets live. The posts and boards are erected and everyone looks for a big time. They're seated already, with raised eyebrows, patiently waiting to be astonished. I know how to soothe the people's spirit, but I've never been so embarrassed; it's true they've never been used to the best, but they've read a great deal. How shall we arrange it that everything will be fresh and new and pleasant, even though instructive: For really I like to see the crowd rushing toward our show, and wave after wave forcing itself through the narrow gate of grace, in bright day; already before four o'clock they're pushing toward the box office, breaking their necks for a ticket, as if, in a famine, they wanted bread from the baker. It's only the poet who works this miracle on such various people. My friend, do it today!

Poet
Oh, don't talk to me of that motley crowd, for a glimpse of them scares off my inspiration. Hide from me that surging multitude which sucks us against our will into the whirlpool. No, lead me to a quiet heavenly corner where pure joy blossoms for the poet, where love and friendship, by the hand of God, create and foster blessings for the hear. Ah, what has sprung forth from us there, what the lips stammered timidly, now failing or maybe succeeding then swallowed by the power of the mad moment. Often, only after it has lasted for years does it look like a perfect creation. What dazzles is born of the moment, the real thing is never lost to posterity.

Manager
The portion here is rich, but for now I am leaving it out for time's limited for me. The discussion is whether to give the public what they want or what the Poet deems important.

Poet
Go on, and look for another slave! Is the poet to laugh off foolishly for your sake the highest right which nature has given him - that of being a man? How does he stir all heart? And transcend every element? Isn't it because of the harmony which springs from his heart and which draws the world back into itself? When nature, indifferently twisting, feeds the thread's endless length to the spindle; when the discordant crowd of creatures jangles annoyingly - who then shall divide the everflowing monotonous series and give them life so that they move in rhythm? Who calls the isolated to the common consecration where it chimes in glorious agreement? Who lets the storm rage in the passions? The evening sunset glow in thoughtful minds? Who pours out the fairest flowers of spring on the path of the beloved? Who twines the meaningless green leaves to wreaths of honor for all deserts? Who assures Olympus? Unites the gods? The strength of man revealed in the poet.

Poet
Then give me those times again when I was still developing; when a fountain of crowding songs gushed forth, fresh and uninterrupted; when mist veiled the world from me and the bud still promised a miracle as I picked the thousand flowers that richly filled the valleys. I had nothing, but still it was enough, the yearning for truth and the delight in illusion. Give me back those untamed impulses, the deep and painful happiness, the strength of hatred, the power of love - give me back my youth!

Jester
My friend, you may need youth when enemies press you in conflict, when the prettiest girls passionately embrace you, when far away the crown of the swift race beckons from the difficult goal, when after the violent whirling dance you drink away the night. But to play the harp with grace and spirit, to wander along gaily toward a self-set goal - that is the duty of older men, and we reverence you no less on that account. Age does not, as man says, make us childish, but it finds us truly child-like still.

Manager
We've talked enough, now let me see results; while you're exchanging compliments something useful could be done. What's the good of taking about being in the mood? It never comes to a man who dilly-dallies. If poetry is your job make it obey you You know what we need - strong stuff - so brew some at once! What you don't do today - won't be done tomorrow, and not a day should be wasted. Be resolute and grasp what is possible. Then you don't dare let it go and keep on working because you must. You know that on a German stage everyone tries what he wants to; therefore, don't spare either stage-sets or mechanical effects. Use the big and the little lights of the skies, be spendthrift of the stars; there's plenty of water, fire, rock-backdrops, animals, and birds. So on this narrow stage show the circle of creation, and travel with reasonable speed from Heaven through the world to Hell.
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classical tv goethe-Faust--part-1-of-2
German language - no subtitles
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Wall of Doubt

Moving through my wall of doubt to a brighter side
Feeling lighter
moving freer
Moving through the wall of doubt
It feels like light raining down around me
Cuddling me, all my spirit guides huddling around me
telling me I am loved the way I already am,
loved just as I am.

Lifted is the duty to feel sad.
Why you wanted to hold me hostage in your sadness is a mystery
A mystery I don't need to understand,
'Cause I'm already through the wall of sadness.

'Cause I'm already on the other side of pain

I'm standing in the light and broken no more
Feeling whole in the light.
Come join me
Standing in the light.

Written by Sandra Hammel May 18, 2010, Tuesday, 2:45 a.m.

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Uploaded by crimpart002

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Click on post title for
Geoffrey Oryema - Land of Anaka

THE BEAUTY THAT COULD BE OURS

We need an education of the heart and spirit,

The most important things belong first, not last, or never.

In search of a new world,

the wings of the spirit must not be clipped.

The days of our lives must become precious.

In all heaven and earth,

there is this one thing to do:

take your time

Enjoy the perfection of what you are doing.

Enjoy accomplishing it exquisitely.

Human life must know ecstasy.

Intense beauty is liberation.

…Here again, as everywhere,

the great river passing –

I passing,

you passing . . .

. . . forever flowing down

through time,

flowing through many channels,

fading out of the embraces of

its names . . .

. . . simple as the voice of a child

and never to be quite known.

In this light and breeze are resurrection echoes.

Suddenly one becomes aware one lives in an eternity,

And hears strange footsteps

ascending anciently trodden pathways.

Our lives like dreams endure

and reach out over the universe.

Nothing real is to itself alone.

There are sidestreams to rivers,

there are overtones to thought.

Great love reaches out

and is involved in the world’s

purposes.

Our loves are only symbols of

an unknown immortality.

Where communion is deep,

there exists no separation at all,

for what needs telling those we

love is understood already,

and what is supposed to be

gone and past is often more real than ever.

Through the sculpture of experience,

that part of ourselves

which survives, like cloud, resolves continuously.

This is the spirit of my hope and my religion.

Cedric Wright

Words of the Earth

As I am writing my will and the words and music that I want to be included after my mortal body dies, I went to Cedric Wright's book of Words of the Earth. I have typed a portion of the book that I love. This book includes the beautiful photography art of the High Sierra wilderness country of Cedric Wright accompanied by the beautiful prose that he wrote.

On the inside book cover which was written by David Brower, San Francisco, September 28, 1960, a quote by Cedric Wright includes this:

I have been unusually privileged in knowing intimately those wilderness areas where the intangible values sing clearly......The artist seeks fundamental beauty, the voice of concord, in a world which is presently dominates by opposite types of understanding. Beauty and understanding are the foundations not only of art, but also of a peaceful human world. It is imperative that in such times, as these the artist should use his words and his thought in addition to his art."


Websites: http://www.wildnesswithin.com/cedric.html

http://www.gpaulbishop.com/GPB%20History/GPB%20Archive/Section%20-%201/C.%20Wright/c__wright.htm

THE BEAUTY THAT COULD BE OURS

There is a spirit of life that runs through each

and all of us.

If we could each one spend our energy

connecting with that beauty

we would have our world of peace.

And yet, if we meet just one

who lives connecting to the eternal, unending spirit

we know we have been blessed.

And that time is endless and precious.

Sandra Hammel

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL - SHONA AUERBACH'S DEAR FRANKIE, ROBERT BURNS' POEM AND SCHUMANN'S TRAUMEREI

Dear Frankie is an endearing movie. Wonderful ensemble cast. Tender directing. Great, quiet movies like this one will be a classic for future generations. It is inspirational to see such a creation by human beings. The youtube below is a wonderful work of art that uses three works of art - Schumann's music Traumerei, scenes from Dear Frankie and the poetry of Robert Burns, Yon Wild Mossy Mountains to present a new and unique lovely creation to simply enjoy beauty.
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Beauty is here - Click if you want to see it in High Definition and with a larger screen
Created by Tishieann1
Text by Tish at youtube: Pictures of Scotland and video clips from Dear Frankie make up the background for a Robert Burns poem. Music is Traumerei composed by Schumann. This has turned out quite lovely and still looking forward to the time Gerry (Gerard Butler) plays to role of Burns in the upcoming production.

The poem . . .

Yon Wild Mossy Mountains

Yon wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide,

That nurse in their bosom the youth o' the Clyde,
Where the grouse lead their coveys thro' the heather to feed,
And the shepherd tends his flock as he pipes on his reed.

Not Gowrie's rich valley, nor Forth's sunny shores,
To me hae the charms o'yon wild, mossy moors;
For there, by a lanely, sequestered stream,
Besides a sweet lassie, my thought and my dream.

Amang thae wild mountains shall still be my path,
Ilk stream foaming down its ain green, narrow strath;
For there, wi' my lassie, the day lang I rove,
While o'er us unheeded flie the swift hours o'love.

She is not the fairest, altho' she is fair;
O' nice education but sma' is her share;
Her parentage humble as humble can be;
But I lo'e the dear lassie because she lo'es me.

To Beauty what man but maun yield him a prize,
In her armour of glances, and blushes, and sighs?
And when wit and refinement hae polish'd her darts,
They dazzle our een, as they flie to our hearts.

But kindness, sweet kindness, in the fond-sparkling e'e,
Has lustre outshining the diamond to me;
And the heart beating love as I'm clasp'd in her arms,
O, these are my lassie's all-conquering charms!

By Robert Burns

Dear Frankie's music list: www.imdb.com/title/tt0377752/soundtrack

Dear Frankie was inspired by this Czech film......
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Part 1 of 3
Kolja - Czech movie awarded by Oscar in '96 which softly describes a relationship between a middle-aged man and a Russian boy in Czechoslovakia in the late 80's. Director: Jan Svěrák
Languages: Slovak, Czech, Russian
Uploaded by withoutaim
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Part 2 of 3
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Part 3 of 3

The best we can do is to inspire....passing on what we are, create and find worthy of our concentrated attention.

Beauty lifts us up to unconceivable feelings.

Picture taken in Denmark

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Rice Castigates Khartoum

Posted by Rebecca Brocato on Mar 6, 2009

Source: http://www.enoughproject.org/

Speaking to reporters today, Susan Rice, the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, castigated the government in Sudan for its decision to expel humanitarian groups. She noted:

"The United States is gravely concerned by the reckless decision of the Sudanese government to expel international aid groups working to ease the suffering of Sudan's citizens...The humanitarian situation in the country is already dire and this callous step threatens the lives of innocents already suffering from years of war and upheaval... Millions of civilians, including untold thousands of children and elderly people, will be left even more vulnerable to starvation, disease, despair and death if the government of Sudan does not immediately change course... The government of Sudan at its own choosing is now heading down a path toward even greater international isolation."

Reuters reports that Rice told Sudan's Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem that Khartoum's "decision was counterproductive and an "enormous escalation" that would exacerbate the situation on the ground and harm Sudan's relations with the international community." Rice also noted that the possibility of a no-fly zone is being discussed.

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Words Cannot Explain

Posted by Emily Roberts on Mar 06, 2009

Source: http://www.enoughproject.org/

The Sudanese government’s recent expulsion of thirteen international humanitarian aid organizations from the most vulnerable areas of Darfur and other areas in eastern and northern Sudan will have repercussions that are difficult to fathom. In retaliation for the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on Wednesday for Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, his regime is again targeting the very people whom they are supposed to protect.

There are approximately 4.7 million internally displaced Darfuris living in camps in Darfur today. In a press conference yesterday, Catherine Bragg, the United Nations’ Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated that the expelled groups made up 40% of the total number of aid workers in these camps. In her statement, Ms. Bragg reported that with the loss of these groups, over one million people would be left without food, health care and potable water.

Via Twitter updates, journalist Rob Crilly is providing on-the-ground reporting from camps outside El Fasher, Darfur and helping to explain the depth of what is happening.

Outside the hospital — run by the International Rescue Committee until it was ordered out — a mother brushed flies from the face of her daughter. “My baby is sick,” Fatima Abdulrahmen said. “She has a fever and I brought her here and now I don’t know what to do. Who will help me now?”

As the U.N. scrambles to fill the gap left by the expelled groups, the United States and the new Obama administration must take some important steps during this crucial time. If the reports on the President’s desk aren’t enough, I hope the sheer numbers of lives hanging in the balance are.

Update: This amazing map produced by OCHA illustrates the humanitarian crisis throughout Darfur.

To Call President Obama:

1-202-456-1111

Email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

You can also write to the President at:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Call 1-800-GENOCIDE

So that beauty isn't kept from Darfuri people

MUSIC THAT IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERICENCE

I love this so much.

It touches me the way I love to be reached.

Without music, my spirit would be poor.

With music ~ my soul is rich,

My spirit is lifted

Music has magic

It transcends the power of words.

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People Get Ready performed movingly by Eva Cassidy
Uploaded by stressbed


IMAGINE sung by Eva Cassidy

Somewhere Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderfurl World sung by Israel Kamakawiwo


Music is Sacred

BEAUTY NEVER DIES IT GETS PASSED ON

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Black Grace, a dance troupe of Maori and Pacific Islander men, rises from a small town in New Zealand to Jacob's Pillow in the mountains of western Massachusetts, the pinnacle of the modern dance world. According to Youtube posters, this group has changed. But the beauty still is because Annie Moriyasu, listed on Youtube as piccom1 decided to share it on Youtube. Thanks Annie Moriyasu!