Currents of Love Flowing From My Heart through 'Songs For My Mother'

I want to tap into your emotions and share with you how my mother created magic in my life. I want to convey the story of a woman who made a melodic statement everywhere she escaped to.

I have accumulated so many facts over the years from the multitude of scenarios that she bolstered. She is a woman of faith, a warrior and a jewel. And so, I thought it would be nice to expose others to some of the ideas and concepts that my mother shared, as currents of love flowing from my heart.

If you have yet to get a gift for your mom and are looking for something different, perhaps she will enjoy the strong lyrical content found in my most recent collection of poetry entitled, “Songs For My Mother” by Stephanie Jeannot.

It is a collection of poems dedicated specifically to my mother but appropriate for any mother. It speaks of my family being clustered close together submersing into the idea of being in unity.

The overall mood of it is happy. The poems concentrate on the woman that I have been blessed to call mom. It is an emotional minefield with an endless trove of golden moments shared.

My mother bolstered faith. She showed us how to make our existence dynamic and fun. She showed us how to recognize the errors of our ways so that we could bounce back from our series of stupid mistakes and successfully navigate the world. She gave us a passion for knowledge. She built us up strong so that when we were ready to take off the training wheels, we would be capable of doing big things. And she cooked the most delicious food that you can find on the face of the world.

As opposed to letting these truths of our upbringing sit up in the storage of my mind, I thought it would be nice to share the memorability of it all; mostly because our upbringing was teeming with life.

Hopefully, you will feel inclined to perhaps get a copy for yourself or for your own mom, to slip away and leaf through the pages.  I realize that we all hook our own meaning to the life that we lived and the parents who generated energy into the lives we pursued but I am thinking that some of the elements of our upbringings might have some similarities and you might be able to relate to many of the scenarios presented in this poetry collection.

The poetry collection, “Songs For My Mother” by Stephanie Jeannot, features 24 poems. Each poem is uniquely equipped with a different length with a sense of openness to my heart woven into it.  This book delivers a series of thoughts meant to celebrate the royalty that a mother possesses in her queendom.

I invite you to support my efforts. This book is well worth the purchase. Somewhere in the world, there is a heart that might need the dazzle found within its pages. You can get your copy on Amazon. It is available as a hard copy or in a Kindle format here: Click Here to Get the Book "Songs For My Mother" by Stephanie Jeannot

Songs For My Mother

I hope that you received my blogpost in an open-minded manner. My thoughts shared were dispensed with gusto.  If I connected with your state of mind through this promotional platform at all, I appreciate your network of support. 

Sharing this with you all was quite humbling for me and I am thankful to you for indulging for a moment on how I am trying to satiate my appetite of being a writer and an author that is currently giving me gravity.

Love and Appreciation For the XYZ of Jazz

It is always a pleasure for me when I can indulge in the sweetness of jazz. It captivates me like no other genre and I joyfully indulge in it when presented with the opportunity to embrace the pomp and pageantry of it.

I remember the day when my good friend presented the thought to me of being the featured vocalist at his weekly jazz event. Imagine how filled with curiosity the Roman Catholic church raised choir girl that I was who was more accustomed to singing R&B than any other genre was. How could I not look at him with a quizzical gaze? The idea made me take a hard look at myself, but I decided to try my best to handle the weight of the idea and I did it.

If for nothing, my good friend affected my life like none other because from that point on, I

have been on this non-stop journey of discovery, research and mind-blowing experiences to remember. If it were not for him, I would have never decided to approach jazz with more intentionality or accumulate knowledge of its history to base my 30-paged college thesis on jazz and racism. Or, I may not have ever decided to become more indulged in studying music theory and practicing my craft. And if it were not for him, I would have never started my radio show on jazz. And so, whenever I am afforded with the opportunity to sing in this beautiful genre of music, I simply rejoice because I love how jazz has truly made a personal connection with me.  

Jazz Appreciation Month

Every April is Jazz Appreciation Month. The Smithsonian Institute started this cultural celebration in 2001 and since, it has been a way to honor those influential innovators who have come before us in history and jazzed up the world with their beautiful music.  

And so, it was with great zeal to have joined in the plethora of performers in Eric Frazier’s 2018 Fort Greene Park Spring Jazz Festival which happened in the midst of Jazz Appreciation Month in Brooklyn, NY. Jazz is not a fossilized genre of music; it is very much alive. So, with that in mind, I must say that the afternoon was filled with a full swath of emotions.

What makes jazz so appealing to me is that no matter who is playing their instrument or vocalizing, each comes with their own individual expression and create very genuine reactions. Each comes with their own spunk of character with their difference in method based on culture and environment, and the joy of the company and the spirit of the music is what is felt in the air.

And so, it was a pretty nice event from the music, to the musicians, to the beautiful spring day that it was, to the people and everything that made the afternoon a splendid occasion.

To my delight, I felt enchanted to sing one of my favorite jazz standards. It is by Harry Warren and Al Dublin and what makes me like it so much is for one simple reason. I am a big English nerd and there is a play-on-words in the song. Its title, September in the Rain, would suggest it is a song for the fall season but in the song, the lyrics say, "though spring is here." I think it is the way the writers wrote these tunes that give me butterflies the most. They truly had a way with words and I just love that. In that particular Brooklyn environment and in the warmth of that spring day, it felt right to sing this song.

I invite you to check out the performance from the festival here: https://youtu.be/BK8faET7Nn4 

Today’s blog post was prompted by love and I threw myself into writing mode with that in mind and come to this point with a roar of satisfaction. I hope that I sparked in you, even a small bit of interest n my story. 

The warm feeling in my heart can’t even truly define my gratitude. You richly bless me by taking the time out the routine of your day to read my thoughts and I thank you for your continued support.

Help Me Win This Year's International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition.

Help me to spread the word and to win this year's International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition.

I had the unique audacity of entering into this competition with the hopes that maybe I would maybe advance to the next round and possibly win this thing. So here is me putting feet to my faith.

Would you be so kind as to ponder the concept of clicking on any one of the three of my submissions, listening to my cover and clicking vote on it? I realize that every selection might not appeal to every ear and so, I added all three and am asking that you choose at least one and help me to level the playing field.

I am thinking through my fingers as I write this post with humble honesty. I have cruised through practically the entirety of my span of time here on this earth with a voice and a heart to use it. I have even tackled the world of music and slipped into the scene as myself, doing what I love to do the most with everything that I have in me to give. And realizing that I have the explosive potential to rise against the wind, I am hoping that you will float through these melodies with me in mind, and help me to hammer home the idea.

I must say, just by reading this post, you are playing an active role in my life and I thank you

for that. I am won over when I see some of the most inspiring comments to ever touch my eyes on every social platform I share. I enter into a world of optimism just by reading about your lives and the things that you do and all for a great reason; to motivate each other to keep on keeping on.

Thank you for it all and thank you for considering my contest submissions in this year’s 8^th Annual Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition as one worthy of a win.

And here they are:

1. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/6th-annual-sarah-vaughan-international-jazz-vocal-competition/submissions/632b6126-6460-11e7-9630-0e23ec8b8f61

2. Easy Living https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/6th-annual-sarah-vaughan-international-jazz-vocal-competition/submissions/ec0167c0-6460-11e7-9d19-0ee95250b769

3. Take the A Train https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/6th-annual-sarah-vaughan-international-jazz-vocal-competition/submissions/988bcd08-6210-11e7-bdeb-0ee95250b769

Thank you for reading my blogpost and for voting. Have a wonderful day!

I Got Misty When I Found Out I Didn't Have Superpowers

Recently, I had the opportunity to go to Siberia and to sing in three different cities in that region of the world. Something happened to me though that I did not expect. 

The first night I was there, I performed at a philharmonic hall in the city of Irkutsk. I returned to my room and as I was gathering my things and trying to sort out my suitcase, I fell and hurt myself. 

I am clumsy on a normal day, but I had never fallen in such a way where I'd hit my head so hard that it left me bleeding and with a big knot on my forehead that left me in tears. If I had hit any lower, I would have broken my nose. 

No one ever expects these things to happen, though sometimes it is good to be prepared. Something as simple as a safety kit with bandages, cotton balls, alcohol pads and ibuprofen can benefit you when something like this occurs; especially when traveling. But for some reason, I did not have that with me. 

I am very weary of sharing problems with people. I rather share good information and seem happy than to admit that there may be something wrong. I rather appear as someone who is invincible than someone with truly human weaknesses, such as an injury that could leave you with tears in your eyes and confusion. But it did. 

Sadly, I came to a realization that being in the tight corner where I was, a million miles away from home and somewhat feeling helpless, I had to break down and confess it to someone who might be able to help me in my situation. And I did.

Being the strong and stubborn person that I am, that was hard for me. But, I found out that there are people who actually care about my position who will come to my aid if something is not so swell. I found out that even in my weakness, it took strength to call out and admit that I needed help. I found out that God is always there no matter what and his voice can move you in your desperation to take action and to change your situation. And he did? 

Though there was a minor salvaging to help correct what was wrong in the moment, I was left with a scar that I tried to hide with my bangs. I could see my own facial disfigurement and it was a little upsetting for me. However, I find that there is nothing like getting on stage in front of a crowd of people to change my mood.

I could be depleted of all my energy and inspiration but then once the mic is in my hand and I am on stage, I become a totally different person. 

So it was a great thing for me to be able to cry out my miseries the next night as the Doctor Jazz Band & I took route to the city of Angarsk in Siberia. We were set to perform that night at this beautiful theater that was decorated in blue and with its fascinating architecture that made me bubble inside. 

It took me a while to get into the soundcheck I'll admit. We were in the midst of rehearsing songs but my mind was in a distant place trying not to think so much about how I had hurt myself and to instead focus on the music. Even the band members seemed worried about me because I am usually a charge of energy but at that particular moment while rehearsing, I was not 100% there.

But then the performance came and everything changed. Somehow, the music and the crowd made me feel better. And what better way to alleviate your stresses than to cry out your woes by singing a song about being misty.  

I was too much in love with the idea of being super and not down. I had been misty about not being invincible. My mind was drifting on the unbelief of not having superhuman strength. But when you realize that you are only human and that things do happen while life is happening, it kind of settles in and humbles you just a little bit.

Please check out the live performance of Erroll Garner's "Misty" performed by me, vocalist Stephanie Jeannot and guitarist Sergey Rushkovskii during my concert with the Doctor Jazz Band at that beautiful theater in Angarsk, Russia. 

I think this excited me just a bit more because it reminded me of something that the late and wonderful Ella Fitzgerald might have done with Joe Pass. Made me feel just a little bit more enthused to somewhat experience the jazz culture in this meaningful way.

Thank you for reading my blogpost. Have a lovely day! 

Despite your Circumstances, Smile And Enjoy Life

“Do what you’re made for, yes, but then get better and better;

eradicate weakness, yes, but only within strength”

– Jim Collins

I am infamous for allowing vivid memories of the past, be the thicket of briers that I keep falling into and getting bruised all over again for something that is way beyond the current time restraint that I am in. Imagine being someone who is keeled over exhaustion from running backwards into sobering reminders of yesterday.

So what? I was tattered and torn. Darn scars! So what? I fell victim of my own mistakes. Darn detours! So what? The events of the moment that don’t seem so great stimulate thoughts that can mask a smile. Darn Debby downers! So What? Finances are climbing. Darn bills! So What? The driver next to me just cut me off two seconds off of getting snipped. Darn Road Rage! It has become alarmingly obvious to me that these things are a part of life and you just have to deal with it; plus there have been more good days than bad and the good needs to be acknowledged just as much as the bad! Maybe celebrated even more. 

“Today’s clouds can never deny yesterday’s beautiful sunset.

The inconvenience of today’s storms can never turn us from tomorrow’s harvest”

– Nikki Giovanni

I had the opportunity to perform my original tune, “Enjoy Life” live with the JNote Band and it was a great experience to come before the masses and to do it for the first time and share my story in a song. Sometime it takes encouraging yourself to come to the reality of a situation. Check It out here: https://youtu.be/yW9t5G82i68

I have found out that it is more important to thrive and to grow from these things. I have discovered that falling allows you the wings to fly higher than any bird in the sky. I have come to realize that your thoughts about your own self hold magnitude. It is better to think good about who you are and the possibilities than to stack your plate at the negativity buffet. 

Better to set out with confidence and greet each new day with a welcoming smile. The sun itself is pleasing to the eye and it is easier to take on the world with a measure of confidence and to enjoy life. For what is life without a little spice? A smile might just be that pinch of spice to make your life that much sweeter. 

One Skein At A Time

The art and love of crocheting took root in my heart and grew into love about a decade ago when I was sick and in bed with the mumps. I didn’t want to accept the truth that my perfect attendance record was going to be tarnished suddenly because I was caught up in the fire of an ailment. But it was becoming evident all around me that the contagious thing that took over me, was going to leave me bed-ridden and home until it withered away.  

What was an over-active lady supposed to do when so many tasks were clamoring for my attention while I was forced to be in hearty accord with my bed? The answer; rest.

I tried. I slept. I lied in bed with the television on. But I couldn’t alleviate this attachment to the opinion that I needed to be doing something other than. And so, I found something to do to keep me active. 

One Skein At A Time

I took out a crochet needle and started making hats. I saw an old coworker of mine getting crafty with a needle one day and the idea of gauging and skeining gained enormous influence over me. And so, she showed me the basics and thank God she did because as time kept stealing past me as I lied feeling defeated by my sickness, I crocheted and crocheted some more. The art of it enabled me to be at peace with where I was at that moment in time.

Changing the Needle 

Finally I got back on my feet and wanted to test what I made amongst my friends and co-workers. Who knew that I would sell so many of my hats that day that it would leave me convinced that I was supposed to be making hats. I started to enjoy the fruits of my labors even more when I started vending my crafts at street fairs.

At one particular street fair, a man approached me and told me that he wanted some hats for his store located in Greenwich village. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. He told me he wanted fifty hats. I said that I could have them for him in a week or so. He told me he wanted them by Friday. 

For the next five days until the time of our meeting, I sat up day and night, through my lunch breaks, on the buses and trains and during every free moment I could find, and I crocheted. Friday came and about an hour before our meeting time, I accomplished the fifty, only for him to ask me for fifty more for the following Friday, which provided me with additional time to adjust my sails and do what I was tasked to do and add signature tags to the new set of fifty that would hang in the Greenwich store's window display on West 8th Street.

I don’t crochet as much as I used to anymore, though when the rain and snows take over the New York landscape, I find myself on my couch skeining away. 

I’ve made hats. I've made bags. I've made baby booties. I've made bibs. I once made a queen-sized granny square blanket as a gift for my loved ones. I’ve made ornaments in bulk for baby showers and bridal showers. I have crocheted scarves and dresses and even teddy bears. 

But now with my same heavy hand that I write, it seems as if carpel tunnel is somewhat taking over it with the pain my wrist is anchoring to. But crocheting was a love of mine and still is which is why, I always did it with this joy in my heart that turned into love.

Crocheting Love Songs

Artwork by Ricardo Ricky Jean

When I write songs, I often use my experiences to tumble into the meat of the work. Crocheting was a passion and so it became the subject of a love song I wrote.

The title of the song is “Crocheted” and I moved through every stanza unrestrictedly over the music of Derrick Smith,  with all the aspects of the art of crocheting in mind and turned it into a love song; one skein at a time. 

Please check out my song and video here:  https://youtu.be/kjkGWjqJDvM

P.S.

Check out the website that features  some other things that I have crocheted here: http://melodiaz.0catch.com/hand-made.html

Happy to have vibed with you all. Thank you for reading my blog post. 

Wherever You Are

It was once seen as a motivational state for me when my guy would come over and we would get into the midst of creating music.

I had built a little studio in my basement and in the midst of my reality., it was one of the hottest creation stations in Brooklyn, NY. We would come together and in the nuance of emotion, conceive new music that would someday develop into a song worth sharing.

When lyrics storm, the droplets of words add a measure of fun into my world. If you do not know what I am talking about, during the spring, go outside in the rains of April without an umbrella and dance in it.

I liked him because he was a pretty, honest individual. We vibed together intellectually deep and it always added color to my dullness. We could spend hours together writing, playing the piano, grabbing the guitar and strumming in a new track to the bundle under the scaffold that would soon be built into a song. And then he’d leave. And as soon as he left my foyer area and I shut the door behind him, I started to miss him.

There are some things and people that I give narrow attention but he had all my focus. I would experience enflamed anxiety as if I had not seen him in months, though he was just with me 30 seconds ago.

If music is a compilation of human tears, then my song “Wherever You Are” is the pool that I was wading in for a minute and then drowned me into a new melody to sing. For it was on one of those occasions where he left and I started missing him that this song was written. 

The words illustrate the feeling which I experienced at that single moment. You can only imagine how good it felt to let my thoughts out with piano splashes on a blank track. The lyrics which focus on the basis of love came directly after.

If you liked the little performance clip captured in Novorossiysk, Russia of me singing my song with the Sergey Koronev Project, which was a moment of pure pleasure I must say, please add the full length tune to your Apple Music playlist here: https://itun.es/us/I2kLeb?i=1150594893

When Change Comes, Make the Big Bold Decision to Believe in Yourself No Matter What

"While writing the story of your life,

don't let anyone else hold the writing utensil.

Know the fact that you are enough,

you are worth it and you can achieve

what your heart desires."

- Unknown

 

And remember the truth that we become a little better every day as we go through remarkable changes based on our experiences and that we have a harvest of kingdom fruit awaiting us which we are perfectly suitable to dwell in.

 

“Storms make trees take deeper roots”

– Sharon Lechter

 

A tidal wave of change takes place based on the vibration of thoughts we have about our own selves. While other people’s negative thoughts can become contagious, make sure to make the big, bold decisions to stay firmly rooted in believing in yourself.

“Depression is destructive

while self-confidence and faith are constructive.”

– Sharon Lechter

When your faith is spilling over, there is nothing that can knock you out of the soil. You still stand tall and face the brightness of God’s unmatchable sun. Sparks of possibility seem to never leave us because we are driven by the flames of achievement of being blessed by another day.  

Only God knows what the next leg of the journey will bring but while we are headed there, travel along your path with complete confidence that you have everything it takes to move forward to what is ahead.

I invite you to check out a flashback of a performance I was so blessed to be a part of at Jacob Javitz Convention Center with the Medgar Evers Jazz Ensemble at the graduation ceremony for the 2013 college graduating class. I was experiencing a bunch of anxieties that day having lost my aunt to cancer the day before who left behind five kids under 18 years old. I was so sad about the situation because we were really close and I couldn't belive my little cousins were left without their mother and my uncle had to do whatever he could to handle it. 

After singing before the crowd of 5500 people, I went home, cut all my hair off and started a whole different way of thinking about my life. Change I guess is a real thing when death plays a part. At a funeral about a week back, for a beautiful family who lost their hero, their father, I was asked to sing Sam Cook's "A Change is Gonna Come." A few days later, I lost a dear friend and his family's and friend's lives were changed forever. The whole point is to never lose faith. 

The song I sang at the graduation, which is also a point of change from experiencing education to experiencing the field and having to deal with maybe not landing the job we want with so much competition for the same work,  was "I Am Changing" originally performed by Dreamgirl Jennifer Holiday and it can be found on youtube at: https://youtu.be/lIyQEJgnWuE

Have a beautiful, faith-driven day everybody! 

Singing, Songwriting and the Melody That Keeps Moving On . . .

“Trust in yourself and in the process to keep going.”

– David Hooper

Call me consumed with obsession for loving the art of singing so much but, I don’t remember a time in my life when I did not love vocalizing.

I guess you can say that I was fueled by motivation when people used to say they thought I was good. I spent most of my life juggling life, work, my education and singing to keep the excitement and energy present.

At Six years old in the yard

It started as a love of songs. I heard Deniece Williams singing and would try to imitate her voice and sing “Let’s Hear it For the Boy” from my backyard to all my neighbors. Stacey Lattisaw would suddenly pop up on the radio and I would sing out loud “I Found Love on A Two Way Street,“ to anyone who was willing to listen. Songs became committed to memory and then singing them became a part of who I am.

At every turning point, there was an artist and then a song that resonated. Michael Jackson did it with “Thriller,” and then I was consumed with love for him. My neighbors heard me singing his songs so much that for Christmas one year, they so humbly gave to me a Michael Jackson jacket. I even had one of his dolls which I thought was the coolest toy ever.

Whitney Houston did it for me with “How Will I Know,” and then she became the artist that I was imitating all the time. Then it was Mariah Carey and her song, “Vision of Love.” Over the years, so many others have connected with me on a deeper level making me want to sing; Chaka Khan, Amel Larrieux, Sarah Vaughan.  Music and singing became a truth lodged in me so deeply that I couldn’t deny that I really and truly, loved to sing.

Songwriting

Songwriting was no different. I am a songwriter because by sheer coincidence, I am a poet and have been writing poetry since the fourth grade. It became adventurous trying to put melody to mere words on a paper.

Photo from the video for my song "Harmony" 

My students are always telling me about their issues with writing songs and how difficult they find putting melodies to their words. When I was young, I would take any instrumental and try to apply my lyrics to them and then they became singable and then they became songs. Doing that helped me to build a strong connection with the art of songwriting and then it became using my Korg Triton keyboard to build chords and save them to a new Cakewalk Sonar project. And so, writing songs slowly turned into more than just writing lyrics, but the music behind them too; I do not, however, write the music to every song that I write lyrics to.

I will admit that writing songs are not always a simple walk in the park. Under the strangest circumstances, there are times that I am writing and lose control; tears fall down my face because the lyrics come from a deep well in my soul. It takes a lot of faith, strength and maturity to share them because it is almost like sharing your nakedness to the world. But, we are meant to make many leaps with faith in life.

“Faith is the external elixir which gives

life, power and action to the impulse of thought.”

 – Sharon Lechter

From live performance in Arkhangelsk, Russia

I feel so very blessed when I have the opportunity to spice things up on stage with a song that I was fortunate enough to write, so I am always jumping at the chance to perform them live. 

Sometimes I feel like dancing under the silver moon with excitement when someone tells me they liked my song. It feels like a sun-drenched day when I receive a great review from someone I did not expect to hear a good word from; especially family.

In short, I want to thank you for your continued support and hope that in all this maybe you will find a peg of inspiration and feel motivated to keep pressing on. And to close, I want to share with you one of the many songs that I have written all the lyrics and all the music to. It is entitled “Keep Moving On” and can be found on Soundcloud here:  https://soundcloud.com/stephanay-jnote/keep-moving-on

Thank you again everybody. Have a motivated and prosperous day! 

The Happiness Trail to Enjoy Life

"Happiness is not a matter of events, 

it depends upon the tides of the mind"
- Alice Meynell, 1847-1922 

We all go through things that can put a damper on our day and perhaps week. But I definitely do not want to be the lonesome bag lady in the woods, carrying so much baggage that everyone else can see it in my growling, animalesque attitude.

This brand new week, is a great week to decide to focus on the good. Here a few things to think about that might make you smile just a little bit.

• Actress Viola Davis was honored with a Hollywood star. I loved her in the movie "The Help," and since I started watching her in her leading role on "HTGAWM,"  I love her as an actress. Awesome news to smile about! 
• Today is national take the stairs day. Thank God that we are able to take the stairs when the elevators are not working because we have well and able legs that can transport us from one floor to the next. 
• Next Monday is Martin Luther King Jr day which means many of us can look forward to a long weekend and for those who will have to work, it means a not so crowded road, bus or train which also means an empty seat will be available going to and from work.
• I have life-bearing drinking water readily available to me to drink and to keep me hydrated, when needed.
• Nothing in this world is free but I woke up and breathed in free oxygen that I did not have to pay for and light from the sun that will brighten the day God created for me to live. 

Enjoy Life

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink, 

falling like dew upon a thought, 

produces that which makes thousands, 

perhaps millions, think."

- Aubrey Thomas de Vere, 1814-1902

A few years back, I was returning home from a musical event that I was singing at, with tired eyes. I thought I was okay to drive and got on the road and made it to my exit on the highway and then it happened. 

At my exit there is a fork in the road, so I turned my head slightly to see if any cars were coming from the left side and while turning my head back to look before me, my eyes closed for just a second. Next thing I know, my car was smashed into a truck. The truck ripped into the metal right before me and if it had teared into it any further, it would have cut my head off. 

My eyes opened to the shock of the crash. I am still amazed that I was able to walk out of the car with no scratches and a story to tell. 

I was so depressed the day after that happened that I wanted to just stay draped under my covers crying about all the crazy things that  could have happened due to my falling asleep behind the wheel, but family and friends would not allow it. They made sure to help to keep me sane and to try to get me to see the good side of the bad situation. They made me see that even though something bad happened that came with a series of other things I would have to deal with due to my accident, that I could still enjoy the good things in life, as opposed to dwelling on what happened that I would not be able to change. It happened. Things happen. Forrest Gump said it best, "Shit happens!" And then you must move past it.

This story is in short to say that even though we may have stories, dead beat mates, family problems, issues, baggage, bills, jobs, weight on our shoulders, etc., but we still have a life to live. We can either dwell on our issues all day and spend it without a smile or we can balance our emotions by keeping those issues in the back of our minds while also enjoying the beautiful things that life has to offer, and smile about them.

I wrote a song that talks about the balancing of life and life's issues entitled, "Enjoy Life." Lyrics by Stephanie Jeannot. Music by Mike LeShore. Please take the time to listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/qPCvcQLGd2o

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, 
but a manner of traveling."

- Margaret Lee Runbeck, 1905-1956

Don't worry. 

I drink more coffee now than the sink at a 10PM closing of Starbucks, 

after a fresh pot was made for the one customer (probably me)  

dying for a Venti Pike, 

so my energy nowadays behind the wheel has me traveling much lighter,

 minus the fear of something like that happening again. 

Plus I take naps and I'm not ashamed to admit that. Now there's something else to smile about!