Living intentionally is often as tough as the stairway Dan shared on his post. In fact, his published books shows it works for him. By the way, I am reading his book, Poetic Justice as my Kindle, slow read. Not my audiobook, like all my others, but page by page. It is engaging. I just can’t track well. But I am able to stick with it. Mysteries of the murdering type, are tough. But the main character, Brody, keeps the story moving. It is my intention to finish the book within a couple of weeks.
I’m working on my intentions and manifesting goals. That’s what my possibility list on New Year’s starts with small and deep thoughts. From working on thought patterns to knitting, to communication with others. I’m all over the map as I zero in on the things that will bring me joy or somehow help heal the universe
Nature finally gave in! We got a frosting of snow last night. I purposely took this through the Christmas tree. I’m still playing Christmas songs. I purposely played White Christmas, because I feel lots of December flows over. Look, I live in Christmas Valley! I still believe.
By the way, the forecast says we should have more of the pretty white stuff by Wednesday.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 4th, 2026 is “arms.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
One of my favorite stupid jokes came around when my kids were in grade school. Long ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Where does Admiral Ackbar hide his armies?
In his sleevies.
Okay, that wasn’t the prompt.
According to Linda: Today’s prompt is courtesy of the most charming Cheryl. Thank you, Cheryl! Please be sure to visit Cheryl’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there if you’re not already
Why is it that these appendages bring so many visuals? Cheryl talks of the warmth of loving arms. Yet as in the joke above it brings up groups of military troops. Or weapons. Or parts of chairs?
But, I like Cheryl’s take best. Nothing is better than being held or holding loved ones even pets in our arms.
Yesterday I shared one of the reasons I prefer acoustic piano, or voice, as we can control volume according to emotional intensity within the artist and directed by composition.
Rhythm and how fast or slow a piece of a portion of it can affect or reflect our emotions.
A piece can hold many speeds from grave to presto. Like conversations. We don’t speak one or the other. Well, except certain chemistry teachers in my past during the first period. Hence a C… But that’s another stream.
Music reflects life which is both fast (is it already the third of January?) and slow (why does Christmas take so long when we’re kids?)
First of all, I want to lead you to Barbara’s take on ‘Magnify’ as it reflects my own journey with screens and reading and tools that can help those issues. Click here.
The reason I love the acoustic piano more than my electronic keyboard is that you can express emotions on it. With signs, you can guess how hard or soft a touch you need to bring out the depth of a song.
See the less-than sign?
It means to gradually
minimize your
touch.
The greater-than sign <
<
It means
You play quietly and
Magnify your touch
I have not found the ability to do that on my electric keyboard with feeling. Nor can I do that on my recorder. I know you can with a violin. But it is most satisfying when singing with a choir, and the director and music ask you to unify as you and your fellow singers magnify the sound.
The voice magnifies so well. Sometimes you need to whisper. But there are times for an actual
Today is the day I reflect on possibilities. I don’t resolve. I have never found change in pure willfulness. Instead, I think globally, universally, and down to cellular possibilities. The things I want to delve into with thought, prayer, and desire. Some say cellular is universal. Reflecting on how the atom looks like a solar system keeps my thoughts meandering. When we think of the word ‘enthusiasm,’ we learn that it breaks down to ‘God in you.’ And that is when I draw the conclusion that if I feel excited, and if I spend the time being mindful about it, I can breathe a spark into a flame. Writing about the ideas helps me to decide if it’s worth it for me. We can’t be everything; we can’t be perfect. But we can grow in areas we feel drawn to.
Last year, in October 2024, on the advice of a friend (thanks, Yve), I found an old financial journal and turned I into a piano journal. In a few days, I will have filled all the pages. I started by sitting at the piano just long enough to enjoy the feeling. Sometimes that was to play a scale or diddy, as long as I could feel the joy. The minute it felt like work, or was in any way painful, I got up and walked away to do something else I might enjoy. But I wrote the bits I did, how long, feelings about the piece, and a bit of a grade of how well I did. Not to judge myself, but to watch for improvement and have a recording of what worked for me.
I have gained confidence and skill, going from five-minute gigs to over an hour. I even did a couple two-hours stints. I loved being deeply into the music, filling my heart with beauty. Not of my skill, but how it all works. I will be looking for a new music journal. It doesn’t need to be much, and I am sure I have an empty something with lines around here.
What I won’t use is my everything journal. My husband gave it to me for Christmas. Isn’t it gorgeous? It came with its own pen (I may replace it with an erasable, as a perfect journal will hurt me if I have a bunch of scratch-outs).
Now I need to write my first entry. Shh! No peeking! Possibilities are popping. And I must meet them with mindfulness to cultivate enthusiasm. New habits await.
I’m always up at midnight. So mostly I’m up. I don’t party. But my husband, family and friends share our wishes of the best for the new year.
2. Have you ever kept any New Year Resolutions made in the past?
Long ago a bestie and I made the decision not to resolve but to write possibilities. Things we’d like to see happen and put our thoughts towards. Often, for us, that works as a better way to find where to apply our energy.
3. Do you have any plans for 2026?
My aim for everyday is to improve myself. I am the only one I can control and that is a challenge on my best days.
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
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