Beautiful

Happy 2012.  I'm looking out my window at the most beautiful sunrise - where we live, the best part of the sunrise is in the west -

where the mountains are lit up by the sun climbing over the eastern wall of the valley.  This morning the colours are stunning, and I'm glad I have a bit of time now to spend singing alone.  (rare, precious time!)  Ostensibly I'm practicing.  In reality it's pure joy.

There are two people in my mind this morning; my six-year-old son, and my four-year-old daughter, who woke up this morning and didn't stop singing and talking and singing and singing from the time they woke up until they went to school and playschool.  It was like stepping into "Guys and Dolls" - and before my first coffee! Or should I say "Guy and Doll".

There were snippets of "real" songs, but mostly it was improv.  So full of happiness and beauty.  It was such a tangible example of what making music does in us - and it works in a couple of ways.  Sing because you have something to sing, be it joy, angst, pain, celebration or anything at all.  And also, when we experience emotion, no matter what it is, singing it can give that emotion an outlet.  It can accentuate the wonderful things in life, and it can be a balm to the difficult.  But no matter what, it sparks a physical process that will leave you feeling better than when you started.  Children understand this instinctively.  As adults, this reality passes us by in our concern with "getting it right".  Notice how kids laugh about a bazillion times more every day than adults?  Laughing is good for you too.

And so today, I look at the gorgeous place I live, and feel thankful.  It makes me want to sing, so I will take the cue from my children - but I must get going because once they're home my time is up!  Perhaps then we will improv and laugh together.

Blessings.