I am sending you love from the get-go. Love for this wild ride, this cosmic reset, and your path forward in this twirl-a-world dance where the re-set is one that you intend, not the one with the snooze button default.

But manners and heart first. How are you? Let’s do a quick check-in to see where you are and if you’re willing, offer a little perspective from there.

First, let’s take a deep breath and do a body scan. Okay? Do you need to take a few more deep breaths? Please do. Do you need a stretch? Do. Do you need to nap? Be honest. Have you taken a few minutes to write in your Daily Gratitude Journal yet? These are emotional investments from heart to hand to spirit to keep seeking what cuddles your heart lighter despite what the world may be presenting. Effective nurturing as much as hydrating with fresh water, healthy food, meditation, and taking a little stroll in nature and vitamin D(light.) And if you’ve not done this yet, there’s time soon after a read written just for you.

Ruby, Sky, and I had a short walk today for coffee at our local shop. A man was facing away, playing the mandolin so softly that I could barely hear it. A mandolin! I love the mandolin. I took Sky’s leash and sat at the very next table while Ruby went to order. “Oh, you are playing my very favorite instrument. How are you playing it so softly?” I asked the musician.

He turned and kindly said, “I have a rounded pick. And the beauty of this instrument is that I can play softly. I don’t want to disturb anyone.” I looked around and only two other people were sitting with coffee at least 14’ away in the Saturday morning near-spring sunshine. Both seem unbothered, simply waiting.

“I don’t think anyone here would mind. So many hearts are heavy with the world news, and your music is so beautiful. Could you please play a little louder?” I begged. “I would love to hear.” 

He quietly spun his chair around and playing just a touch louder, began to softly sing,. “If I had wings like Noah’s dove/ I’d fly the river to the one I love/Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well.” A tiny sparrow flew in and sat on the seat back at my table, even closer to the musician than I, and he, too, began to sing along. My heart leapt.

“Early this morning, drizzling rain/And in my heart, I felt an aching pain/Oh Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well.” I lifted my phone to capture the beauty, but the bird flew away. Source nudged me to put down my phone and listen, for goodness sake.

“Now, one of these mornings, it won’t be long. You’ll call my name, and I’ll be gone. Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well,” the musician gave a flourish of fingering. “If I had wings like Noah’s dove/ I’d fly to the river to the one I love/ Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well.”

I applauded so gleefully Sky jumped. You can imagine my extra delight to discover this musician lived not far from our Violet in the United Kingdom. This world is sometimes so dearly small. He, a little older than I, gave his perspective of what he’d heard about the news, the impact of what such actions would be in Europe, how his mother had also just passed at 95 three days ago, and how it seems lots of our parents who lived through the World War were checking out. “They’ve lived through this before and want none of it. They know better,” he said.

I nodded, agreeing, giving him my condolences for his mother, and thanked him for his music. I shared that I, like many creative hearts know that music/art/and joy in the midst of “all this,” is one of our brightest ways to deflect that which offends our soul and helps us persist in the ways that elevates our communal spirit. And as shy a singer as he was, he put out his hand and said it again before we left, “Fare thee well, friend.”

“Until the next time,” I replied, “Thank you. Thank you for warming my heart.”

How will you sing your hearts today and forward, my friends? Softly in a pool of sunlight, face to the parking lot, or a little louder because life is so short and delicate and beautiful? Will you be putting a hand out to give support and love for our shared journey, or use your voice a little louder so more can hear and gather fortitude?

In these precarious times, I will continue encouraging everyone here to rise to their heart’s brave knowing for collective health and harmony. And to not hide our most beautiful, healing light, but to bring it to help the best and highest good of one and all, individually and collectively. 

I may fly like the dove and sparrow soon, too. I know that I am not built for suffering fools or playground bullies. As a survivor of a violent kidnapping years ago, I know the sickness of those who are under a spell of that which is not Love and only craves power no matter the cost. So I will be making choices where my heart work from Source is well guarded and forever faithfully guided, too. 

I am still sorting through all my mother’s things and my relationship to the symbols of her fierce and mighty voice to nurture and protect family peace, the underdog, and our country as a piece of peace in this magnificent Milky Way; to keep integrity, truth, and goodwill toward all beings alive and thriving through home and our universe. I was the child who for years hid behind my mama’s skirts as she’d welcome the world, or insist we mind our manners, or lead by example making powerful contributions to serving and educating special needs children and later, special needs for safe-guarding planet Earth. And as much as their relationships were complicated by continental hardship, my mother was her parents’ daughter, too, as a well-read, well-bred, well-educated, elegant but hands in the dirt, hard-working, fiercely protective mama bear who was not just politically active for human rights around the world but exceptionally generous with any extras that she/they had. Everyone was welcome at our table.

I cannot help but honor by giving as much as I can for these causes and more. After Mom left, she left a letter insisting that I keep on with these Dancing Hands and my heart work because she knew how courage to use our gifts no matter how outside the box they may be, is essential. The same goes for you using your gifts to uplift, support, and protect who needs protecting. If you go to my social media, you may see some of the causes needing our most fiercely loving protection right now.

Who inspires you these days? Where do you serve the highest and best of one and all? You may be helping your parents, your siblings, friends, or kids. You may be circling for peace or walking for justice. Or maybe you’re taking a nap to recharge. I know many are overwhelmed feeling the muzzle velocity in our country right now. Please take breaks if this is you. But also, please remember, there is no mistake in your being here now. Please rest and then refocus to see how you can make active choices to make a difference. 

Use your rounded pick to play as softly as you wish, but please reach back, turn your chair around when you can, put your head up from time to time to please play louder and sing so your voice can reach the next table or the whole area of your heartfelt influence. We need to gather our courage and not hide behind the skirts of our mothers, but honor this precious planet’s life, which we’ve been so blessed to caretake. Be bold with love. And let me know how you are and where you need more support.

You are here as a gift. So, unwrap that gift. Sing your song. Lift your light. And let’s make this world sweeter, truer, and powerful with more love than has ever been known before.

Take the hand of the musician. Look into their eyes with gratitude and play on, dear Friends.

Fare thee well, my honey. Fare thee well.