Amy Collette

“So if you love somebody better tell them so
‘Cause you never ever, ever know when they gonna go
If they love you back, just give thanks
Can’t keep love like money in the bank”

~Michael Franti and Spearhead “Life in the City”

Songwriters: Jason Patrick Bowman, Michael Franti, Carl Rogers Young

Did you know that you could be wrong and swear you’re right
Some people been known to do it all their lives
But you find yourself alone, just like you found yourself before
Like I found myself in pieces on the hotel floor
Hard times have helped me see

I’m a good man, with a good heart
Had a tough time, got a rough start
But I finally learned to let it go
Now I’m right here, and I’m right now
And I’m open, knowing somehow
That my shadow days are over
My shadow days are over now

~ John Mayer’s song “Shadow Days”

Something in this song made me cry the first time I heard it. I’m inspired by the thought that “hard times let me see” the goodness inside, living for today, grateful for the dark days and ready to let them go.

I was just listening to an old song from the ’70′s and a line that hit me was “I sense … something divine in you.”
It’s just a pick-up line in the song, but it made me smile and think that if I could see the divine in everyone, life would be a lot more fun.

A life coach told me that to change a habit, you have to replace it with something. That makes sense to me – it’s hard to just tell yourself to stop doing something. It’s easier to shift that energy into something else.

And, like everything, it has to start with me. Like when I make a mistake, instead of spending 10 minutes calling myself an idiot, I can see the humor in it, laugh, and forgive myself for the goof-up. Then maybe I can do the same with the people I love…

I was blessed to see an amazing concert last summer – Brett Dennen and Michael Franti. These two artists brought a loving, magical energy that I’ve never experienced at a concert before. I’ve often been brought to tears by the beauty of music, but this concert took that feeling to another level.

What made this concert different:

• It began with thousands of prayer flags being passed from the back, through the audience to the stage to honor cancer patients and survivor
• Franti kept going up into the stands to be with the audience -  he had no fear (must have driven the security guys nuts!)
• The music was a call to the best in all of us – magical lyrics and beautiful music
• At the end, Franti called all the kids up on stage to sing a song with him.

After that last song, there was no encore – he just hugged the kids, talked to them, and the band just milled about. Then Franti wandered off the stage and started hugging people in the crowd. I’ve never seen anything like it. There was absolutely no separation between the “stars” and the crowd that came to see them. No rock star vibe or running backstage. So many people hung out afterwards that the security guards finally asked us to leave so they could close up and go home.

Dennen’s and Franti’s music is from the heart, and they way they approach themselves was the same way. They both performed barefoot and dancing – like their lyrics, naked and natural in a way. Totally exposed and totally safe in front of thousands of people. Here’s a sample from Brett Dennen’s song Blessed:

“Blessed is this life,
And I’m gonna celebrate
Being alive…”

If you need a little inspiration, check them out:

Brett Dennen

Michael Franti

I knew this film might be hard to watch, and it was. But I loved it and highly recommend it. Jeff Bridges unflinchingly portrays the brutal reality of life as an alcoholic. The ugly truth is that an addict constantly makes a choice – between the people he loves and his addiction.

It looked to me like Jeff Bridges’ character, Bad Blake, had hit bottom at one point in the film after an accident left his body broken. But hurting himself wasn’t enough. It took hurting someone he loved to let him see how low he was, that he needed help.

The story is really about redemption – for me it validates that undying spark of light within  us that wants to shine, even when we don’t want to let it. I’ve seen this transformation in my father – like Bad Blake in the movie, he was a musician, and a heavy smoker and drinker. That life seemed glamorous for awhile, until he realized that he had to have a bottle  just to make it through the day. He hit bottom when I was a teenager,  when he finally went to rehab.  He told me, “Ames, I’m never gonna drink again.” I didn’t believe him.

But he showed me the strength he found inside, and has lived up to his word. I’m  grateful that he made that decision to live and become a different man – he’s been clean and sober now for decades. His choices left a lot of damage in his wake. Bad Blake sums it up in the song “Somebody Else” on the Crazy Heart soundtrack:

“I used to be somebody, now I am somebody else, who I’ll be tomorrow, is anybody’s guess… Now that I’m a brand-new man, you belong to someone else.”

Redemption was a choice for Bad Blake and for my dad – one that takes tremendous strength. I consider my father’s redemption one of the miracles in my life. Thanks, Dad, for choosing the people you love.

The Staple Singers had some wise advice in their songs that’s still very relevant today. Back in 1973, their song “Be What You Are” cautions against living beyond your means – just be what you are.

I’m not trying to tell you how to do it ·
I’m only saying put some thought into it ·
Be what you are, my friend ·
And live the life

The Staple Singers

As long as I’m singin’
Then the world’s all right
And everything’s swingin!
Long as I’m singin’ my song.

Lyrics by Bobby Darin

May you see a way to sing your song every day.

In this playful workshop, we learn to look for and recognize the signs that pop into our lives every day. Synchronicity is that thing that happens when you’re thinking of someone and the song that you both love comes on the radio. It’s the butterfly fluttering by when you think of a loved one you miss. It’s the feeling you’re being watched, and you look up to see a deer looking right at you.

Are these just coincidences? Or do they have some special meaning? Why do certain things appear in your life at certain times? All of these things can represent different parts of yourself, give you verification or early warnings, encourage you to look deeper, or even give you permission to feel they way you feel:

• Colors relate to Chakras and represent different parts of yourself
• Number combinations can verify or give you information
• Animals may represent aspects of yourself that need more attention
• Music is often a joyous verification of your thoughts, ideas and memories

We’ll discuss how and when these things show up for you, and how you can interpret them. Once you start noticing synchronicity in your life, you’ll be amazed at how much more often it happens!

So much of the synchronicity I see in my life comes to me through songs. Today’s surprise was a new song, at least one I hadn’t heard before.

“I’m lookin’ for life, love and laughter, and everything in between…”

That line hooked me. The whole song made me smile – a beautiful start to my day. Besides the great lyrics, the music is laid back and fun.

When I got to my computer, I had to look it up. The song is “Life, Love and Laughter” by Donavon Frankenreiter. I’d never heard of the artist, either, and now I’m learning about him and his music. He’s a former surfer turned musical artist, living his dream.

This song talks about living for today – not looking back or forward too much. Enjoying the abundance of things you have to appreciate that are right in front of you.

Now I’m thinking about what’s “everything in between”…

Any thoughts?

Take a listen here: