I am unwritten; can't read my mind. I'm undefined.
I'm just beginning, the pens in my hand; ending unplanned.

Staring at the blank page before you. 

Open up the dirty window; let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find. 

Reaching for something in the distance; so close you can almost taste it.

Release your inhibitions. Feel the rain on your skin.

No one else can feel it for you. Only you can let it in. 

No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips. 

Give yourself in words unspoken; live your life with arms wide open. 

Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.

I break tradition. Sometimes my tries are outside the line. 

We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way.

Staring at the blank page before you. 

Open up the dirty window; let the sun illuminate the words that you can not find. 

Reaching for something in the distance; so close you can almost taste it.

Release your inhibitions. Feel the rain on your skin. 

No one else can feel it for you. Only you can let it in. 

No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips. 

Give yourself in words unspoken; live your life with arms wide open. 

Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.... Natasha Bedingfield Unwritten

What I love about this song is that it took a second listen before I even realized the lyrics. The music and the beat were uplifting and so I cranked it in the car the first time. The second time I was in the car too, but caught the line about the "blank page before you" and made sure to look it up on Youtube as soon as I got in. 

So, for me, this song is uplifting. It's what I listen to when I'm starting that downward spiral of doubts and insecurities. It reminds me that I'm responsible for my happiness.

Songwriting

How many songwriters do I have as followers? I know of one or two. I'm curious if there are any more of you lurking in the shadows.

If you are out there....I admire the hell out of you!! Songwriters are amazing to me. I'll admit that there are a couple of songs that I wouldn't normally listen to...but the lyrics are so amazing I'll listen to them every time. This tends to make my music selection eclectic to say the least.

For me, each song has a purpose, even if that purpose is to make me car dance and sing into a hairbrush. (Don't deny you do it too!) A lot of writers I notice have playlists for their writing, editing or inspiring brainstorming. I have to admit that I've never made a specific playlist for a WIP.

I have no idea why. I love music. L-O-V-E it. Admittedly, I don't listen to music as often as I used to before having children. Sometimes, silence is golden. Seriously.

But I was driving in the car with Princess Rhiannon the other day and she had control of the radio. This is not usually a problem. She likes pop, country and some rock. Some of the "Disney artists" I can live without, but I don't make a fuss. This song came on....

I hop off the plane at LAX with a dream in my heart again. Welcome to the land of fame excess; am I going to fit in? Jumped in the cab here I am for the first time, look to my right and see the HOLLYWOOD sign. This is all so crazy, everybody seems so famous. My tummy's turnin' and I'm feeling kind of homesick. Too much pressure and I'm nervous. Just then the taxi man turns on the radio and the Jay-Z song was on....

So I put my hands up, they're playing my song, the butterflies fly away.
I'm noddin' my head like yeah, I'm moving my hips like yeah.
I've got my hands up, they're playing my song, you know I'm gonna be okay
~Miley Cyrus, Party in the USA

I'll let you listen to the rest on your own. The point is that it immediately hit me. I remembered a flood of experiences where I was so nervous until I heard my song, or I purposely listened to my songs before work, job interviews, school, dates....It didn't take a whole novel. Just a few important sentences that remind you of a certain feeling. Now, I don't know if Miley Cyrus is the songwriter as well as the singer. I have heard that she writes some songs and I admire that. I admire any artist. But I really think songwriters are AWESOME. They can evoke a feeling, memory or tell a story in less than 10 minutes. How cool is that?

We could learn a little from them, I'm thinking.... So... stay tuned for the rest of the week's posts on music/songwriting etc.. And if you're a songwriter, email me! I'd love to pick your brain.

Words and Wonders

***Before beginning I would like to explain to all my fellow bloggers that I have been having trouble leaving comments. I'm sure it is my pc and not your blog! Sometimes, after leaving the comment and filling in the captcha, I get an error message and am whisked away to my homepage. So-I have been reading!! If you are not getting my comments, I am SO SORRY!***

"It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." J.K. Rowling

When I ran across this quote it blew my mind. I have to give J.K. Rowling her props on this one. Who would have thought to sit down long enough and realize that our choices really do have much more effect on our lives than our abilities. Many of us have amazing abilities that we may never have even tapped into. Are you making the right choices to showcase your abilities?

Confabulation: Familiar Talk....even though it sounds like a word that my southern relatives would make up. (No, I'm not making fun, I'm laughing with them!)

Rusticate: To go or to be sent to the country....who knew there was a term for this??!!

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." Berthold Auerbach

This quote also touched me because I love music...music of all styles and instruments of all sounds. I LOVE music. However...since I've had kids, I forget to listen to my music a lot. Why? Well, when it's silent in the house, I'm in such awe of the lack of screaming, fighting, and stomping through the house that I forget to play music. Then when I finally do, I remember how much I LOVE IT! How the lyrics can sometimes bring a tear to your eye or a smile to your lips. How the instruments can rise and fall in the beauty of expression. I just love it.

I hope everyone enjoyed their extended weekend! I didn't have too many comments yesterday, which is understandable, so I'll keep the award going for those of you that comment this weekend. I will then post your links in Monday's post. You all deserve it, so don't be shy! Grab that beautiful award!