It seems like almost everyone I know (myself included) is going through some major and challenging life changes right now: breakups, foreclosures, job losses, moving, legal battles, money trouble, restlessness, scandals, loss of loved ones, losing homes in fires... the list goes on and on. I am just beginning to clear my mind of a little of my own funk.  I have found that two things help me get through a rough time more than anything else: A. Doing things that I love and B. Sharing those things with the people I love.

Luckily for me, there are many things that satisfy "A."  (Truth be told, there are probably too many things that do, but that's a post for another day.)  One thing that has been there for me 27 of my 31 years on this planet, however, is music.  I've mostly played the piano, though I love to sing and have experimented with the violin and the flute (no, not in a "this one time at band camp" sort of way...)

I have always been reluctant to share my music.  It is my sanctuary when things go wrong in my life.  I had always feared that if I played and people didn't like it, it would somehow lose its healing power.  That and the fact that I was teased about it pretty ruthlessly in school, which pretty much makes anyone reluctant to revisit anything...

This past year has been pretty eye-opening to me, however.  I have learned to be a lot more open to new people, new ideas and to trying new things.  So, in an attempt to share the love, I offer two of my very favorite Satie songs to play on the piano when I am feeling blue:

Erik Satie: Gnossienne No. 1

Erik Satie: 1ere Gymnopedie

I recorded myself playing these using my digital piano (Yamaha S90ES- best digital piano ever), some fancy gadgets that hook up to my computer, and Cubase recording software.  I'm hoping to continue recording more music, perhaps a bit with some vocals if I can figure out how to use my microphone properly and either work around its presence in front of my keyboard or work on my ability to record the vocals and instruments separately (not an easy task when you are used to doing both simultaneously).  And maybe, just maybe, I will include some of my own compositions in time.

Anyway, that's my little virtual hug.  Go do something you love and share a little with someone else.  Passion and compassion are great healers.