I’ve not even finished writing all the songs for this (first) Children’s album, but it sure does feel like the most logical next step in my progression as a songwriter. And this album, yet to be completed, already feels like the first of at least a couple of albums dedicated to the joy and merriment that accompanies childhood. This first one began in the most mundane of ways. But as we already knows, there’s magic in the ordinary. And therefore no such thing as ordinary.
You may already know about my ongoing career as a therapist in addition to that of a songwriter. And when I wear my “therapist” hat, I’m either working one-on-one with private clients, or working in a nearby Boulder K-8 school, where I have worked for the past ten years. It’s a dream role for me, in all honesty, because I have all the latitude in the world to integrate music into my therapeutic work with the kids.
A few months ago, my co-therapist came to me with the friendship lesson she had planned for us to teach in the kindergarten classroom later that week. After watching the slideshow which ended with a song about friendship, I told her that the information in the lesson was awesome, but that I was feeling strongly compelled to write my own version of that friendship song. She agreed, I wrote the new song that evening, and we delivered the lesson about resolving conflict in a way that was fun, engaging, and left the kids humming a little tune.
At the time, I thought this experience was just a one-off, and that I now just had this cute little song to sing next year when we taught the same lesson to a fresh group of kindergartners. But as the school year unfolded, this process repeated itself a number of times, leading to more lessons to teach and more new songs to support those lessons. Over the last few months, the momentum has continued to build in this easy, effortless, organic way, culminating in now what I can (almost) call my first album of children’s songs!
Lately I have been surfing on the easy thrill of being in alignment, of being in the flow of life, and enjoying the delicious nature of that right place-right time feeling. I have come to understand that we aren’t mere observers who simply “find ourselves” in these flowing currents of experience. But rather we actively cultivate these states through intentional, steady practice. One breath at a time.
So stay tuned, dear friends. I plan on having more new music for you in the coming months. Prepare your inner child.
