Begin Again

I love to read. I love paper and ink and the smell of printing. I love the creative thinking of authors and the graphic artists rendition behind the book jacket design. Most of all? I love starting a new book. It's tantamount to beginning a new adventure and I CAN'T WAIT to see how it all works out.

Mark and I took off on the motorcycle for our last big hoorah of the summer. There isn't much to do on the bike so I spend a ton of time lost in my own thoughts.

While enjoying the country-side, the wind and the sun my thoughts turned to me (surprise - yeah, it's ALL about me) and my disease. I try super hard not to give this "inconvenience" power, however, it keeps marching forward and I find myself focusing on icky thoughts more often.

Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine star in a movie called "Begin Again". Google says:

"Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her songwriting partner/lover Dave (Adam Levine) head for New York when he lands a record deal with a major label. However, Gretta is suddenly left on her own when Dave gives in to the temptations that come with his newfound success. Things take a turn for the better for her when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record executive, discovers Gretta performing in a club. A mutually life-changing bond forms between the pair as they work together on Gretta's first album."

Shelby was visiting a while back and turned to this movie. I had not seen it before and since I'm a movie NUT, I sat and watched it with her. Oh man. I loved it.

A few years back, Mark asked me "If you could sing like anyone, who would it be?" Without skipping a beat I answered "Celine Dion".  At the time, I was REALLY into her and her music so the answer kinda came out like "duh".  Her voice is strong, vibrant and memorable. Yeah. I'd sing like her. Without a doubt.

I used to sing ALL THE TIME. I sang to the radio. I sang at my piano. I sang with music playing and without music. I sang to my babies, to my toddlers, to my kids. I sang in church, in my car, in my kitchen, in the shower, while I cooked or cleaned or mowed or slept. I sang. Albeit, I wasn't super good, but I so love music - so I sang.

I don't sing out loud any longer. My mouth muscles just don't work right. I can think the words, however, I can't get them out with the music. So I sing in silence.

I changed who I want to sing like. I'll take Keira. You'll have to watch the movie to understand. Her singing is soft, vulnerable, and simple -  no frills or fluff. Simple.

That's what new beginnings are about. Right? Simple. A thought becomes a step. A step becomes an action. An action leads to accomplishment. Simply begin.

According to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of beginning is:

1. the point in time and space at which something starts.

While riding the bike, this all went through my head. It might be a bit jumbled to you, however, it was clear to me. It's pretty simple. I can view what's ahead of me as an ending OR I can choose to embrace the new beginnings.

Maybe Meister Ekhart had it right when he said:

"And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings."