Don Shetterly Playing The Piano

Many years ago, I was not allowed to play this in the Baptist church we attended.  Of course, this was one of those very strict Baptist churches that didn't let you go to movies, dances, be in restaurants that served alcohol, or swim with the opposite sex.

At the time, I did not even know this had been a hit song on the radio.  I just saw it in one of the church piano chorus books that I played from, and fell in love with it.  I'm still not exactly sure how the original recordings of this song went because I have hardly ever heard them performed.

I love the way I play it because this song is one that is begging for someone to just have fun with it, and push the emotional feel of it to the max.  So, enjoy the song, "HE".

Oh and the reason I couldn't play it in church was because the song didn't specifically use the word "GOD" in it.  Um, hello people - it is all about God.

Anyway, here's my version played in the way I see God, not in the way that the fundamentalists brainwashed me into how I SHOULD see God!

And maybe that is more of the backstory than you wanted to hear.  Enjoy the song anyway as I play it on this YouTube video. 

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Reminded To Play

Often, my days get very busy.  I am usually trying to accomplish so much and it is very easy for me to just forget to stop.  The funny thing is, I try to encourage people to stop in their day and sometimes I really screw it up too!

Hey, we're all human.  Living in a human body is not necessarily an easy thing or a 1-2-3 process.

Every day things change.  Every day we experience new things.  We deal with stress and joy and pain.  We deal with life and sometimes we jump up in the air to celebrate.

The only thing is when I get so busy that I forget to stop and have fun in life, it can be like a sword thrashing around in a small room.  More than likely at some point, the result is not going to be pretty.

Cats are good barometers...

I'm always amazed at my cats because they seem to know when I need to stop and play and get up from my desk.  I'm fortunate to work from home.  My cats are good barometers of things I miss sometimes in myself.

It is amazing to watch the cats because sometimes they both come up wanting attention.  If you don't give it to them, they increase their presence until you stop and pay attention to them.  If you don't give them enough, they just up the stakes and work harder to get your attention.

My cats don't really care if you're writing your masterpiece novel or replying to a tweet.  They just know, it is time for you and them to have some social interaction... and for me to stop - play - have fun!

I like that they help remind me to play.  I need that sometimes.  It is just far too easy for us to get hung up on all the tasks we do or the social media posts we have not read.

Cats (and most likely dogs too) are good barometers to help us stay connected to our self and our mind body.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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The Cat Knows

I'm always amazed at our cats for they seem to know what we are going through when sometimes, we don't even fully understand it. Our two cats are very perceptive and I am sure many could say the same thing about their cats. These cats just seem to feel, sense and know what we know but without all the distractions of life.

The other day, I was struggling and not able to focus. Our orange cat, Corey, knew this and was by my side to offer his assistance. His assistance though in amongst the purrs and sharing his love with me was the desire to play.

Even though I didn't really want to be bothered at that moment, I tried to oblige him by playing for a few moments and then letting him be on his own. That was not good enough for Corey and so he would find ways to get my attention and bring me back to a place where we could play. He did this repeatedly until I gave in to his play time.

Yet, I learned that the playtime wasn't really for him. It was his way of helping me get my mind off of some things and just stop for the moment. Corey knew deep down that if I did this, he would help me immensely. Of course, Corey loves to play and he loves to look after his humans but this particular day, he was there to help me out.

Cats are so amazing and I would really be lost without them. I've had a cat most of my life. They are just there when you need them most and it is wonderful to come home and see them meet you at the door or to just have something loving to greet you when you take a break.

We often say that they are "OUR" two cats but I think if you asked our cats about this, they would say, we are their humans that they watch out for and love!




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Blog Post & Images (c) 6/11/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

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You're Not Talented

"It is usually when we are young that we learn to think we are not talented; we are told so by teachers, parents, and other adults. Inevitably, their evaluations are firmly tied to contexts - to particular schools of thought in particular periods of time - although they are typically unaware of it. We accept their evaluations because we are inexperienced: we don't realize that the contexts in which we are being judged really say little about our talent."

Pg 46, On Becoming An Artist - by Ellen Langer

I know I keep quoting this book but have you ever read one of those books that was just the right book at the right time and everything in it was what you needed to hear? Ok, that's how this book is for me. So, if you're tired of reading about this book, please forgive me! It is just having a big impact on my life at the moment. For that, I won't apologize.

When I read this quoted section of the book that I stated above, it fit me to a T! All my life, I was told how much I didn't know and how many mistakes I made and how I didn't fit in and how I really didn't know what was best for me. These things and more were reinforced through fits of rage, screaming, moments of beatings and just an overall mindset of daily mind control that was exerted upon me. Some of the things were very subtle and some of them could be easily recognized. Many had a role in this from my own parents and siblings to the teachers at school and those that I knew from church.

While I don't remember the exact specifics, I do remember being in first grade and not being able to do first grade math. None of it was sinking into me at the time and I remember my dad making me go through flash card after flash card of first grade math facts that we had to learn. He probably meant well, but when I would get one wrong, he would scream and belittle me. Of course that was during the time that I was first raped and things were pretty horrible in my life. So, it is no wonder that learning was difficult. The ultimate result was that I was held back from First Grade and put back into Kindergarten. I somewhat remember the knots in my stomach during that time and I'm sure my mind and body remembers more than I do consciously.

There were other times though I was put down and I distinctively remember when I was just creating with the songs that I was playing in the piano. I was allowing myself to hit whatever keys my fingers landed on. At the time, some were good notes and some weren't but I was just in the moment playing. Overall, the little tune that came out was pretty good but I remember hearing my dad state to me that there were sure a lot of mistakes in that song, what was the song? This coming from a man that had no musical ability whatsoever but in this moment, he had pronounced himself as judge, jury and executioner. It took me a very long time before anyone else ever got to hear me create in the moment.

We've all got stories that may be similar or different to mine. I could name thousands of them. I doubt any one of us could escape this type of behavior even if the adults around us were well intentioned. I'm sure we have passed the same thing on to others at moment we didn't realize it as well.

The best thing I find is to learn how to allow myself to be a kid again. Some people refer to this as getting in touch with the inner child. But, in simplest form, it is just connecting with that pure, innocent, child like part of yourself that exists in all of us. Freud recognized this back in his day and it is there, whether we want to acknowledge its existence or not. It doesn't mean we have to sit down on the floor and play with toy cars or dolls, although that could be a good start to the child connection within us. It can be much simpler than that.

If we go through our day, enjoying and loving everything we do - we are like the child that is having fun playing in the moment. If you have forgotten what that is, just watch some children playing and you'll soon remember. For they play as if there is no tomorrow, no rules and nothing else that has to be done. This is something I constantly have to remind myself of as well. For being in the moment, enjoying the moment and acting as if there is nothing else in our lives can bring us back to the basic, simple moment that matters so much in who we are as humans. It isn't any harder than that, although we as adults make it hard.

So for today, as you read this, see if you can find the fun moments in your day.

Enjoy your day. Have fun with it! Find the playful side of it. Think of the things you have to do as playful and fun events of your day. - Don Shetterly