I don't know about you, but I seem to have this idea about how my life is "supposed to turn out." And then when things don't look exactly the way I think they should, I start to stress about it and try to control the situation. When I look around at nature, the trees don't seem stressed out about when their leaves will appear again after the winter. The birds don't freak out about when it's time to make their nests, and the lizards all seem to have a perfect sense of when it would be the right time to come out again into the world.
How can I be so detached from my own nature that I feel such a need to be "hands on?" Aren't I part of the same world as the birds and the trees? Wouldn't whatever universal laws that have everything else in the world functioning so systematically also apply to me? And yet it's so difficult to trust the process of life as it unfolds.
For me, the hardest part is finding the balance between acceptance and action. While I find it helpful to start my day with some time for meditation and reflection, I realize that if I am going to accomplish the goals I have set for myself, I also need to take some action. I think the moments of introspection are important because they allow me to see my life in a broader context. The activities then take on greater meaning because I feel more conscious and aware of WHY I am doing them.
And maybe that broader perspective is the key to feeling peaceful in life. We are taught in this culture especially that there should be no painful moments, no sadness, no frustration. But perhaps those are life's signals to us that we have strayed from our true nature and that we need to refocus ourselves, to take a deeper look at what we're doing and why we're doing it. Maybe the broken road is the one we were meant to walk down, and the lessons we learn along the way are the ones we really needed to experience to have a fuller sense of who we are and why we're here...
In song,
Todd
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Identity Versus Inclusion
It was inspiring to watch the Olympics last month. So many athletes from hundreds of countries around the world pushing one another to achieve their greatest potential. Seeing all of the different flags being waved around the stadiums made it evident that many of us feel a very strong sense of national pride and patriotism. For me, it also raised the issue of identity. When one feels such a powerful sense of "us," what does that do to "them," the outsiders in the group? Isn't the ultimate goal of the Olympics to bring people together rather than increasing the divisions between people and countries? Does having a strong identity, whether we associate ourselves with a country, or a group or a religion, necessarily mean that we have to exclude others in the process?
I've been reading two different books (at the same time) that touch upon this topic. The first is entitled Defending Identity, and it was written by Natan Scharansky, a political dissident in the former Soviet Union. He claims that having a strong identity as a member of the Jewish people made him more resilient and able to withstand the physical and emotional torture inflicted upon him. In fact, he says that he bonded with and drew strength from other political prisoners who had very strong identities, even when those identities were very different from his own.
The other book is entitled The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, and it was written by the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard C. Cutler. In this book, the Dalai Lama talks about the paradox of defining one's individuality while still embracing a common humanity with every human being. The Dalai Lama talks about how different cultures develop and adapt to their own unique surroundings, and that differences in language and customs are about as important as the clothes we decide to wear each day. They should be appropriate for the elements, but they don't define who we are at the deepest levels.
I like to think of each of us as being made up of different circles of identity. Rather than an either/or situation where we have to say we are either a Jew OR an American OR a teacher OR a musician, I think it might be more productive if we can picture our identities as ripples flowing outward from ourselves. Perhaps we can define ourselves as individuals, AND as members of a family, of a community, of a city, a region, a country, a world... and realize that each of us and every other human being in the world is also made up of these same layers. We might be able to respect and even celebrate our different identities rather than using them to separate us from one another.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had the honor of singing the National Anthem for my first time at an Oakland A's exhibition game this past week. Here's a link to the YouTube video:
www.youtube.com/watch
I'll be singing again when the A's play the Dodgers on Wed., March 24th at 7:30pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you are in the area and want to catch the game.
I've been reading two different books (at the same time) that touch upon this topic. The first is entitled Defending Identity, and it was written by Natan Scharansky, a political dissident in the former Soviet Union. He claims that having a strong identity as a member of the Jewish people made him more resilient and able to withstand the physical and emotional torture inflicted upon him. In fact, he says that he bonded with and drew strength from other political prisoners who had very strong identities, even when those identities were very different from his own.
The other book is entitled The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, and it was written by the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard C. Cutler. In this book, the Dalai Lama talks about the paradox of defining one's individuality while still embracing a common humanity with every human being. The Dalai Lama talks about how different cultures develop and adapt to their own unique surroundings, and that differences in language and customs are about as important as the clothes we decide to wear each day. They should be appropriate for the elements, but they don't define who we are at the deepest levels.
I like to think of each of us as being made up of different circles of identity. Rather than an either/or situation where we have to say we are either a Jew OR an American OR a teacher OR a musician, I think it might be more productive if we can picture our identities as ripples flowing outward from ourselves. Perhaps we can define ourselves as individuals, AND as members of a family, of a community, of a city, a region, a country, a world... and realize that each of us and every other human being in the world is also made up of these same layers. We might be able to respect and even celebrate our different identities rather than using them to separate us from one another.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had the honor of singing the National Anthem for my first time at an Oakland A's exhibition game this past week. Here's a link to the YouTube video:
www.youtube.com/watch
I'll be singing again when the A's play the Dodgers on Wed., March 24th at 7:30pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you are in the area and want to catch the game.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Creating A Sanctuary
It can be difficult to create a space in our lives that is safe enough for us to open up, to relax and to experience a connection with something beyond (or within) ourselves. For many of us, there is so much going on in our lives that we rarely have time to appreciate the stillness. If you read this week's Torah portion, it talks about building a Tabernacle in the wilderness. Very specific instructions are given regarding the materials to be used, the dimensions of the space and the way it is to be constructed.
Interestingly enough, the materials are things that were already available to the people, or that they had brought with them on their journey. The building is constructed in such a way so that the most sacred areas are deep within the structure, not even visible from the outside. Veils separated one area of the main room from another.
Aren't we each built in a similar way? We create our bodies and our minds through the foods we consume and from the sensations and information that surround us. We keep the most precious emotions and aspects of ourselves hidden from the outside, and only share them when we feel safe enough to do so. We segment ourselves into different areas such as work, family, spirituality. And when we look deep enough within ourselves, don't we usually receive the most accurate guidance and wisdom... whether we feel that this originates with God, or the universe, or simply our higher selves. It seems to me that when we can connect with this part of ourselves, we can experience "sanctuary" even during the roughest of storms.
I hope that each of us is able to experience that feeling of stillness and peace and get a sense of who we truly are.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had an amazing trip to Newton and Needham, MA a couple of weeks ago. The communities at Temple Beth Avodah and Temple Beth Shalom were extremely welcoming and it was a joy to share my music with you...
Here's a link to a video of my "Hinei Mah Tov" performed with Cantor Susan Glickman and MidraShir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjbLbgLoxs&feature=sdig&et=1266480398.4
Interestingly enough, the materials are things that were already available to the people, or that they had brought with them on their journey. The building is constructed in such a way so that the most sacred areas are deep within the structure, not even visible from the outside. Veils separated one area of the main room from another.
Aren't we each built in a similar way? We create our bodies and our minds through the foods we consume and from the sensations and information that surround us. We keep the most precious emotions and aspects of ourselves hidden from the outside, and only share them when we feel safe enough to do so. We segment ourselves into different areas such as work, family, spirituality. And when we look deep enough within ourselves, don't we usually receive the most accurate guidance and wisdom... whether we feel that this originates with God, or the universe, or simply our higher selves. It seems to me that when we can connect with this part of ourselves, we can experience "sanctuary" even during the roughest of storms.
I hope that each of us is able to experience that feeling of stillness and peace and get a sense of who we truly are.
In song,
Todd
ps. I had an amazing trip to Newton and Needham, MA a couple of weeks ago. The communities at Temple Beth Avodah and Temple Beth Shalom were extremely welcoming and it was a joy to share my music with you...
Here's a link to a video of my "Hinei Mah Tov" performed with Cantor Susan Glickman and MidraShir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjbLbgLoxs&feature=sdig&et=1266480398.4
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
No 'Right' Track
I've been thinking lately about the ways in which our society directs us into particular ways of thinking and acting. Certain things are acceptable, while others are not. Values can come from many different places, such as religion, friends, families, media sources and educators. We have so many opinions coming at us at one time that it's hard to know what to believe. There is the sense though, that there exists a 'right track,' or an ideal way of living that will bring us the peace and fulfillment that we so desire. It reminds me of the song, "No Such Thing," by John Mayer:
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
There are certain moral values (thou shalt not kill, rob your neighbor, or illegally download music) that are important for the preservation of order in society. But other things are less clear. Is being a doctor or a lawyer really the way to salvation? If you ask any Jewish mother, of course she will tell you yes. (just kidding, Mom) We each have such unique perspectives and gifts that it seems there must be a better benchmark to determine if we are on our own 'right track.'
For myself, I have started asking the question:
"Are you doing all you can?"
This simple question gets me to focus on my own strengths. Instead of comparing myself to where others are at and feeling jealous (yes, I admit it happens...) this question brings me back to my personal journey. At the end of my life, if I can say 'yes' to this question, I will have fulfilled the purpose of my life. Yes, I wrote the best music I could. Yes, I was the best husband, father, son, friend, co-worker I could have been. Yes, I gave as much as I could to charity. Yes to whatever was truly important to me to the best of my ability. Then, I will know I was successful. Perhaps by asking this question on a daily basis, I will make my corner of the world a better place. I invite you to try it and let me know if it makes a difference for you.
If you have something that calls you to be the best person you can be, or if you'd just like to voice your opinion, I invite you to visit my blog page and share your thoughts.
I will be heading to the Boston area next week to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
There are certain moral values (thou shalt not kill, rob your neighbor, or illegally download music) that are important for the preservation of order in society. But other things are less clear. Is being a doctor or a lawyer really the way to salvation? If you ask any Jewish mother, of course she will tell you yes. (just kidding, Mom) We each have such unique perspectives and gifts that it seems there must be a better benchmark to determine if we are on our own 'right track.'
For myself, I have started asking the question:
"Are you doing all you can?"
This simple question gets me to focus on my own strengths. Instead of comparing myself to where others are at and feeling jealous (yes, I admit it happens...) this question brings me back to my personal journey. At the end of my life, if I can say 'yes' to this question, I will have fulfilled the purpose of my life. Yes, I wrote the best music I could. Yes, I was the best husband, father, son, friend, co-worker I could have been. Yes, I gave as much as I could to charity. Yes to whatever was truly important to me to the best of my ability. Then, I will know I was successful. Perhaps by asking this question on a daily basis, I will make my corner of the world a better place. I invite you to try it and let me know if it makes a difference for you.
If you have something that calls you to be the best person you can be, or if you'd just like to voice your opinion, I invite you to visit my blog page and share your thoughts.
I will be heading to the Boston area next week to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Small Adjustments
Happy New Year to everyone! With this, my first update of the New Year, I thought it was important to address the topic of resolutions. I am all for taking the opportunity to look back at the past year and seeing how I can improve my habits and attitudes and be a better person in the year to come. But what I notice is that many people (myself included) are overly ambitious with their goals and then within a couple of weeks or a month, we start feeling overwhelmed and we give up on our efforts.
I started thinking about the way that pilots (or autopilots) navigate their airplanes to remote destinations. It is not a straight line from point A to point B. There are hundreds of little corrections along the way. The plane's navigation system determines the flight path and then constantly recalibrates the plane's controls based on the current location, altitude, etc. Autopilots also improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, since the adjustments made by an autopilot are more subtle and accurate than those made by hand. It's similar to what happens to your GPS route when you accidentally take a wrong turn. Rather than berating you (wrong turn, idiot!) it simply reevaluates the course based on your current location.
So, my suggestion is this: rather than taking on unrealistic resolutions and then beating up on ourselves when we cannot live up to them, what about making some smaller, more reachable goals along the way? Instead of "New Year's" resolutions, what about "New Month" resolutions? At the beginning of each month, we have the opportunity to check in with ourselves, take stock of our current locations, or progress, and then make the necessary adjustments... without all of the guilt and drama.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.
I will be heading to the Boston area in a couple of weeks to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
I started thinking about the way that pilots (or autopilots) navigate their airplanes to remote destinations. It is not a straight line from point A to point B. There are hundreds of little corrections along the way. The plane's navigation system determines the flight path and then constantly recalibrates the plane's controls based on the current location, altitude, etc. Autopilots also improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, since the adjustments made by an autopilot are more subtle and accurate than those made by hand. It's similar to what happens to your GPS route when you accidentally take a wrong turn. Rather than berating you (wrong turn, idiot!) it simply reevaluates the course based on your current location.
So, my suggestion is this: rather than taking on unrealistic resolutions and then beating up on ourselves when we cannot live up to them, what about making some smaller, more reachable goals along the way? Instead of "New Year's" resolutions, what about "New Month" resolutions? At the beginning of each month, we have the opportunity to check in with ourselves, take stock of our current locations, or progress, and then make the necessary adjustments... without all of the guilt and drama.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.
I will be heading to the Boston area in a couple of weeks to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.
In song,
Todd
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Contemporary Miracles
During this season of holidays, parties, family gatherings and shopping, it's often easy to overlook the origins of the very things we're celebrating. In the Jewish community, it's the Festival of Lights, or Chanukah (however you want to spell it). We're celebrating the victory of the Maccabees over the evil Roman army and Antiochus. We're also celebrating the fact that some oil that was only supposed to last one day ended up burning for eight days - long enough for the Jews to keep the eternal flame in the sanctuary lit until replacement oil could be secured.
There is a great deal of religious symbolism found in this story, and we commemorate it in different ways. There are the themes of light, of the triumph of the small over the mighty, of the perseverance of faith and of the miracle of scarcity somehow being overcome through faith. We eat potato latkes and eat soufganiyot - foods that contain lots of oil. We light the chanukiyah and say the prayers. We spin the dreidl containing the letters nun, gimel, hay, and shin which remind us that "nes gadol haya sham" a great miracle happened there.
It makes me wonder, though... why is it that all of the miracles that we talk about happened in ancient history? Did God disappear for some reason? Or is it more a question of our perspective, of the eyes through which we see the world? Is it possible that miracles stopped happening because we stopped looking for them, or recognizing them when they occur? Could it be that miracles happen all the time, and that we're too busy on our Blackberrys and iPods to notice them?
I was reading a poem this morning by the Israeli poet, Zelda, where she talks about how nature provides signs of the existence of something larger than ourselves:
A light, sudden bird
prepared my soul for the song of the grasses.
There was something startling
in the blue of the sky.
I was amazed that the treetops
swayed gently
with no shadow of fear.
I wanted to flee from the white sky
but the small garden showed me signs
that His mercy had not ceased.
Perhaps by spending some time in nature, or in silence, we can learn something about our own true nature. And we will see that life is full of innumerable miracles in our own time, perhaps hidden just below the surface of "ordinary" reality.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.
I'm looking forward to spending this upcoming weekend in CT. I will be doing services on Friday evening and Saturday morning and concerts on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Please check the show listings below for more details.
Speaking of modern miracles, my college a cappella group, The Tufts Beelzebubs, will be appearing tonight and (hopefully) tomorrow night and Monday on the NBC show, "The Sing-Off." Check your local listings. If you enjoy a cappella music, or the show, "Glee," you will definitely get a kick of this show. And remember to vote for the Bubs if they make the finals. =-)
In song,
Todd
*Please note that all "Shows" listed at Temple Solel are actually Shabbat Services, unless otherwise notated.
"'Bridging The Gap' wins Best Jewish Album of 2009 in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards!" — Just Plain Folks
"Todd's song "You and I" (peformed by saxophonist Michael Lington) reaches #2 on the Smooth Jazz Charts!" — Billboard
"Todd has the voice of an angel. His heart is pure, and he has a unique spirit that wanders into the soul and inspires all who are privileged to hear him." — Craig Taubman
"Your CD is a triumph and is easily one of the best Jewish releases of the year." — Sam Glaser, Jewish Artist
There is a great deal of religious symbolism found in this story, and we commemorate it in different ways. There are the themes of light, of the triumph of the small over the mighty, of the perseverance of faith and of the miracle of scarcity somehow being overcome through faith. We eat potato latkes and eat soufganiyot - foods that contain lots of oil. We light the chanukiyah and say the prayers. We spin the dreidl containing the letters nun, gimel, hay, and shin which remind us that "nes gadol haya sham" a great miracle happened there.
It makes me wonder, though... why is it that all of the miracles that we talk about happened in ancient history? Did God disappear for some reason? Or is it more a question of our perspective, of the eyes through which we see the world? Is it possible that miracles stopped happening because we stopped looking for them, or recognizing them when they occur? Could it be that miracles happen all the time, and that we're too busy on our Blackberrys and iPods to notice them?
I was reading a poem this morning by the Israeli poet, Zelda, where she talks about how nature provides signs of the existence of something larger than ourselves:
A light, sudden bird
prepared my soul for the song of the grasses.
There was something startling
in the blue of the sky.
I was amazed that the treetops
swayed gently
with no shadow of fear.
I wanted to flee from the white sky
but the small garden showed me signs
that His mercy had not ceased.
Perhaps by spending some time in nature, or in silence, we can learn something about our own true nature. And we will see that life is full of innumerable miracles in our own time, perhaps hidden just below the surface of "ordinary" reality.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.
I'm looking forward to spending this upcoming weekend in CT. I will be doing services on Friday evening and Saturday morning and concerts on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Please check the show listings below for more details.
Speaking of modern miracles, my college a cappella group, The Tufts Beelzebubs, will be appearing tonight and (hopefully) tomorrow night and Monday on the NBC show, "The Sing-Off." Check your local listings. If you enjoy a cappella music, or the show, "Glee," you will definitely get a kick of this show. And remember to vote for the Bubs if they make the finals. =-)
In song,
Todd
*Please note that all "Shows" listed at Temple Solel are actually Shabbat Services, unless otherwise notated.
"'Bridging The Gap' wins Best Jewish Album of 2009 in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards!" — Just Plain Folks
"Todd's song "You and I" (peformed by saxophonist Michael Lington) reaches #2 on the Smooth Jazz Charts!" — Billboard
"Todd has the voice of an angel. His heart is pure, and he has a unique spirit that wanders into the soul and inspires all who are privileged to hear him." — Craig Taubman
"Your CD is a triumph and is easily one of the best Jewish releases of the year." — Sam Glaser, Jewish Artist
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Practicing Life
It's hard to believe that we're coming to the end of another calendar year. It seems like the days just fly by. When I was younger, each day seemed to stretch on forever. I remember having a hard time going to sleep without knowing what events were planned for the coming day. These days, it seems difficult to find the time to do all of the things that I WANT to do, while keeping up with the things I HAVE to do.
I realize that one of the most important things I can do with my time is to prioritize those things that really matter to me. I just finished reading a book called "Talent Is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin. In it, he explores what the determining factors are for excellence in any given field. What he finds is that regardless of any myths we have been told about being "born with a gift" in a particular area, without exception it is those individuals who put in countless hours of practice, research and study in a given field are the ones who rise to stardom and notoriety. But beyond just putting in the hours, the type of practice that these people do pushes them beyond their current abilities and outside of their existing comfort zone. They have to be willing to fail repeatedly in order to achieve their highest ambitions.
What would it be like if we applied this philosophy to our relationships? What if we had to go beyond what we knew we were capable of in order to communicate with and support the ones we love? Or what if we applied this same philosophy to the workplace? How many of us are willing to put ourselves out there for possible failure and rejection in order to stretch the boundaries of our professional life? How much time, effort and risk are we willing to put into these areas of huge consequence in our lives?
Perhaps the more important question is: what if we DON'T take the risks needed to become the best possible spouses, siblings, parents, creators, workers, human beings we can be? Is playing it safe really that safe in the long run? I encourage all of us to think about not just the time we are putting in, but also how much of our SELVES we are putting into our everyday activities. Perhaps we would be richer for the experience...
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to comment on this post and let me know what you think.
For those of you on the East coast, I will be traveling to Connecticut in a couple of weeks and then to Boston at the end of January. Please check the tour dates below for more information. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you soon!
In song,
Todd
I realize that one of the most important things I can do with my time is to prioritize those things that really matter to me. I just finished reading a book called "Talent Is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin. In it, he explores what the determining factors are for excellence in any given field. What he finds is that regardless of any myths we have been told about being "born with a gift" in a particular area, without exception it is those individuals who put in countless hours of practice, research and study in a given field are the ones who rise to stardom and notoriety. But beyond just putting in the hours, the type of practice that these people do pushes them beyond their current abilities and outside of their existing comfort zone. They have to be willing to fail repeatedly in order to achieve their highest ambitions.
What would it be like if we applied this philosophy to our relationships? What if we had to go beyond what we knew we were capable of in order to communicate with and support the ones we love? Or what if we applied this same philosophy to the workplace? How many of us are willing to put ourselves out there for possible failure and rejection in order to stretch the boundaries of our professional life? How much time, effort and risk are we willing to put into these areas of huge consequence in our lives?
Perhaps the more important question is: what if we DON'T take the risks needed to become the best possible spouses, siblings, parents, creators, workers, human beings we can be? Is playing it safe really that safe in the long run? I encourage all of us to think about not just the time we are putting in, but also how much of our SELVES we are putting into our everyday activities. Perhaps we would be richer for the experience...
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to comment on this post and let me know what you think.
For those of you on the East coast, I will be traveling to Connecticut in a couple of weeks and then to Boston at the end of January. Please check the tour dates below for more information. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you soon!
In song,
Todd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
