Saturday, December 02, 2023

 

Calm + Serene + Breathtaking...| It was the music!

~By Debra J. Gordon



Music is very suggestive.  Here's a true story to exemplify what I mean.


Years ago when Tower Records was in business, I visited one of their locations in the Metro Atlanta area central to the financial hub of town. It was hot and I do mean hot and in the heart of five o'clock traffic.  Car horns blasting, bus fumes a'smoking -- and if I recall, my gas tank was on near empty. You know the kind of day I'm describing, right?  


Well anyway, although I'd pulled a long day on my feet at work, I just had to buy the new Yanni CD.  So instead of heading to the gas station, I made a bee-line across two lanes of traffic and pulled into Lenox Square shopping center, off one of the many Peachtree Street thoroughfares. Buying gas had become a secondary mission at the time.


When I entered the store, the a/c was most refreshing 'cause like I said, it was a sticky-hot-in-the-South day outside; at least  98 degrees.  But only seconds after entering the store, what I then noticed was how silent the store was. How still everything was; like the calm found in Heaven. 


It took my breath away. 


Directly ahead of me was a guy that could have been a Sumo wrestler who had a bald head and was tattooed up the arms like crazy.  Next to him, by contrast was a skinny little guy dressed in a black leather vest (even in the heat), chains hanging from his pants pockets which held his wallet in place (keys dangling too)... who had dyed-red hair before it was popular. I suspect he may have lived in the then hip, Virginia Highland's area which was only one MARTA (rapid transit) station away.   As I continued walking back to the enclosed listening sound room, I passed by an elderly couple in the country western section staring at a Travis Tritt CD.  She, a slight woman with perfectly coiffured dirty blonde hair and really bright red nails, seemed to be  transfixed on the cover-- while hubby the dutiful husband, held onto her handbag wide receiver style.


And as I looked over the horizon of the store, EVERYONE was not saying a word... busy at task... each into his/her own little world... and I wondered why?  

 

It was the music.


The store was broadcasting a newly released meditation CD. And no matter how diverse the people in the store appeared to be, we were all responding to the vibes of this beautiful music. Amazing how such a simple thing can invoke harmony and unity. 



Seems like that was decades ago.  Our world wasn't in such turmoil then.  Today however the world could use a bit more meditative music.  And I wish it could be just as easy today as it was back on that day in Atlanta, to depart an ample dose of goodness in the World-- as one unknown musician's CD accomplished, back on that blistering evening in Atlanta.

. . .

It's 1:52am.  As I reflect on the fond memories above and for the assurance that 'all is well,'  Yanni's "At the Acropolis," was indeed worth the purchase.


###

First published:

©2013, By Debra J. Gordon, 10 July '13

https://wordladydjg.wixsite.com/gazella/meanderings

.. 🌿 .. 

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Blurb to AMAZON | New program for writer's announced with Blurb platform




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It really is that easy!      |Get details here| 



 





  
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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Audio Books for Children | Random House





The Random House Listening Library is the world's largest audio.book. publisher dedicated to children's literature. 

We are the home of Harry Potter, Dr. Seuss, Christopher Paolini, Stephenie Meyer, and hundreds of other award-winning children's recordings. Our Harry Potter audio.books have become the best-selling children's audio.book series in history. 

See more here!  

For over 50 years, Listening Library has been the premier publisher of unabridged audio.books for children and young adults. Our core commitment is to produce the best books—new releases and classics—as top-quality recordings to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages today and for many years to come.  We'd love for you to learn more.  

Click the image on the left or click right here!  And it goes without saying... we're grateful if you share with your social networks?

The Random House Listening Library publishes over 70 audio.books a year and maintains an active backlist of 300+ titles, including more than 45 Newberry Medal and Honor-winning titles.



...



Monday, November 11, 2013

Caregivers 'SPEAK UP' | Who's going to take care of you when you grow old?


Try as we might to turn the hands of time backwards... we're getting old friends... and there's nothing we can do about that. Who's going to look after you when you get older?

This is a quick little note pertaining to CAREGIVING for our adult loved ones. If you know someone who is currently caring for an elderly person, please share the link below.
---

We get so focused sometimes on the health issues of our loved ones, we tend to forget about the health of the CAREGIVER or that the caregiver has 'rights.  50 million people across the US are caring for a loved one with a chronic illness or disability.

In their brochure called SPEAK UP, the National Family Caregivers Association offers a wealth of information for 'advocating and empowering caregivers and their families.' They offer the following tips and suggestions to help you SPEAK UP for respect, for support, for information, for help, and for the rights of all family caregivers. First of all...

~ BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ~
*Self-identifying as a family caregiver
*Recognizing your strengths and acknowledging your limitations
*Learning to say "no"
*Commanding respect from healthcare providers

~ PROTECT YOUR HEALTH... you have the Right to: ~
*A good night's sleep
*A respite holiday
*Time and energy to exercise
*Regular checkups to ensure that if something is wrong, you catch it early
*A life of your own apart from caregiving

~ ALL ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS ~
Specific to you and only you, the caregiver know the following:
*Speak up for adequate education and training in the skills you will need as a family caregiver
*Speak up for affordable health insurance if you are not getting it through your employer
*Speak up for financial support to protect you from impoverishment in your later years
*Speak up for annual assessments of your own needs and the means for meeting them
Please take advantage of the informative newsletter produced by the
Get on their email list or call (800)896-3650 to locate resources in your community.
~ ~ ~

Here's another resource for your loved one:


  

Monday, October 21, 2013

iBlog magazine... for professional women bloggers | Have you joined?

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Readers will find epic content that will launch their business past the competition and great features that will address the hardest hitting questions in our industry.

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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Support Causes You Care About | Welcome to The GreaterGoodNetwork

Support Causes you care about--

The White House commemorates Breast Cancer Awareness

 

You care about others and that's why I'm excited to tell you about-- The Greater Gooda network of stores where you'll find a unique opportunity to support the Causes you care about. 

Breast Cancer and Women's Awareness
Children's Health and Well Being
Literacy and Children's Education
Restoring Our Veterans: Jobs - Food - Housing
...and many more.

From jewelry and clothing to household items and gifts, we sell a wide variety of products that benefit the planet, people and animals. 
 

 



2014 Calendars ready to ship to you!
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Mammograms for Women in Need
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In business for more than 15 years, our supporters (like you!), have generated over $25 million in charitable donations to our network of amazing non-profit partners.
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###

  

Thursday, October 10, 2013

How-To Rescue a Conversation That's Gone Wrong


~ Our world is traversing in uncertain and troubling times friends. And one of the things I believe is causing much of our great divide, is poor communication. Period.

Given your advocacy work, I know you know, how essential, clear and genuine communication is, to achieving meaningful results-- at home, in business, in our communities and throughout the World.  And this is why I'd like to recommend, "How Conversation Works: Six Lessons for Better Communications."

As you grab for the next rung on the ladder to success, 'Conversations...' is a must add to your career portfolio.  This six lecture eCourse is available on DVD, instant download to your PC, or my favorite, the CD version-- which can be listened to while driving or working from home. 
 

Like an eagle in the sky, you’ll be amazed by how much you can learn by stepping back from conversations and examining how they operate. You’ll notice things you never picked up on before—like what kind of speaker you are, the strategies you typically rely on (often without realizing it), and the subtleties of the strategies others may use when speaking with you. You’ll find yourself putting these lessons into practice to create more effective dialogues from the very first lecture.
I was just reviewing the course description for Part 6, 'How to Maintain Relations with Talk'  (covering cooperative and competitive speaking styles)... and I had a quick, laugh-out-loud flashback of my piano teacher Mrs. Thomas, grilling me to make 'sure' I'd practiced my piano scales over the weekend.  Her 'eyes' were really doing the talking-- not her words, and you can best believe that I certainly didn't fail to practice my piano scales.
Learn new ways to communicate  - watch a free course preview here

 
At first, the newfound awareness you’ll acquire from How Conversation Works may cause you to become self-conscious when you speak, but the act of “conversational noticing” will soon become second nature. Before long, you’ll realize you have the tools to make yourself clearly understood, put others at ease, rescue a conversation that’s gone wrong—and keep conversations from going off course in the first place.
Phil Manker INTERIORS

Today's business savvy woman recognizes a wise investment.  Thus I'm inviting you to join kindreds from 'round the world in a "lifelong learning experience," with a selection of video and audio courses led by the world’s top professors and experts.  'Conversations...' is one such course and is now on sale for a limited time. 

Please learn more and let's stay connected via my website here.  ~djg

 











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