A new post from A Polyphonic Life: Spring Cleaning. It’s about home improvement, keys, and Holy Week music. I hope you’ll read and subscribe.

Some of the things that came into our home were invited by a kind of sympathy for “lost objects” that overcomes me in antique stores, garage sales, and church rummage sales. A lovely object, a photo, a book, a little worn at the heels, needing a new home and story.

I’ve been like this since childhood: a collector of objects, the “keeper of things.”

#GoodReads Galore: Book, newspaper, magazine, and Substack recommendations.

Choir has taught me to make “better noise”, but also to listen more closely. We sing a lot of a capella pieces. We stand in a semi-circle as we rehearse, watching one another, listening intently, and adjusting our voices as needed. It is a sublime experience, unparalleled.

This is a lesson that works for singing and nearly every situation in life: Listen closely, and then adjust (my voice, my contribution, my changed understanding) to create something even better.

I chose some key words to guide my intentions, words I’m uttering as a daily affirmation and prayer: Flow, Ease, Grace, Stretch, Consistency, Shine.

I’m determined to flow through the days, to accomplish my work with ease (mostly), to extend more grace to others (and myself), to stretch myself (mentally, spiritually, and physically), to be more consistent in my good habits, and to help others shine (forever the cheerleader).

There’s no place like home: finding peace in challenging times in the place I love best