Pamela Leavey

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Category: Writing

Hozier on the Today Show

Hozier was on the Today Show this morning performing his breakout hit Take Me To Church and his new single, From Eden, both from his self titled debut CD, Hozier. As noted in the interview before his performance of From Eden, Hozier is indeed, “a tall drink of water.” Watch here:

Hozier performs Take Me To Church on the Today Show: (more…)

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Hozier: To Be Alone

Hozier’s guitar picking style on “To Be Alone” is quite reminiscent of the late blues great, John Lee Hooker, who is a favorite of mine, and said to be one of Hozier’s influences in his unique sound and style. Check out this version of “To Be Alone“, “live in Kilkenny”:

I’m hooked on Hozier… There are times that I can’t get enough listening in. You know that feeling you get when you play the same song over and over again until it permeates your very being. I’m there. Stuck tonight on “To Be Alone.”

Hozier’s lyrics hover on the edge of poetic genius singed by the flames of passion, somewhere between the edge of darkness and light. Brilliant stuff… Every song on his CD, Hozier, is a journey into thoughtful contemplation mixed often joyful song. There is no other way to describe the dichotomy of Hozier’s brilliance, in my opinion. (more…)

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Daily Affirmations: Procrastination

river viewI have worked at home for a very long time. I think it is easy to fall into bad habits, most prevalent, the evil procrastination which can be an insidious time-sucker. When you work at home and you are solely accountable to yourself, these bad habits can creep up out of nowhere and suddenly you find new habits that do not serve your purpose, getting in your way.

As a writer, I know that this is ripe territory for the inner critic to appear, and thwart my efforts. Procrastination also gets in the way of other important things, as we say to ourselves, “I’ll just do that later.”

Today, I re-mind myself that procrastination wastes my time and causes worry, because I am not getting things done. I affirm that I will practice today and each day forward, to put my work, which is my passion and my responsibilities first. I recognize that as I change my behavior and get my daily tasks at hand done first, I will have more free time to enjoy, because procrastination wastes my precious time. My time is precious.

Namaste… Pamela

Photo: River View ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey

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Daily Affirmations: Job Well Done

garden on main A few days ago I posted about the issues faced for a writer or in fact any creative person who is self-employed. We are our own worst critics and often when we complete a job or a project we fail to give our self recognition and reward for a job well done, as Julia Cameron notes below in her lovely affirmation from her book Transitions: Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life.

Last night I completed a draft of the first of three essays for my Prior Learning Portfolio at UMass Amherst’s UWW. When complete, I hope to garner 24 credits for my prior experience which includes two small businesses, creative writing, political and news blogging and contemporary communications.

This morning, I re-mind myself… (more…)

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Daily Affirmations: My Inner Critic Serves No Purpose

I know most days I am my own worst critic, finding fault with my work and doubting its viability in the world. We all face these doubts and insecurities, some of us more than others. The creative soul particularly struggles with these issues when their work is their art, no matter what form that art may be. The author painstakingly works and then reworks a simple phrase repeatedly, looking for the perfect words to describe a feeling or scene. The singer struggles with hitting the right note. The dancer pushes herself to extremes to reach a certain height as she leaps. But this is not simply the plight of the artist, as I note, we all face these doubts and insecurities. We are all our own worst critic.

Today, I re-mind myself that my inner critic serves no purpose but to stand in my way. I open the door and give my inner critic permission to leave. I affirm to myself, that my work, my creative vision is viable and worthy. Each my inner critic sneaks back through my closed-door, I will send it packing. My inner critic serves no purpose. There is no room on my path for the inner critic.

maudslay trailPhoto: Trail at Maudslay State Park ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey

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Quote of the Day: Tolkien

tolkien-meme“Not all those who wander are lost” is a line in the poem, ‘All that is gold does not glitter,’ in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic trilogy, The Lord of the Rings:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king

Tolkien was one of my favorite authors in my youth, when I was discovering my love for the written word.

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