Howdy my friends,

At long last, cold rainy Spring has come to the Pacific NW. I like it that way because that means Spring blossoms will come late and last well into early summer. We have so many blossoms up here — once they finally get going — that you can get dizzy from the options. 

 

It is impossible to talk about anything without saying that there cannot possibly be many of us who are without great concern over what is happening to our country. I’m hearing from voters of all stripes that they are worried about jobs, school, medical. And I know some of you are too. No matter what path we take, beginning with deep breaths is a huge advantage and relief. For one thing, you see things very differently when you make conscious breathing a part of your daily life. It would seem impossible, but often in my life, that changes my complete outlook and I’m suddenly seeing opportunities instead of problems. I’m not saying that fixes everything of course. But it helps you to have greater access to your own insights and brilliance.

There are many things I’m working on right now. An online concert for Sunday, April 27 — with the theme of helping each other to navigate these strange times.  I’m writing new songs and I’m absolutely thrilled with them! Let me tell you my friends, it’s harder to write songs when I’m a couple of decades past the years of radio stations excitedly awaiting my next release. Those stations were what made it possible to tour. Without some greater channel of promotion and getting my music out there, touring is nearly impossible. Still, when opportunities present themselves, if I get actual proposals/offers, I’ll be happy to travel for some concerts. In the meantime, I put on really beautiful, ambient lit concerts right here at my house and invite you to join me.

I’m still living in Mukilteo, WA, close to the Whidbey Island ferry. It never gets old, looking out into the sky over water and islands. Such an emotional combination of colors and moods I look out upon. And I’m still riding my bike several days a week and grateful that I can relive my childhood every time I ride. It’s one of the few things in life that feels almost exactly the same decades later as it did when I first rode a bike at six years old. Wheeee!

My most exciting and dedicated work — besides hosting my weekly Breathing into Your Life Online gatherings — is my new letter on Substack. Substack is a Writer’s Online Network where we can build a following all over the world with what we write and share. Many of you have been receiving these letters in your email inbox every month. I’m about to put out a new one. I named my letter “The Morning, Brilliant Blue,” after the opening verse of my song, “One Breath.”

Overnight a lot can change, you can go from cloudy gray
To the morning, Brilliant Blue
The purest part of the sky and the ocean too
There you are, there it is
Everything that Life has to give . . .

I chose that title because I have hope. Because I have experienced so many times in my life that difficult situations and conditions are malleable and often transmute into something entirely different than I expected. And through meditation, I have learned how we can often have a hand in that transmutation.

My Substack letter is funny, it’s sweet. It’s about everyday things and great revelations. It’s often filled with memoir stories, sometimes with these fictional stories I write based on vintage photos that touch me. I’m all over the place, but always, always, there is love in what I’m writing and you will feel that if you really give yourself to being present as you read.

While my goal is to build a base of paid subscribers — which is starting slowly to grow — my letter is available free to everyone. So try it out. If you feel after a time that you love what I’m doing and wish to help support it, you may do that. You can check it out at  http:michaeltomlinson.substack.com

Thank you so much for visiting my website and reading this greeting. I always appreciate that you’re out there and I hope the things I share will be a good part of your life. Please don’t forget to take some deep breaths through these extraordinary times, and also, be very kind to yourself. It really starts with you. And the more you give yourself kindness, the more you’ll be blessed with to give the world.

~ Your friend in the wind, Michael Tomlinson