The Living Source

Do you ever listen to the same music over and over again?

Yes.

Me too. Sometimes it just gets better every time I listen.

Recently, it’s been Mary Lou’s Mass, a compilation from the legendary Mary Lou Williams. It’s my meditation and rejuvenation companion.

Today would be Mary Lou Williams’ 114th birthday. She was born and spent her early years in the Atlanta community where four generations of my family lived. So, surely our shared connection to Edgewood contributes to that inner feeling of being at home and at rest as I’m listening.

At the same time, I recognize that I’m bearing witness to her genius. We all have it. One way that it shows is in our deep relationship with our work, our craft. Mary Lou Williams had a relationship with music from the time she was a toddler. She built a legacy that spans generations. Her impact is vast. It’s social and it’s personal. You can find innumerable historical accounts of her contributions to music and humanitarianism.
And she’s holding space for me to renew my relationship with myself and my work, to reconnect with the places where my work feels like home, a place where both the work and I can grow and evolve.

This compilation is very rich. There’s jazz, gospel, spoken word, spirituals and so much more. It sparks my clarity, inspiration, and creativity every time that I listen. I’m feeling more ease, tuning in to the richness of my work, and letting my next steps unfold.

How do you cultivate and renew your relationship with your work? Let me know in the comments.