This will be the last official coffee chat of 2022. Our host is taking the next two weeks off. I hope to continue posting but… Just in case… I thought I would leave you with a Christmas gift of music.

I’ve never had a sophisticated pallet in ANYTHING! The food I eat, the books I read, the clothes I wear….it’s all pretty average. And I’m ok with that. I’ve never had a need or desire to keep up with the crowd.

So, when my friend Les wanted me to listen to Andrea Bocelli‘s music, I was not at all interested. I told her that I didn’t like opera… And that, in fact, it annoyed me. But she kept telling me that he was different. She promised me that he was not like other opera singers. He had a soulfulness that could not be matched. She wore me down, and I finally said ok. I believe this is the first song she shared with me… I’m forever grateful for her opening my mind to this artist. Céline Dion said something like… If God has a voice, it will be that of Andrea Bocelli! And she’s absolutely right!

The very first time I heard this song, it almost brought me to tears. I love everything about it. Of course, I don’t know Italian. But I know enough Spanish to know that the first line says… “I will go with you.” This was confusing to me because, when people sing this song in English, they say… “Time to say goodbye.” So I went and looked up the lyrics. And this is what I found.

Lyrics….

I’ll go with you
When I’m alone
I dream on the horizon
and words fail;
yes, I know there is no light
in a room where the sun is absent,
if you are not with me.
At the windows
show everyone my heart
which you set alight;
enclose within me
the light you
encountered on the street.
I’ll go with you,
to countries I never
saw and shared with you
now, yes, I shall experience them.
I’ll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know
no, no ,exist no longer;
with you I shall experience them.
When you are far away
I dream on the horizon
and words fail,
and, yes, I know
that you are with me;
you, my moon, are here with me,
my sun, you are here with me.
I’ll go with you
to countries I never
saw and shared with you,
now, yes, I shall experience them.
I’ll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer;
with you I shall experience them again.
I’ll go with you
on ships across the seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer;
with you I shall experience them again.
I’ll go with you,
I with you

Beautiful!

And if you don’t like the above, here’s a more contemporary song for you to try… He sings this with his son. Also, beautiful!

And here he is singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah….

My hope is that these songs bring you a bit of peace and joy this holiday season. Whether you’re with people or alone, be gentle with yourself during the holidays. It can be a challenging time for so many of us. Please consider having a backup plan. Make a list of things that help you to stay centered and do something from your list every day.

Music, journaling, meditation, napping, a favorite movie….whatever you do….take good care of YOU!

I’m glad you’re here💜

The Weeknd coffee share is hosted by Natalie the Explorer Natalie the Explorer and you can find more chats HERE