Through these shifting times, it remains good to consider and seek out qualities that support and nurture connection.

What might those qualities be? You will find your own, of course, and create your own order of importance among them.

Generosity is one that comes to mind; so does courage.

In some ways, they are part of the same story: it takes courage to offer help. Standing up for something, or reaching out to help, involves courage.

Music can help with thinking about these ideas.

“We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” - Maya Angelou 

Uncertain times, shifting times, and at this writing, winter storms of all sorts, as well.

And yet...there is Valentine’s Day.

Also, at this time of year in the United States, and at other times in other parts of the world, there are (official edicts aside), celebrations of Black history and story.

Celebrations and reminders of love of all sorts, and resilience of all sorts -- both well needed as time and circumstance continue to shift.

“Hope is the boldest act of imagination I know” - Edith Eger

As a new month unfolds, we get the chance to begin again. 

Shifts and changes continue, in politics, in social life, in world events and in personal lives.

Music continues to offer ways to connect and to create through these changes. The natural word does too, whether that is the angle of light down a city street, the turn of a leaf falling in a forest, or a skein of stars across a night sky.

At times, musicians turn to images and ideas from nature to think and talk about ideas of connection and reflection in changing times.