Singing from the Rooftops

I watched “Tick, Tick… Boom!,” a movie about Jonathan Larson, the writer of the Tony award-winning play “Rent,” and the song “Seasons of Love.”

“Seasons of Love” never fails to make me sing along. (Admittedly, it makes me tear up, too). 

Jonathan Larson (who went by Jon) lived with a sense of passionate urgency, a sense that the clock was running out. 

To pursue his dreams, Jon lived in an apartment without HEAT in Manhattan for 9 years while working at the Moondance diner. Talk about dedication.

At the age of 36, the day before “Rent” premiered, Jonathan died unexpectedly at the age of 36. He had an undiagnosed heart condition. But he left a legacy.

His story touched me, and served as a poignant reminder to live with love, to not take things for granted, and to put long-awaited ideas into motion. 

Days after watching the movie, another legendary composer, Stephen Sondheim, celebrated Thanksgiving with his family and died peacefully the next day at 91.

These two composers/creators coincided in my mind. Why?

When I looked up Jon’s bio, the dots connected.

Stephen and Jon were inextricably linked. Jonathan had remade a Stephen Sondheim’s song (“Tick, Tick … Boom!” – yes, also the name of the movie), and Stephen mentored and promoted Jon. It was a web of creative genius and mutual admiration.

This got me thinking about life and what I am bringing into the year ahead.

I brought ENERGI Reiki mentorship to fruition in early 2022. In this program my community of Reiki practitioners meet LIVE on Zoom to deepen the experience of Reiki and grow spiritually.

I’m delighted I’ll get to surround myself with like-minded healers, and help members express their creative genius, deepen their journey, and touch more lives with Reiki.

What’s something your soul is calling you to do?

Something that stretches you, allows you to express your true self, and empowers you to touch more lives?

Is it time for you to move out of your comfort zone and do something that both excites you and maybe even scares you a little? Is it time to step “into the unknown?” ?

I’m certain both Jonathan and Stephen would SING to us all from the rooftops if they could, and tell us to get busy with what matters: sharing our gifts, living with heart, and making a difference in the world! 

Remember, “today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten. (Natasha Bedingfield)”

 

“Seasons of Love”
by Jonathan Larson

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure? Measure a year?
In daylights,
In sunsets,
In midnights,
In cups of coffee,
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in a life?
How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love…
Seasons of love…
Seasons of love…
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a life of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned
Or in times that she cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died
Its time now to sing out though
The story never ends
Let’s celebrate remember a year in a life
Of friends
Remember the love…
(Oh you gotta remember the love)
Remember the love…
(Oh yeah, its a gift from up above)
Remember the love…
(Sing out, give out, measure your life
In looooooove…!)
Seasons of love…
Seasons of love…