Verity's Blog

Bring on the seasons...

If I could paint a picture of kaleidoscope colours wonder how many flowers there would be,
For each moment, I’ve been open to really loving and letting love in?
I like to think it would be vibrant - so I could sign it unashamedly mine & mine alone.
And I would frame it put my name to it -  really own it, this picture I have made

     ‘cos I’ve been trampled and I’ve been pruned
      But also watered and nurtured and wooed
      What a beautiful garden, of so much loving
      Hey bring on the seasons ‘cos I’ve weathered them all

And I know behind each petal, there’s a tale to tell
Of jumping and falling – sometimes soft sometimes hard.
But I think it would be fragrant and I hope untamed
Wild and untethered like the love that I’ve felt.

Oh I’ve had my fill, of things so beautiful - but there’s room for more still
Bring on the seasons, give me more reasons to grow

     ‘cos I’ve been trampled and I’ve been pruned
      But also watered and nurtured and wooed
      What a beautiful garden, of so much loving
      Hey bring on the seasons ‘cos I’ve weathered them all

14th July 2001

A year ago I had a purpose - a goal - a destination. A long walk and I reached it by the light of the moon. Hard to believe that time has come and gone, those miles been traversed and I am still here. Still unsure, unclear as where to next. Looking for yellow arrows but they are gone. Every creature comfort cant replace that challenge faced. That distance such an accomplishment, and yet now I feel so commonplace and so undone.

Who am I in all this - where do I fit? All these questions but the space between hangs bare as if I hold the answer. Who am I?

Perhaps the journey only truly begins at the end. Where's the map for these wanderings? Who's to tell me right from wrong? How do I, so small and inconsequential distinguish at all? I wish I could dream the world again. A world of finite destinations and concrete goals. Each path waymarked so only fools could lose their way. I wish one breath could change all of this and I would be certain and devoid of questions. Following the signs and letting my journey unfold.

I guess the end of this is gratitude for life lived and lessons learned. For the humility to understand my own limitations but the faith still to yearn. the wisdom to reach into the void I do not know and the courage to keep on walking. I give thanks for the love and light that guides me, so that even in my uncertainty I am sure - this is what I am here for.

Lyrics, poems & meanderings...

I've been thinking about what I can write about now the Lucky Packet Project is pretty much at an end. I only started blogging on the advice of my web team as a way to keep people in touch with my journey. It is wierd to post stories and have no idea of who actually reads them, except for the odd occasion when someone leaves me a comment. But... I do now have a full record of the journey of creating my album and for that I am very very grateful as I am sure there is a book in it somewhere.

I thought what I might do for the moment is post lyrics, poems and meanderings that I have written over the years just as a way to share them with those of you who are interested. My album only has 12 songs of hundreds on it so I thought this could be a the space to share other ideas and see what you think of them. With that in mind I am going to get started with something I wrote on the one year anniversary of my 800km walk across Spain. It feels fitting to share now that I am at the end of making this album happen and wondering where to next...

Yesterday I headed off for my monthly treat of a massage at Reveal - a hidden treasure of a beauty spa in Rondebosch. I have been going there for a year - ever since one of my Future Owners Jacqui Kent invited me for a free pamper. I have to say that each month I look forward to winding down their leafy driveway and being ushered into one of the treatment rooms where I know for the next hour and a half I can just leave the world behind. It is one of those place where they think of everything - water with lemon and mint to welcome you, petals on the floor and towels, and peppermint oil on the tissues!

What I love most is that the girls at Reveal also give back - every month they offer a free treatment to a woman who is doing great work in her community but cant afford to pamper herself. It is rare to find small businesses that also know the importance of giving as well as growing. I really can't recommend them highly enough. You (or the person you send as a treat) will leave Reveal feeling completely pampered and rejuvenated. Well done Jacqui, Carolyn and your team!

Musical Appreciation...

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
    Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.  A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.  A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
    The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
    In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.
        This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

A tractor & a journey to the end of the world...

Last night I had the priviledge of listening to a young Dutch woman - Manon Ossevort - tell her story of her nearly 4 year journey by tractor from Holland to Cape Town, where she now waits to  raise the money (R3mil) needed to complete her adventure and drive all the way to the South Pole!

Her infectous enthusiam about her experience and what she has learned about patience, tractors, surviving the wilderness, loneliness & the incredible people that live on this planet - left all of us inspired and thinking about our dreams & what we are doing to make a difference. She has spent her time travelling through 22 countries including Cosovo, The Balkans, Sudan and other war torn places and alone the way she has performed a theatre piece about her journey and invited people to write down their dreams for her to take to the South Pole and build them into a snowman. The impact of her courage and inspiration on thousands of people is undeniable and I feel very strongly that we all need to make sure she gets to the South Pole and proves that anything is possible! Hell - if I can sell a CD that doesn't exist then this woman can definitely drive to the South Pole on a 33 year old tractor!

Please visit her site & click on 'shop' to be part of this incredible journey by paying R50 to have your dream taken to the South Pole with her & left in the belly of a Snowman! If you can think of any big sponsors that may help her this is the time to reach out and be part of this incredible story. I am inspired!!!

Two Thousand & SHINE!

The other day my sister's neighbour shouted over the wall to me "Happy Two Thousand & Shine Verity!" and it really made me smile. He told me that when someone had said it to him he had immediately thought of my album and that it might indeed prove to be a year worth "shining" in.  I continue to receive emails from future owners around the world with their feedback about 'Journey' and how much they are enjoying it and it is so encouraging to know that my dream is out there having a life of its own.

I definitely find myself at a crossroads in many ways with my bags packed and just the destination to decide on. It feels like there will be lot more inspirational speaking & singing, definitely some new songs being worked on and then seeing how best to promote 'Journey' and invite thousands more people to take their own copy home and let this story keep on growing.

I guess not knowing what is around the corner is half the fun and all I have to do is commit to taking one step after the other and keep on finding new ways to shine even on the darkest days. Here's the mystery and wherever life takes all of us. Enjoy!