Mele, Mele, Mele...

More of the mele study today. I love it. I love almost each and every second of it. Just picking the 'ukulele up and strumming it has a calming affect. I can't believe that something this "magical" really exists. Like the best medicine for the soul that one could ever dream of.

Starting up with a new mele can be a daunting task. But since I've "rediscovered" how to launch into the study, things have been a bit easier. AND once I've started with something, momentum builds and I then one mele leads to another and another and another. OCD at its finest!

I've started leaving "mele messages" on my friend's voicemail. It's been a great way for me to "perform" a mele that I've been working on AND (this is the best part) it allows me to share what I'm learning with someone who appreciates it. It's cool knowing that at some point during her day, she'll listen to her voicemail and hear a song from the islands. A win-win situation.

More mele tomorrow. And that's a good thing...

"Up to my eyeballs..."

E kala mai! Sorry for the lack of postings!

I've been up to my eyeballs with mele studies. It's been heaven spending ENTIRE days studying language and music. Heaven. Bliss. What I've always dreamed of doing.

For a year, I've been on a quest trying to figure out "my way" of learning songs and language. It's been tough. Lots of trial & error. In April, a friend of mine, an 'olapa, showed me the way she worked on learning the mele that she uses for hula. It was so simple--like doing a vocabulary list in middle school or high school English classes. My original thought: that's cool, but it's too similar to a method that I HATED when I was in school. There's got to be something better...

But...

On Monday, I found myself struggling with a project that I'm working on. I couldn't seem to get started. I was feeling completely overwhelmed. And then I thought of Anne Lamott's BIRD BY BIRD and how I needed to stop. And breathe. And take one song at a time. One word at a time.

And...

It was amazing! Not only did I learn the lyrics, but the song CAME TO LIFE! It's been so fantastic! And so addicting! I've started learning a lot more songs now that they are truly "singing" for me. Not a great thing for my OCD, but I've been blissed out. What a nice change from feeling overwhelmed and "stuck" for so long.

So that's where I am this Wednesday morning. Still in CRAM mode. But loving it instead of dreading it. And that's pretty great.

Happy Wednesday!