Fourth song from the Vinyl Record ‘From now on’
Ode to Noticing and Accepting All of Our Feelings
This song talks about how we can be trained to not even notice, let alone openly share, our own feelings. Instead we may dwell in an inner world of images and thinking. And the song is meant to remind us to an intention to connect to our feelings, to feel what is true to us in any given moment in our bodies. The thinking and the cultural norms we are educated into can be a big obstacle to bringing this intention into practice.
I enjoy so much in this song how Marshall expressses „gentleness“ and „warmth“ in his way of singing. I also enjoy the sense of a loving brotherhood of man that this artistic collaboration of Al Chappelle and Marshall Rosenberg and Steve Mote stirs up in me, a friendship and common holding of values, so truly wonderful.
Intention
From now on, I want to listen when my feelings tell me whether I’m moving in tune with myself … or whether I’m being rocked off course, by alienating thoughts and events.
For many years I ignored the ever-present counseling of my feelings. I believed that my emotions should be hidden in boxes, marked “sinful” … “selfish” … and “unmanly”.
John Wayne and my other macho heroes never admitted to “loneliness” or “hurt” or “being sad” …
Song Lyrics
I grew up believing what was expected of me …
was to prove how strong and silent I could be.
But now John Wayne is no longer my hero;
I’m going to allow ‘gentleness’ to show.
I’ve been afraid to admit it, when i’m lonely, scared or sad.
I thought feelings were weakness … and weakness was bad.
But now John Wayne is no longer my hero;
I’m going to allow gentleness to show.
Yes, I’ve exploited women, used them physically,
held up notches on my belt for machos like me to see.
But now John Wayne is no longer my hero;
I’m going to allow gentleness to show.
“May I notice and accept all of my feelings with compassion.”