GAELYNN LEA'S
MARCH NEWSLETTER
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Happy (Belated) St. Patrick's Day!
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Sending Healing Thoughts Your Way
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Happy St. Patrick\'s Day!
I hope this message finds safe, peaceful and healthy! Even though these are the strangest of times, I am praying that we can keep our spirits up as we prepare to hunker down for the foreseeable future. We're probably all a mite bit anxious right now, but also we're surely not all in the same head-space.
I have friends that are super depressed and feeling lonely now that they can't go out, I know others who are worked up and (understandably) angry about the news, there are friends feeling too anxious to sleep or to function normally, and then there are still others relishing the chance to "Netflix and Chill" indefinitely, with a puppy or two and a box of wine...
Personally I've been vacillating between anxious about my small lungs getting The Virus, melancholy (I am feeling a sense of loss of going out more than I expected), worried for people without a safety net in our community, and also kinda pumped to have an opportunity to pare life down a bit -- like getting used to not spending money and pursuing creative endeavors at home.
The last few days have also awakened an unexpected sense of compassion and connection with all the generations of people before us (and now) who have suddenly experienced drastic social limits, like many Jewish people during WWII, and our relatives in the Great Depression, and people living in nursing homes. It's easy to forget that our experience of freedom and self-determination is really a cultural, temporary construct a lot of the time.
So how can we thrive and support each other during this time of uncertainty and isolation? And how do we stay focused on the Divine Presence / Love / God / Mindfulness [insert your preferred word here] in ourselves and others throughout this whole ordeal? These are all things I've been pondering.
So wherever your head and heart are at tonight, please know that I CARE ABOUT YOU and I am praying for all of us to get through this with a sense of peace, hope, and wholeness. Take good care of yourself during these next couple of months, and please stay safe and healthy!
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Virtual Shows on YouTube this Weekend!
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As you may have heard, I had to cancel my March tour due to Coronavirus. I have extremely small lungs due to my disability and I just couldn't risk exposure (and as it turns out, the venues most likely would have canceled the shows even if I hadn't). So instead of traveling this month, I've decided to try two "virtual" concerts instead... Here are the details:
Any donation amount is greatly appreciated, as these concerts will help me to recoup some of the income I'm losing because of these canceled shows... Rest assured, if you are able to donate, you'll be helping me to move my work forward during this unusual time!
If you aren't able to donate, please still join us on YouTube... Music is more fun than getting restless at home with nothing to do and nowhere to go! ;)
Speaking of music, here's a video of the most Irish medley I know, "The Parting Glass / Brenda Stubbert's Reel"... I'll be doing a solo version of this medley during my online shows:
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Patreon Update: A Lifeline for Artists!
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About one year ago, I launched something called a
Patreon
page. In case you haven't heard of it before, Patreon is an artist-focused, crowd-sourcing platform that has quickly become a lifeline financially for me and thousands of other musicians who have had their touring income eliminated due to concert cancellations.
People who care about my creative work can sign up on Patreon to make a recurring monthly contribution to my music, writing and advocacy. These donations, no matter how large or small, are all being pieced together to help keep Paul and me afloat during this unusual time!
As unsettling as Coronavirus has been, I've been trying to use the extra time at home to focus on things like my Patreon, which can unfortunately get neglected when we're busy touting. I've been plotting ways to stay connected and to make sure my Patrons get extra fun goodies, especially since they're supporting me through this period of great unknowns that surely affect each of us in a myriad of ways.
I've also tried to make use of this unexpected time at home by exploring my creative side... The other night I made some fun watercolor paintings... And today I think I've hit upon a fun use for them!
MARCH PATREON SPECIAL:
- All $5+/month Patrons will get a new, unreleased instrumental track called "Rebuild"... and all my future digital downloads!
- All $10+/month Patrons will get a postcard featuring one of these paintings with a personalized note in their mailbox (plus digital + physical copies of all new releases)!
Thank you so much for your support: over the past few years, right now, and into the future! 💚 We're all in this together... Please know that I am cheering for you!!!
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Support my work with a monthly donation through Patreon:
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Upcoming Shows: Online and In Real Life!
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So unfortunately I won't have any in-person shows until at least May, which means that my calendar's gonna look pretty empty for awhile! But any time I
DO
schedule a virtual concert, I'll make sure they are listed on my website. Here's what I have listed right now:
As society presses "pause" so this virus can pass, I hope you find fun & creative ways to spend your days and nights at home... And I'm hoping that you have access to the tools that can help you stay calm too! Here are a few things I've been reading & watching to help keep my mind in a good place... Perhaps one of these links will resonate with you as well:
BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE:
And now, for your moment of Zen. This is 100% my favorite YouTube video of all time... It's from 2017, but it never gets old! I'm sending this out now for all of you who are currently telecommuting with children at home - here's hoping you have locks on your office door! 🤣
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That's all for now... But don't be a stranger! I would love to hear how you are doing - simply reply to this email to let me know! I hope you can find your moments of lightness and joy each day, and that you find ways to cope when your anxiety gets high. In short, take good care of yourself and the ones you love... Looking forward to seeing you again in person ASAP! Until then, the internet is pretty dang cool...
In Peace, Hope, and Love,
Gaelynn Lea
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