TaRee (music)

Wing music from a little Soulbird

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Happiness is Not a Pinpoint…

A friend recently asked me if I was happy with my life, not a question I remember being asked much growing up, but somehow I knew the answer right away. 

Unequivocally, the answer is Yes! The reasons behind that yes are many, some big and some small, but definitely too many to name them all individually. 

My happiness is found in the whole life that God has given me, even the sad parts. See I prayed for the life I’m living now, it’s not perfect, but it’s blessed.

I no longer wait for some plateau or some grand moment to signify I have arrived at a happy life, for that moment may never come. I no longer view happiness as a pinpoint in the journey of my life, but the sum total of pinpoints, both good and bad. I know now that God’s perfect plan is for my good, both the parts that hurt me and the parts that heal me. 

For with every closed door I find God’s protection. With every lost thing, I find God’s provision. With every heartbreak of life, I’m finding God’s perfect healing love and in my loneliest hour, I have found the most intimate and gentle friend. 

Only with a renewed mind have I come to realize that happiness is not a pinpoint.

Related Song: Confetti by Tori Kelly from the EP ‘Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly’ that can be found on iTunes. 

Growing Up…

I’m realizing…that even though I may not be what you want, I care enough to want for you, what you want for yourself. Guess I’m growing up…

~originallyric

Shange’ Girl in a Virtual World…

I’ve been in love with Ntozake Shange since I read an edited version of the Lady In Green monologue from ‘For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide. When the Rainbow Is Enough’ in the 10th grade. Since then, I have not been able to find anyone under the age of 45 who can carry forth that voice for this generation. 

I’m not saying this girl is Shange, but Shange-esque…she is giving me the essence and the intent…and I LOVE it. 

I often give in to this virtual world version of friendships/relationships, but if I’m honest…

Virtual World Rant by C. Ward

I have grown to hate this virtual world I have been subjected to, and I want nothing more to do with it.

I have been missing the sounds of inhalations, the subtle feeling of heart beats, fingertips, contact, facial expressions body language, and LAUGHTER not reduced to “Lol and LMAO” . I so vehemently miss reality.

I want to walk backwards into a world of disposable cameras with 27 photo slots available- where filters are used strictly by professionals and every reflection is not perfected and posed for. 

I do not want to be text messaged for an entire day and have it deemed communication. Because it is certainly not. I want to sit in the presence of a human, watch his nervous habits, receive his candid answers to my questions- not the spell checked, backspaced, edited ones. I want to be real and unfiltered and imperfect for someone. I want my facial features studied in the flesh. I want LIVE, in person, interaction- the kind you can’t edit or delete. 

I want to watch someone LAUGH THEIR BUTT OFF. I might just fall in love. 

I have been missing the sounds of sneezes and coughs, the feeling of facial hair rubbing against my cheeks, interlocked fingers… lips, and eye contact. I want to show my friends what a man did without providing them a screenshot. I want to stand up, lean forward, grab a hand or a face and imitate real actions that occurred-  actions that flowed from a brain to a heart, through veins and limbs and muscles and SKIN. 

Goodness. I miss skin. 

I want my naps played in. I want to be invited to survey art and drink sweet wine. I want my calloused, guitar fingertips kissed. I want to talk, with my mouth and not my fingers. I want authentic faces provided to me, not by way of photo or FaceTime. I want laughter and heartbeats and sneezes and coughs and fingertips and touching and facial expressions and the language of the body and connections and interlocked fingers, and fitting into the nooks and crannies of another human’s body and skin and bones and muscles and flesh and imperfections. And reality. 

Because there is something to be said for being young and needing someone so badly, you jump in head first without looking. And there’s something to be learned from waiting all day for a train that’s never coming. And there’s something to be proud of about moving on and realizing that real love shines golden like starlight, and doesn’t fade or spontaneously combust.

—T.Swift

Blessed are the Heavy Hearts… Being an overanalyzing, imaginative, outgoing-introvert, there are always ideas to talk about, events to attend or people to connect with. Though when all those things are done, I am mentally, emotionally and sometimes spiritually spent. If I’m not mistaken, this is usually when my best songs are written. The aftermath can produce dysfunction, disconnection, even depression…or it can serve as a catalyst for healing, motivation for change and the momentum for growth.  After having an amazing night with friends, I unexpectedly woke up with a heavy heart today. There are a lot of things floating around my head that I need to get out, but these are times when I am so grateful for my ability to write songs. I know I can take any issue, in prayer, to God, but I also know that I can put those prayers to melody. I’d forgotten how easy it is for me to take all the disappointment, longing, anxiety and fear and offer it to God in song. I can then take those songs and sing them to God, over myself or over others who are struggling with the same. Not because of some great confidence in my own gifts, but because I’m confident in God’s ability to transform the mess of my life into something beautiful that can bless others. In the end I to choose welcome this Heavy Heart with open arms and remember that I am blessed with the ability to be a blessing!  <3 Ree

Blessed are the Heavy Hearts…

Being an overanalyzing, imaginative, outgoing-introvert, there are always ideas to talk about, events to attend or people to connect with. Though when all those things are done, I am mentally, emotionally and sometimes spiritually spent. If I’m not mistaken, this is usually when my best songs are written. The aftermath can produce dysfunction, disconnection, even depression…or it can serve as a catalyst for healing, motivation for change and the momentum for growth.

 After having an amazing night with friends, I unexpectedly woke up with a heavy heart today. There are a lot of things floating around my head that I need to get out, but these are times when I am so grateful for my ability to write songs. I know I can take any issue, in prayer, to God, but I also know that I can put those prayers to melody. I’d forgotten how easy it is for me to take all the disappointment, longing, anxiety and fear and offer it to God in song. I can then take those songs and sing them to God, over myself or over others who are struggling with the same. Not because of some great confidence in my own gifts, but because I’m confident in God’s ability to transform the mess of my life into something beautiful that can bless others.

In the end I to choose welcome this Heavy Heart with open arms and remember that I am blessed with the ability to be a blessing! 

<3 Ree

First single off the upcoming album RedPrint dropping 11-11!!!!

Rob Vick’s ‘Love Song’ feat. TaRee

The Hopeless Romantics

                     

We all need friends who are real with us, friends who tell us hard truths and bring us back to the reality of a situation.Those are usually the friends that keep us from getting our feelings hurt or our hearts broken, but sometimes you just want to revel in being a Hopeless Romantic!

Sometimes you just want friends who swoon with you. Friends who want every detail of that phone call or that text message, and will let you gush and giggle and vent for hours. These friends are the ones who “What If” with you and dream with you. They are the ones you can tell “I’m flying head first off the edge and I have no clue whether anyone will be there waiting when I touch down”! These friends won’t condemn you, may even applaud you, not because they want you to get hurt, but because they understand what it’s like to be a Hopeless Romantic!

<3 Ree

Every so often I find myself looking for inspiration…not just a topic to write about or some new chord progression, but something that sparks a fire in me, something I just can&#8217;t stop thinking about. There are times when I want to hear new sounds and I find myself buying tickets to every live show in Nashville. There are times when I want to see new stories and end up with Netflix and Hulu subscriptions, reserved movies from the library and prepaid tickets to the theater every week. Most times I draw inspiration from family and friends or from being in nature or in the heart of the city.  Long before I became a singer/musician, I was a writer. I&#8217;ve been a lover of words, well…since I could talk. Being a lover of words, my favorite forms of inspiration are books! I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll ever own a reader! There is a smell and texture on my fingers that cannot be replaced by a Kindle or an iPad. Someday, I hope to pass on my love of books and reading to my own kids.  With all that said…here are my new friends!  Spiritual Mentoring by Anderson &amp; Reese Civility by Stephen L. Carter The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot &amp; The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Every so often I find myself looking for inspiration…not just a topic to write about or some new chord progression, but something that sparks a fire in me, something I just can’t stop thinking about. There are times when I want to hear new sounds and I find myself buying tickets to every live show in Nashville. There are times when I want to see new stories and end up with Netflix and Hulu subscriptions, reserved movies from the library and prepaid tickets to the theater every week. Most times I draw inspiration from family and friends or from being in nature or in the heart of the city. 

Long before I became a singer/musician, I was a writer. I’ve been a lover of words, well…since I could talk. Being a lover of words, my favorite forms of inspiration are books! I don’t think I’ll ever own a reader! There is a smell and texture on my fingers that cannot be replaced by a Kindle or an iPad. Someday, I hope to pass on my love of books and reading to my own kids. 

With all that said…here are my new friends! 

Spiritual Mentoring by Anderson & Reese

Civility by Stephen L. Carter

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot &

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Simple Serenade…

I’ve never cared much for Fall, probably because it precedes one of my least favorite seasons! Anything below 40-degrees in my book, is ungodly! But when the temperature is cool enough to crack a window, light some candles and serenade the neighborhood, how can a girl not swoon. 

Stella & I are currently singing the neighbors to sleep, here’s a snippet of a simple serenade…

Something’s Got To Give

When Jesus is the answer

Salvation is the gift

When I have God the Father

In me His spirit lives. 

I know I’m not forsaken 

I know I’m one of His

Despite my circumstances

Something’s Got To Give…

I made of flesh and bone, know nothing done is on my own.

I made of foolish pride, know that my flesh is my greatest fight. 

I made of worldy greed, can’t stop the world from fooling me. 

But I made of faith and fight, can tell you…Anything through Christ…

Sweet Dreams…

<3 Ree