Last month, I attended my 40th high school reunion. It was one of those rare occasions where I had my hair and makeup done.
I am so blessed to be a free-lance artist. After many months without any kind of artwork, I had two large projects come in on the same day. Even though my workload was a bit intense, I finished both my jobs a few days ago and I am definitely celebrating. I leave on a trip to Alaska next week with my three adult children and wanted to finish them before then.
Despite having 11 illustrations to paint in 3 weeks, I continued creating music that I love with my new arranger. Everything we worked on just got better and better. The new arrangements were magnificent – they were beautiful symphonies I enjoyed listening to while working on my paintings.
I recently finished arrangements for “Every Season” and “Alabaster Seashell.” I am going to share them, as well as the guitar tracks that will be the basis for a new arrangement of my song “Set You Free.” When my vocals are done, I’ll post them with stories about those songs.
SET YOU FREE – Two guitars – Copyright 2017 by Judy Unger
ALABASTER SEASHELL ARRANGEMENT – Copyright 2017 by J Unger
EVERY SEASON ARRANGEMENT – Copyright 2017 by J Unger
I named my post “My Fairytale Life” because it feels that way lately. On several occasions, I’ve had strangers come over to me and tell me I am shining and radiant with my big smile. Well – I love hearing that and have every reason to smile!
I share a link to a post I wrote four years ago where I also mention “my fairytale life.” It could be considered Part 1 of this story: MY DREAM HAS ME BLESSED.
My fairytale is all about how rediscovering music in 2010 changed my life.
Memories of trauma seldom erupt from me anymore. I embrace my past because it has led me to where I am today. All of my heartbreak has eased because of music, which envelopes my heart with joy.
Now I am going to share some recent pictures!
I am posing with Delia at the Macy’s make-up counter. She was lovely and did a great job making me up!
After my makeup session, I put on my dress in the Macy’s restroom.
I could write an entire post about my 40th high school reunion, but will sum it up.
Even though I didn’t clearly remember many of the high school attendees at the reunion, it didn’t matter. We were all connected by our memories and life experiences since then. I suddenly found I had new friends and looked forward to future lunch dates filled with reminiscing and reconnecting.
Pretty funny how everyone would bend over to check out each other’s name tags!
I like my color picture better! Who is that girl?
I was very touched when a woman told me she enjoyed reading my blog. I almost felt naked because my blog is such an honest expression of my heart and soul.
I also caught up with a few good friends I never lost touch with. We spoke about very deep subjects and the time at flew by. Soon it was time for this Cinderella to get home and focus on finishing her many paintings!
On my last post, I wrote about the wonderful App named Insight Timer where I have a large audience for my instrumental music. Every day I receive messages from people all over the world telling me how comforting my music is for them. I even had a lovely Skype conversation with a new friend in Greece whom I met through Insight Timer.
https://www.insighttimer.com/judyunger
I was very excited about meeting the CEO, Christopher Plowman and his assistant, Maddy Gerard a few weeks ago. We met for tea at a restaurant in Santa Monica named Shutters by the Beach.
Christopher and Maddy were very warm and I brought some of my artwork to share with them. I told them my story, and Christopher shared how he bought Insight Timer two years ago and the progress he had made with it since then. Now Insight Timer is the most popular free meditation site available and has close to two million meditators.
I think these pictures once again show my big smile and joy.
I especially loved when Christopher shared the Insight Timer philosophy. He said, “We do not actively promote our site. Our belief is that by putting something special out there and being open to the universe, we are hopeful people will come to us.”
Well his motto is exactly what has happened for me.
I dislike promoting my music for money. I prefer to put all of my energy into creating music that moves me; music that I love. And with my willingness to freely share my music on Insight Timer, I have found a loving audience and made wonderful new friendships.
I also find it an amazing coincidence that my blog name carries the word insight!
A few weeks after our meeting, I received a message from Maddy. She asked me if I would like to be the host for a week of meditations related to grief and healing. I would choose 6 other meditations in addition to my own for every day of the week. And the best part was that I would also have an opportunity to share a brief recording about myself.
How beautiful that I have found an ideal platform to speak about how music healed me from my grief.
These are two of my recent illustrations which will be used on yogurt labels.
Below is my correspondence with a woman I went to high school with 40 years ago. She did not attend the reunion, but sent me a message after seeing the pictures I posted on our reunion’s Facebook page. I’m excited about my new friend! (Clicking on the image makes it larger).
myjourneysinsight 
Judy i have been off the radar in hospìtal nearly 3 weeks with mycoplasma pneumonìa. Thank God coz they thought it was ling cancer. Love your post and you xx
Sent from my Samsung GALAXY S5 on the Telstra mobile network
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Oh, my God, Julie!!!! That is too much. But it is fitting with caregiver syndrome. Your body has taken such a hit with unrelenting years of emotional stress. I’m so sorry.
Well, it’s Mother’s Day so I want you to especially know I am thinking of you with much love. (It’s even Sandra Callahan’s birthday today). You are an amazing mom and you have an amazing mom with Meg. Oh, I’m sure everyone has gone through the mill worrying about you. Whew – soooooo glad it wasn’t lung cancer.
You are getting the biggest hug ever from me and thanks so much for letting me know!!!!!
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So tired
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Thinking of you and sending a big hug.
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Great post, filled with positivity and love. Good things coming your way!
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Thank you so much, my good friend. And to think you’ve been reading my blog from the very beginning. It has been 7 years now! I am so blessed by your friendship and appreciate your recognizing my positivity! Love you.
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Judy, I think your pictures say it all (although I was so happy to read your narrative!). You look beautiful. I’m so pleased you’re at such a radiant point in your life. And, you’re right, the woman who did your makeup did a fantastic job! You don’t notice the makeup, you notice YOU. It enhances your beauty. Your music, your art…it’s all fantastic. Thank you for the update!!
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Aw, thanks Belinda! I’m grinning ear to ear and feeling like we’re friends even though we’ve never met. I bet we’d have a wonderful time hanging out together! 🙂
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I think so!!
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Another fabulous post, Judy…and I listened to all three songs–they are so soothingly-beautiful…as smooth and refreshing as a stream…just so lovely! Also, you look absolutely fantastic and I love you hair in your high school photo–you had enough to pull off that hairstyle…I remember it like it was yesterday 🙂 Also, I swear, lately (probably within the last 2 weeks) the song, “I Don’t Have The Heart To Love You” popped in and out of my head for no discernible reason, and here you end up meeting the person who wrote it!!! How random is that?! Anyway, I also read “My Fairy Tale Life” and can’t tell you how overjoyed I am to know that you are living a life that brings you so much happiness and gratitude and wonderful opportunities…you worked so hard to make it to this place in time…lastly, your illustrations are really, really great…thanks for sharing 🙂
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Jud actually talked to me about that song and how he called on Jeffrey Osborne to sing it. Jud was very helpful to me and dissected my song lyrics. He pointed out a lot of cliches to me!
Your compliments on my hair had me laughing – yes, it does feel like yesterday. How could 40 years have gone by?
Happy to share with you and very appreciative that you took the time to not only do that, but to listen to the longs and read the older story.
You’re the best, Truly. Truly!
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You’re welcome…and, thank you! 🙂
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Judy, you look stunning and you do look extremely happy. It’s like happiness is exuding from within. I love what Christopher said. It reminds me of a Law of Attraction principle, which in turn reminds us that sometimes we’re working too hard for “success.” Hope you have a safe trip with your children 🙂
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Thank you so much, Kathy! I had a wonderful trip and am back safe and sound. I took a lot of pictures and will make my kids a memory book when I get a chance.
I thought that law of attraction statement was powerful. That applies for me when I play tennis. If I’m tense and “trying to win” – it usually doesn’t go as well as if I’m relaxed and confident. I sure appreciate your taking the time to read my blog story. Wishing you a wonderful day. You made mine!
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