Lightening the Load: The Healing Power of Self-Forgiveness
- Dr. Tom Wagner
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Are you warming yourself by the fires of regret or moving toward the warmth of forgiveness? This reflection explores how self-compassion can lighten the load you carry.
Introducing the Great Royce Martin: A Local Treasure Turned National Treasure
If you haven’t heard the news, our next SMC event is scheduled for August 2. Once again, we will gather at St. Louis’ best music venue, “The Schroer Commons,” at Eden Seminary in Saint Louis. The doors and the patio will open for happy hour drinks, snacks, and socializing at 3:00 pm. The concert and interview with the talented Royce Martin will take place from 4:00–6:00 pm. Try to pick up your tickets right away. Local radio and television stations have been reaching out, interviewing, and advertising this event (check out Geek to Me Radio and Show Me St. Louis!). Hate to see you miss out. This one will be fun and soulful.
In preparation for this happening (we’ve named it “Resilience and Creativity”), I sat down with my co-presenter, Royce Martin. What unfolded during that interview was a story about a boy who started teaching himself to play on his sister’s keyboard by “one-finger-tapping” his way through Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Through the dual miracles of YouTube and determination, he taught himself to play classical music. When his local high school lost accreditation, his parents insisted he go to a fine arts secondary school for which he had to apply. There, an inspired music teacher noticed his talent and surreptitiously applied for a donated piano for him. I’ll save part of the story for our event, but that boy grew into a prolific musician/composer/songwriter/singer. He has even created a new genre of music with a national following: “Swagtime” (a combination of bebop, jazz, ragtime, and hip-hop).
Ever since that interview, I’ve been thinking about his creativity as a part of the creative spirit that lives within all of our souls. The connection between creativity and resilience will be explored on August 2 through mining his story with your questions and my questions, as well as through his one-of-a-kind music. Don’t miss this one. Grab your ticket here.
In addition to this heartfelt invitation, this week, rather than the usual article, I thought I’d share with you a video from the resilience series I shot during COVID. I hope you benefit from it.
Lightening the Load: The Healing Power of Self-Forgiveness
Please share with the SMC community your thoughts and/or reflections in the comments below.
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