When You Believe

I just realized that I haven’t been posting any music on my blog for a very long time – not good. Here’s a song I heard on the radio while driving home yesterday. It’s a song that has been an inspiration to me ever since the first day I heard it.

It has a beautiful message.

For Inspiration

Found this very inspirational video that I just have to share with you. Put your headphones on and enjoy! And remember; What you think, you become ~Buddha

The Colors of Change

We know for a fact, change is an inevitable part of life. Still, our immediate response to change often seems to be resistance.

When we realize that something in our lives is about to change, it is often seen as a threat. We wish to stay with the routine and what’s familiar and safe. We wish for things to stay the way they always did. I suppose it’s only natural. After all, in order to move on we must leave our own comfort zone, and head off to what’s unknown and uncertain. Clearly it’s uncomfortable. It may be scary or even hurtful.

Even so, I believe we owe it to ourselves to ask this one question; Why do I wish to stick with what’s familiar and safe? Is it because it’s really something good, because this is everything I wanted my life to be like?

Or is it because I am afraid to embrace the unknown, because I am unwilling to admit to myself that there is something unsatisfactory or incomplete about the life I am currently living?

As we grow older, we watch and interact with the world around us; we learn, we explore, we realize things we previously would fail to understand. We reach the end of an era, and the beginning of something new.

Life itself is our teacher, continuously educating us as we keep walking its path. And change is necessary for us to reach our dreams and let us become who we need to be deep inside. And so it comes down to this:

Being willing to surrender what we are, in order to embrace what we may become.

Nature welcomes the Colors of Change. Do you and I have the courage to do the same?

Definition of Success

It is said that in order to achieve success you must first define what success means.

Considering the fact that we are all individuals with our own unique thoughts, emotions and talents, I think we have to do more than that. We must define what success means to each one of us, what it means to you as an individual. Otherwise you are simply succeeding by someone else’s standards.

Living by someone else’s definition of success in life can be destructive. Because how can we possibly live up to our full potential as long as we keep adjusting our lives to the standards of others?

It may seem obvious and I am sure you agree with me. But just stop for a second and think about it – I mean; really think about it: Are you defining success in your life or are you allowing someone else to define it for you?

Don’t get me wrong, It’s not about being all self-centered. Of course we need to interact with other people, listen to their opinions and sometimes adjust our own. That is a strength. But in the end, you are the only person who can take responsibility for your own life. And you will be at your best when you are being true to yourself, also when it comes to making a difference in the lives of others.

In my life I am not successful if I am not achieving my own definition of success, no matter how impressed “the world” may be about what I do. If it’s not what I need to do, if it’s not what’s right for me, then I am living by someone else’s definition, and not being true to myself. And if so, have I really succeeded? The answer is a definite no, I haven’t.

I have this image in my mind; many years from now, when (hopefully) I celebrate my 90th birthday, I will have a collection of photos in my room. Photos from the life I have been living. And those photos should not be showing what others wanted me to be, they should be reflecting the kind of life, the choices that were the right ones for me.

Success is living the life that is right for you, being true to yourself as an individual. Only then can you become that special person you were meant to be.

Ask not what the world needs. Ask what make you come alive… then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

Howard Thurman

What’s in the Mail Today?

I remember before my kids were born, I used to have all kinds of expectations of motherhood. One of the things I was really looking forward to, was teaching my kids about life. What I didn’t expect though, was how much they would be teaching me.

This morning when I was heading for our mailbox, mr S wanted to come with me. This seemed to be very important to him, and I asked him why.

His answer to me came immediately: “Maybe there’s something for me?”

“But honey” I said, trying to avoid him being disappointed “You know; normally it’s mostly bills and newspapers. It’s not your birthday yet, and I didn’t order anything for you”

“But mom” he said, looking at me as if I was a child that needed to have things thoroughly explained -

“Sometimes we get things even though we haven’t asked for them. Perhaps God sent me something?”

I stopped for a second. In a way, he did have a point.

Sometimes we do get things even though we don’t ask for them. And yes, perhaps God sent us something. Maybe not through the mail as mr S clearly expected (or then again, why not?)

Anyhow, it’s an exciting thought; God actually does send us things. Every single day we are given new opportunities, a chance to change an unwanted situation, or make the most of our dreams; changing our lives – or even the world – for the better. That is our challenge; being able to see the exceptional in the ordinary. Seizing those moments in our everyday lives, instead of just watching the days go by.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a five year old.

My youngest has a somewhat similar approach to life. He has his own special morning ritual; the minute he opens his eyes, he gets out of bed, running over to the nearest window to have a glance at the world.

And then, the question: “What’s outside?”

Is it rain? Is it sunshine? Snow? Green grass? Is it dark outside? Summer? Autumn? Or…?

From a little boy’s view, the world is new every morning. There is a multitude of options out there, and you never know what might happen. To him, every day is a wonderful adventure.

These were my thoughts as I was standing there with a very impatient five year old by my side.

And I said to him: “You know, you’re right; let’s go check the mailbox together”

After all, we never know what life might have in store for us. There just might be some great adventures out there, if we just remember to seize the opportunities given to us and.. well… keeping our minds and hearts a bit adventurous.

Thanks guys, for reminding me

Painting on Silence

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A painter paints his pictures on canvas. Musicians paint their pictures on silence.

~Leopold Stokowski

A while ago I heard someone say that because music has no physical form or substance, it can never be considered as valuable as the work of a painter or sculpturing artist. From my point of view, this is as far from the truth as possible.

To me music is one of the greatest blessings in life. Nothing is capable of touching our hearts like music; bringing joy and inspiration to the soul, lifting us up or even bringing us down at times, but still – isn’t music the very accompaniment to life? What can possibly be greater than that?

I personally believe music has the ability to make the world a better place. It is also said; what cannot be put into words, can be expressed through music. I can only summarize like this: I’m so thankful for the wonderful language of music, bringing a whole new dimension into life.

May You Be Blessed

Counting our blessings in life, we normally concentrate on all the good things given to us. But sometimes we just have to take a walk on a longer path, to discover that things like discomfort, anger, tears and foolishness may be just what is needed for us to enrich our lives.

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers and half truths, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice and exploitation so that you will fight for justice, equality and peace.

May God bless you with tears for those who suffer, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.

-author unknown

You’ll Be in My Heart

I love Phil Collins’ voice, there’s just no one quite like him.
This song is one of my favorites; take some time and listen to it’s beautiful lyrics.

“I know we’re different but, deep inside us; we’re not that different at all”