Music Plays On

Legendary folk singer/activist Pete Seeger passed over from this world today to join the celestial choir  of the universe. It saddened me but knowing that he lived out his ninety-four years so fully let sadness give way to gratitude.

The list of the songs he wrote and performed reads like a playlist of my life... songs woven in and amongst the mundane and the monumental. Goodnight Irene was one of first songs I learned to play on my guitar; We Shall Overcome was an anthem at our student protests back in the day when my classmates and I were "small c" communists; and Turn, Turn and Where Have All the Flowers Gone? were favourites at the sing-songs we used to end our famjams with, back in the day before our leading vocalists became angels.

"We all go to different churches or no churches, we have different favorite foods, different ways of making love, different ways of doing all sorts of things, but there we’re all singing together. Gives you hope.”   

- Pete Seeger

Thank you Pete Seeger for the joy and passion you inspired with your music, and for leaving this world better for having you in it.

Still Inspiring

Dr Martin Luther King has been gone for decades, yet in his absence, his words continue to inspire and provoke thought and debate. One man, great in his thinking, his challenges to, and expectations of, each one of us, and great in his gift of igniting our inner champion. There are so many beautiful MLK quotes, however I think the one below is powerful in its simplicity. Thank you Dr King.

Repurposed from Wayne Dyer site

Freedom Fighter

Photo courtesy of New Yorker Magazine

"Democracy and peace for all."

Nelson Mandela - icon of social justice and freedom fighter - proved thatimprisonment is a state of mind. They could lock him up, but they couldn't break him. That which didn't kill him, made him - and his movement for social and racial justice - stronger.

He survived everything that came his way, and defeated apartheid in his country.

My hero Stephen Lewis stated it so very eloquently:

"It’s always said that after 27 years in prison he turned the other cheek: in truth, he emerged from the fires of hell with nothing but wisdom and love, for his people and for the planet. There will never be such another.”

Thank you Nelson Mandela for being a shining light and beacon of hope and inspiration to a generation. You changed the world.

Napkin Notes

Life is a journey - not a destination. It may be corny, but it's so very true. And this napkin on the plane was a handy reminder. If we look carefully, and pay close attention, we can receive the messages the universe is sending us -- the perfect message and the perfect time. I am trying to be a better "listener"!

As I sort through the pictures I took on my trip and answer emails from friends I made along the way, I am reminded how an experience such as Tanzania will be a gift that keeps on giving. My world is a little bigger, my mind - more expanded, and my heart - a little fuller. I have learned that happiness and joy are attitudes and decisions.

I decide to seek the silver lining in every adversity, and to savour each moment of the journey, wherever it takes me. Note to self...

Leo's Love Quiz

Today was just about as perfect a fall day as there could be. The sky was clear and deep blue and the air was warm, fresh, and devoid of humidity. Hubby and I stole a few hours and walked Fritz by the spectacular waterfront in our town.

To celebrate this glorious day I am sharing something written by a wonderfully inspiring person - Leo Buscaglia-  one of my favourites and though he passed away in 1998, he left the world forever changed. I hope you enjoy this little quiz and that it gives you food for thought.

Leo's Love Quiz

A few end-of-the-day questions for each of us...

Is anyone a little happier because I came along today?
Did I leave any concrete evidence of my kindness, any sign of my love?
Did I try to think of someone I know in a more positive light?
Did I help someone to feel joy, to laugh, or at least, to smile?
Have I attempted to remove a little of the rust that is corroding my relationships?
Have I gone through the day without fretting over what I don't have and celebrating the things I do have?
Have I forgiven others for being less than perfect?
Have I forgiven myself?
Have I learned something new about life, living or love?
If you are not satisfied with your answers, take heart. Tomorrow you get to start all over again! If you will it, this is one quiz you can never fail.

 Sending each of you love and wishes for a wonderful weekend.

Government

In a country well governed,
poverty is something to be ashamed of.
In a country badly governed,
wealth is something to be ashamed of.

- Confucious

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a day to remember all that for which we are grateful. It's our special time to give thanks ... not only for the obvious, like food and our homes, but also for the countless fortunate moments, the multitude of blessings that we receive each year.

For reasons unknown, we often tend to remember the bad things more easily than the good. We can reprogram ourselves to learn a new reflex -- the positive one. With practice we can learn to see the light in our lives first and foremost, and reduce the negativity to mere shadows.

A good way to begin is to start keeping a gratitude journal in which you jot down at least five things for which you are appreciative. It is an effective way of ending your day on a positive note - no matter how the day went - and setting your compass for the next day.

Write down 5 things. You may find that your entries will be very different - depending on the kind of day you had. Some days you will be able to fill pages of experiences and things that made you feel grateful. On other days, you will take great pains to find even 5 things to write about. I have had many of such days. At the end of such a day, my entries are about the most simple of things. " I am grateful for the soft, warm duvet on my bed that brings me comfort and a good sleep" or "I am grateful for the strong hug myhusband gave me after dinner that is a reminder of the love we share", or even "I am grateful for the perfect, hot cup of tea I had after dinner that warmed my insides and relaxed me".

Think of all the good things that happened in your day. Focus on what you have. Think about people you've known that have made you thankful for their existence. They can be family, friends, collegues or even people that you've read about or seen on television.

Think about the animals that have given you joy: Dogs that love you with every inch of their hearts, cats that think your lap is the best place to nap in the whole world, birds whose songs uplift your spirit, squirrels whose antics put a grin on your face and so on.

Think about the places that make you smile: A favorite restaurant, a wooded trail, an exciting city, a great spot from which to view the sky, or walk by the water. Give thanks for all these things.

Today is a day of Thanksgiving ... and I just know that once you start counting your blessings, you will find that you have countless. In our country, most of us are truly fortunate to live in abundance, security, beauty, peace and of course, the best of all - love. For all of this - I am profoundly grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving.