I See Your True Colours

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Blog Post By: Lata Advani Viseu

“And I’ll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let it show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow”
True Colors – Cyndi Lauper

One Summer there were ladybugs everywhere, the next year there were wasps everywhere and this year there are hairy caterpillars all over the place. Is it random or does it mean anything? How does the Universe decide?

Is a caterpillar a sign of change and transformation into a beautiful butterfly? Truth be told, you can choose to see signs and give them any meaning you want. I choose all things positive because the reflection I see in everything is really a reflection of what is in me.

Is it just me or does the sky seem to be a bluer shade of blue when it is sunny outside these days? I notice the leaves on the trees and it makes me wonder, how many shades of green can there be?

Was it always this way? As we were driving down the countryside today, the grass was this vibrant shade of green and the wild flowers along the side of the road looked so much brighter than usual. Even the books on my shelf seemed to pop out with all these rainbow of colours.

Was I sleepwalking through life all this time? Am I just waking up really noticing the beauty in everything around me? Walking barefoot on the grass, feeling grounded and at peace are some of the simple pleasures for me these days.

I feel lucky with all that I have and had in my life and, anything more I get is just extra icing on the cake. Although I am not really a fan of icing but you know what I mean.

After these last few years of searching and learning and growing, I know what I need to do next is share what I have learnt and help others find what they are really looking for in life. Spoiler alert, you already have all that you need and all you need to do is set an intention and let it unfold.

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach
“I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.” – Anne Frank
“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

www.mindvasana.com

You Already Know

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“Life’s a movie, let the camera roll
Fast life moving, ain’t no going slow
That’s right, baby, you already know
You already know, hope you’re ready
Ready, steady, steady, rocking”
You Already Know – Fergie

This month marks Mindvasana’s fifth anniversary and blog number sixty. Thank you to those who have been reading my monthly blogs, leaving comments and sharing it with others.

I am offering a special gift at the end of this blog to celebrate five years!

When I started to write these monthly blogs, I thought I was doing it to help people by sharing my life lessons so that I could remind my readers of things they already knew and thereby help them avoid or deal with painful life lessons.

I believe everything there is to know has been written in books, taught by wise ones and we already know all there is to know to live the life we want.

We may have forgotten some things or may not have given them much thought but we have heard it all before. Once we become aware, all we need to do is to let it unfold in our lives.

Many of us live our lives unaware and not knowing how strong we are and the Universe reminds us by teaching us, through some hard lessons in life, so that we can realize what we already know.

Life keeps knocking us down and giving us the same lessons over and over again until we learn what we need to learn so that we become aware of what was already inside of us.

Things that you never thought you were capable of overcoming, you overcame. The fears that you had to face and when you thought there was no hope, you got through them and became stronger.

I wish I had known or paid attention to many of the things in the past that I now realize were always there, if I had searched for them in the right places or listened to the messages that were always available.

I have also realized that you cannot force anyone to listen to what you know will help them, that they only begin to hear what they need to hear when they are ready.

The book that was lying on a bookshelf at home or the lyrics of a song that you hear on the radio or something you listen to regularly suddenly has a deeper meaning. As they say, the teacher appears when the student is ready.

When I started paying attention to signs and was ready to learn, teachers appeared. So maybe it was never about writing to heal millions of people, maybe it was about writing to heal myself.

Below are some tips I have shared before but reminders are always good, even if it is only for myself. You can do one or two or all of them if they resonate with you to see your life unfold and improve:

  • Start your day with sitting still for 5-10 minutes and focusing on your breath or listen to guided meditations
  • Write down in a notebook three things you are grateful for every day
  • Move your body – dance, yoga, walk or do whatever you enjoy doing
  • Write down your bucket list and scratch them off as you achieve them
  • Set aside time to day dream, imagine the things you would do if you had all the money, time and resources in the world
  • Start a scrapbook or create a vision board on Pinterest
  • Every night as you are drifting off to sleep think of all the things that went well that day, the positive comments you received, something nice you said or did for someone. Go ahead tell yourself how awesome you are.
  • In the shower, imagine the water washing away any fears, regrets, doubts
  • Take a walk in nature
  • Spend more time doing things you are passionate about
  • Believe that the Universe always has your back
  • Remind yourself that life is happening for you not to you
  • Remember you can change your beliefs at any point in time and when you change your mind you change your life
  • Whatever you focus on you attract
  • Listen to music that makes you feel good
  • Watch or listen to videos, podcasts that motivate you
  • Keep learning and growing
  • Look up the parable “Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows”

I do many on the above list every day. They are all taught in some form or another by many world-renowned coaches, authors and gurus and you already know them.

Special gift: If you comment on the blog and tell me which tip or tips you will begin using or are already using, you have a chance to win a free Mindscaping session (worth $199). Direct message me and let me know by May 31, 2021 if you are interested in a session. To learn about Mindscaping check out www.mindvasana.com and click on Mindscaping.

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – Les Brown

“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” – Les Brown

Life Is Simple and Some Days You Have To Create Your Own Sunshine

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“I was lying on the grass on Sunday morning of last week
Indulging in my self-defeat
My mind was thugged all laced and bugged all twisted wrong and beat
Uncomfortable in three feet deep”
Steal My Sunshine – Len

When things are going smoothly for me, I find that life is simple and easy to navigate.

Every now and then when I find myself feeling sad or a little down, I have discovered ways to help me get out of it without wallowing in self pity for too long.

It is okay to feel the emotions and sit with it for a while when you are feeling down. Cry if you must then look for ways to get yourself out of the negative situation.

Go for a walk to clear your head, listen to upbeat music and dance. Watch a funny show or movie, write down your feelings in your journal, do anything that you enjoy doing, or call a friend.

To help me feel better, I think of little things that I am grateful for and I remind myself that I am responsible for my own happiness. I tell myself that it is not important what happens to me but how I react to any situation. That this too shall pass because nothing lasts forever.

I find that listening to guided meditations when I first wake up, doing a little bit of yoga, and writing down my thoughts and setting my intentions for the day, help me start the day right.

I used to think that people who woke up before 6:00 am were insane! Now, I automatically wake up around 5:00 am without setting the alarm and love the time I have to relax and do all the things I want to do before starting work.

Little steps that I take every day keep me focused. It will be five years next month since I created Mindvasana.com and committed to writing a monthly blog. I have not missed a single month of writing. I will have written 60 blogs as of May 2021.

Every night before you go to sleep, think back on your day and honour the things that went well and think of the things that you are proud of so that you can begin to focus on the positive things in your life and in turn attract more of it.

Life can be so simple if we focus on the present moment. We cannot change the past and we have no control really of the future. The only thing we have is this moment which will in an instant become the past.

The more you spend time in the present feeling happy and being grateful, the more chances you will attract more of it in the future. Keep it simple.

“A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future.” – Albert Einstein

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” — Mother Teresa

“The perfected future never arrives. Life is full of seemingly endless trouble, and then life ends. Find peace in the imperfect present.” —The Stoic Emperor

Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” —Rumi

www.mindvasana.com

Always By Your Side

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I will take your hand, and I’ll understand
Share all your hopes and dreams
Show you what love can mean
Whenever life just gets too much for you
I’ll be on your side, to dry the tears you cry

I’ll love you forever, I promise you
We’ll be together, our whole life through
There’s nothin’ that I, I wouldn’t do
With all of my heart, I promise you”
I promise you – Michael Bolton

This past year so much has changed in my life and it has taught me some important lessons.

The greatest reminder this year has been that life is short and tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. I realize that everything can change in an instant and that nothing ever lasts forever… the good or the bad. It hit me, that every year gone by is one less year remaining in front of me.

Enjoy those days with your little ones, whether it is reading to them in bed, playing in the park or making tents in the living room or listening to them perform a song like their favourite Rockstar. They grow up so quickly and only the memories remain.

We come into this world alone with nothing and will leave with nothing. When I die none of my material possessions will be going with me so instead of accumulating things, I would rather be doing things I like, learning and experiencing new things, making a difference using the tools and skills that I have acquired.

Instead of burdening others with my expectations of them, I realize that I am responsible for my own happiness and no one owes me anything. The greatest gift I can give my loved ones is my own happiness.

I have come to learn that we each are on our own journey. What is important to me may not be important to you. That does not make one wrong and the other right, we each have our own preferences and wants and are entitled to them. All we have to do is live and let live.

I have learnt that wherever I focus my thoughts and attention that is where energy flows. I can raise my vibration by being positive and grateful for all the abundance in my life. This also raises the vibration of those around me and brings about more abundance and harmony.

Every time I react to a negative situation, I have learnt to quickly acknowledge it in my heart and replace it with things that I am grateful for as I know that our emotions affect our health and attracts more of what we focus on.

A great short meditation that you can do anytime, especially when you are experiencing something negative is to breathe in that emotion, feel it in your heart and notice it change as you breathe out love.

If you find that hard to do think of anything that you are grateful for and feel your emotions change. There is always something to be grateful for.

I have learnt that what other people say or do has nothing to do with me but how they feel about themselves. In the end being kind, compassionate and patient are more important than being intelligent or smart.

Some other things I have learnt over the years is that I can change my beliefs that no longer serve me, at any point in time and adopt a different belief that feels right to me.

Every little step I take each day to improve myself, gets me closer to what I want. Goals are important but when necessary I need to be flexible and go with the flow.

I have come to believe that when someone we love leaves the physical realm, there are always signs everywhere that they are with us when we need them. All we need to do is tune in and see the signs whether it is in a song or a message on a billboard.

On our wedding anniversary, March 16th, I was feeling a little sad and waiting for a sign from Louie and this picture which was running on our television popped up – “Always by your side”. This was the first time I had ever seen this picture amongst the thousands of pictures that we had taken on our trips.

I realize that every day is a chance to learn something new. I still must learn that it is okay to say no to things I really do not want to do because I am afraid of hurting someone’s feelings. Life is too short to live with any regrets.

I have realized even more than before that relationships are important and that in times of sorrow or pain, your family and friends are there for you and to always appreciate them and never take them for granted.

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” ―Eleanor Roosevelt

“Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now.” ―Thich Nhat Hanh

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them―that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ―Lao Tzu

“There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.” ― Marshall McLuhan

“But one of the big lessons I have learned from my journey is you can’t please everyone, so don’t try.” ― Chris Colfer

www.mindvasana.com

She Sees The World Through Rose-Coloured Glasses

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“She sees the world through rose-coloured glasses
Painted skies and graceful romances
I see a world that’s tired and scared
Of living on the edge too long
Where does she get off telling me
That love could save us all
Save us all”
Rose-Coloured Glasses – Blue Rodeo

When the world turned upside down last year, things happened that we never thought were possible in our widest dreams. How could we have imagined that the things we took for granted like travelling, eating out, shopping, hugging family and friends would all come to a stall for most?

Not so long ago, the tour guide that took us to Agra in India to see the magnificent Taj Mahal, took a picture of me with my so called ‘rose-coloured” glasses with the reflection of the beautiful Taj Mahal mirroring back, with hundreds of other tourists standing next to me. A lot has changed since then, and we have had to adjust to the new reality.

For me, once I accepted that things had changed and we were in for the long haul, it became clear to me all the things that were important to me and things that no longer mattered. I realized that so many of the material things that I possessed I could do without.

I have been on a journey for many years trying to find out how to become my best self, to learn from my mistakes and live a life that is meaningful and purposeful. I love learning and taking courses, especially on topics related to the connection between the mind, the body, and the spirit. In all the trainings and books that I have read, the common theme has been that we each create our own reality.

The stories that we tell ourselves create our reality so if we change our stories and our beliefs, we can change our life. We are programmed from a very early age by our parents, teachers, caregivers, with all their perceptions of how things should be, and we accept them to be true. We need to remember that at any point we can put on our rose-coloured glasses and decide to change a belief that no longer serves us.

There has been a lot of death and suffering in the past year and many of us have lost loved ones. We need to keep reminding ourselves that they are no longer suffering and are resting in peace now and will always be with us in spirit.

They would want us to keep moving forward, growing, and living a happy life, doing the things that bring us joy. We all have a choice on how we look at every situation in our life. We can either focus on the negative and all that is wrong, or we can put on our rose-coloured glasses and see the beauty and positive in every situation.

Life is too short to hold grudges, judge others or to focus on our losses. Do things you love and let go of things you cannot control. Accept others as they are, live and let live and remember that with every moment forward in time, you have a moment less with your loved ones. Live life to the fullest by being present in the moment.

“I really think that if you live for today, tomorrow takes care of itself.”

“Everything that’s realistic has some sort of ugliness in it. Even a flower is ugly when it wilts, a bird when it seeks its prey, the ocean when it becomes violent.”

“I guess I kind of lived in a fairy tale world… looking at everything through rose-colored glasses. I probably always will, to a certain extent.” – Sharon Tate

www.mindvasana.com/blog

The Light That You Left Me Will Everglow

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Oh they say people come
Say people go
This particular diamond was extra special
And though you might be gone
And the world may not know
Still I see you celestial
Everglow – Colplay

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

My biggest fear came to life on January 14, 2021. That fear was of someone close to me dying. I thought if my husband, Louie were to die before me, I would not know how to go on without him.

It is strange how once you experience your biggest fear you realize you have no choice but to accept it. I will not lie; it is not easy because we had been together for almost 33 years and there are tons of memories.

Every time I hear a song that he liked I remember how much he loved music. He loved all kinds of music and it seemed like every time a song would play, he would say, “this is my favourite song.”

He loved Coldplay, Arcade Fire, 80’s music like the Pet Shop Boys, 70’s Classic Rock, Reggaeton, soft romantic songs by Roberto Carlos, Hindi Bollywood tunes and even Ghazals and he could dance to almost any type of music.

Everywhere there are memories of him to remind us of the wonderful times we had together. We lived life to the fullest and did the things we wanted in life, travelled to many beautiful places, experienced many different things, we went dancing every weekend, so I have no regrets of our life together.

I only wish we had more years together but then would any number of years ever be enough really? Each of us must go someday and once we accept that, we can focus our energies on the now, creating memories that will live on forever.

There were so many fears that I had when Louie was going through his cancer journey. I cried each time I was told by the doctors or nurses that I would need to do something which I had never done before.

I was so afraid when I had to go into the hospital to train on how to suction the tracheostomy tube (breathing tube) of thick mucus through the tube in Louie’s neck into his windpipe and learn how to clean the trach.

I was afraid I would do something wrong and kill him and I cried worrying about it but once I did it a few times, it was not as scary anymore. There were many other things that needed to be done and they all scared me to death but those are things that needed to be done and I got it done. One of the biggest lessons I learnt during this journey was that we are capable of much more than we think we are.

It is ironic that someone who loved to cook could no longer eat. His meals for almost ten months were Ensure and a few shakes as meal replacements. He loved to talk, debate and argue and could no longer speak properly. He loved to dance and was the most active person I knew and no longer had the energy.

He did everything with passion, whether it was dishes, laundry, dropping me and picking me up from work every day, running his business or accompanying me to my work events. I am glad that our daughter, Bianca has so many of his qualities, he would be proud of all that she is doing.

Through the pandemic, I was working from home for most of the year while accompanying him to his hospital appointments and after his tongue cancer surgery, he seemed to be doing so well. Even though he could not eat he would bring me an egg sandwich and fruits or French toast for breakfast when I would be in meetings online. I did not have the heart to tell him that I was trying to skip breakfast purposely.

Sometimes I would get so busy and forget to stop for lunch and he would suddenly appear with a plate of something for me to eat. Even though he was sick, he would worry about me not eating. He would cook us amazing dinners and not be able to eat with us. That made us so sad but at the same time it gave him pleasure to feed us.

We had quite a good Fall after his radiation treatment which was over in August and we all thought he was recovering but then the CT scans showed that the cancer had spread and was spreading quickly. He did everything he could to live as long as he could and even survived COVID-19 but in the end, it was his time to leave.

I believe the soul lives on forever and our loved ones become our Guardian Angels. I know that Louie will be looking down on us always and leaving us signs and want us to continue to live life to the fullest.

I believe in signs and I would ask the Universe for signs that things would be alright and that Louie would not suffer. They say if you see a feather, a cardinal and a butterfly, they are all signs that the Universe or Guardian Angel is looking out for you. I did see a feather and the next day a picture that a friend posted of a cardinal in her garden, but I kept looking for a butterfly and it seemed like I would not get my wish.

When we were in the Emergency room at the end just as Louie passed away, I looked at the door and there was this single image of a butterfly on the door telling me that everything was going to be okay and that he was no longer suffering and finally in peace.

Rest in peace my love, you are forever in our hearts and we will meet again. As the Coldplay song says, “the light that you left me will everglow”.

“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.” – Kahlil Gibran

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” –  Rumi

“Death is a word, and it is the word, the image, that creates fear.” –  Jiddu Krishnamurti

“Death is like a mirror in which the true meaning of life is reflected.” –  Sogyal Rinpoche

www.mindvasana.com/blog


Feather and Spice and All Things Nice

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

Cause I’ve got faith of the heart
I’m going where my heart will take me
I’ve got faith to believe. I can do anything
I’ve got strength of the soul. And no one’s gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star. I’ve got faith, faith of the heart
Faith of The Heart (Star Trek Enterprise) – Russell Watson/Rod Stewart

This is the time of year when we start thinking of the coming year and start making resolutions for the new year. For many of us 2020 has been a year unlike any other and it has made us question everything in life.

Instead of setting goals to achieve, all I want this coming year is good health for everyone, peace of mind, cherished moments with loved ones and making a little difference in this world.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that time with loved ones is precious, good health is important and that I do not need many of the things that I have accumulated over the years.

With the world at a standstill, I am ever so glad that we never waited to enjoy life. I am glad that we have lived life to the fullest. We love to travel and have done a lot of that. I have memories of our many road-trips, camping trips, birthday parties, Christmas get-togethers and those are the things in the end that are important.

This year brought us to a full-stop not only because of the pandemic and travel restrictions but Louie’s cancer diagnosis and continuing treatment.

There are some things we have no control over and after the initial panic all we can do is accept the situation, do what we can to make things a little better and let go of the outcome. The Universe is going to do what it is going to and once we accept that we can hope and trust that everything will turn out for our highest good.

Some days are a lot harder than others, but a good way to try and focus on the positive is, by writing down three to five things that you are grateful for everyday.

I think of all the people that are suffering and who have faced immense tragedies in their lives. There are children living in refugee camps, families living in poverty, not knowing where their next meal is going to come from and children going hungry. There are people who have so little and yet they persevere and live with hope for better times.

Hope springs eternal and without hope there is nothing.

The other day I was desperate and was looking for some hope. I asked for a sign from the Universe to let me know that everything would turn out okay and I said to myself, I would like a feather to fall on top of me to let me know that miracles happen, and that the Universe has my back. I want the feather to fall on me not on the ground.

The next day while we were getting ready to leave for the hospital, Louie said, there is something on the back of your sweater. It was a beautiful feather and I have no idea where it came from. I had not mentioned this ask to anyone, so I was overjoyed!

They say miracles happen to those who believe in them so I continue to believe that everything will work out okay in the end.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – ― Albert Einstein

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” —Viktor Frankl

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” – Laini Taylor

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.” – Elizabeth Edwards

www.mindvasana.com/blog

Every Inch of Sky’s Got a Star

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Every inch of sky’s got a star
Every inch of skin’s got a scar
I guess that you’ve got everything now
Every inch of space in your head
Is filled up with the things that you read
I guess you’ve got everything now
And every film that you’ve ever seen
Fills the spaces up in your dreams
That reminds me
(Everything now
Everything now)
Everything Now – Arcade Fire

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

The Christmas Tree is up and the string of lights are casting a soft cozy glow in the room. The Angel sits on top of the tree looking down on us with this serene peaceful look.

Outside the lights from the street and the stars above, shine as far as the eyes can see. It all looks so magical. Music is playing and life seems perfect. These are the moments when I am totally present with no worries about the future and memories of the past to make me melancholic or nostalgic.

Although it is not easy at times, I must keep reminding myself to let go of things I cannot control, accept whatever I cannot change, face my worst fears, trust that everything will work out in the end, never give up hope and believe in miracles.

I have learnt to accept that the future is not guaranteed, that still the music will live on, the sun will rise every morning and set each day. I have learnt that love, family, friends, good health and peace of mind are some of the most important things to me.

Living in the present moment should be the easiest and smartest thing to do. It would stop us from being anxious and fearful, yet our minds are programmed to wander and it either keeps us re-living the past or thinking about the future which we have no real control over.

We go about life planning for the future expecting that things will work out the way we expect it to, but life can change in an instant. The only thing guaranteed is this moment and the only time to be happy is now.

Make the most of your life now, be happy now. Love and be grateful for everything, be genuinely happy for others when they succeed. Stop judging people because we never really know what people are going through. No one is better or worse, we are all connected, and we are all here for a short while so love and be happy.

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” – Dale Carnegie

We can’t control the world. We can only (barely) control our own reactions to it. Happiness is largely a choice, not a right or entitlement.” – David C. Hill

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. – Rumi

A happy soul is the best shield for a cruel world. – Atticus

www.mindvasana.com/blog

Wake Me Up When 2020 Ends

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Blog By: Lata Advani Viseu

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my fathers come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day

Is it just that time of year, the change in season, or is it me?

The last few weeks have been a little rough. I have this constant knot in my stomach and fluttering in my heart, as if something needs to give or needs to happen.

I feel like the days are becoming a blur, a constant doing of what looks like important work but when you look at all that is going on in the world, it seems so insignificant and unimportant. I feel like I should be doing something more meaningful.

We have crazy world leaders spreading hate, the pandemic causing havoc all over the world, so many people that have passed this year, businesses closing and, fun and laughter seems to have disappeared into thin air. I sometimes wish I could sleep and wake up when all this is over. Anyone else feel the same way?

I admit I have a lot of things to be grateful for and I do what I can to stay grounded but there are some days, I realize, that you need to feel what you feel and let it pass through you and remind yourself that nothing lasts forever.

My only hope is that when things go back to the new normal, we all come out a little better, a little more patient, a little kinder, less materialistic and appreciate our time with friends and family and the warm hugs because everything eventually comes to an end and nothing stays the same forever.

For now, the things that are keeping me sane are my family, our little puppy, Laika, listening to music, writing, meditating every morning, reading books, watching shows and taking courses online.

I am also loving the days that I get to go out and enjoy nature and walks on beautiful trails in the city. I need to keep reminding myself how good I have it and every time a negative thought passes my mind, I need to replace it with three things I am grateful for.

I know this is a temporary phase and this too shall pass and five years from now the little things that seem so monumental right now, will not matter at all. The things that will matter are the people, the relationships, and the experiences.

I feel like the Universe is trying to reset and remind us of what is important in life. I feel like more and more people will wake up and realize that what matters is NOW, that what we do now is what is going to create our future because the past is gone and only the memories remain.

All I want is peace of mind and happiness, you can have everything else.

“If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” — Lao Tzu

“The less you want, the richer you are.” – Yanni

“This is my secret. I don’t mind what happens.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti

“People’s expectations from you are their problem, not yours.” – Thibaut

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” – Pema Chödrön

www.mindvasana.com

Sometimes the Sun Shines and Sometimes the Rain Cries

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
The 5th Dimension

Seasons change, sometimes the sun shines and sometimes the rain cries.

I love waking up to blue skies and sunshine and I also love waking up to the sound of heavy rain, thunder, and lightening.

Even if you are the most positive person, the sun cannot shine everyday. There will be those kinds of days too when you wake up to grey skies and the gloom sets in. It is easy to get pulled into feeling down and wondering, is this it, the same thing day after day, year after year?

Some days you wish you could go back to the days when you could just pick up and leave, travel somewhere, or go on a road trip without a thought. It is on gloomy days like that when you begin questioning the meaning of life, your purpose on this earth, what the point of it all is.

For these kinds of days, I realize I need sunflowers or any flowers, to cheer me up. I like sunflowers because they follow the sun. Wherever the sun goes the sunflower lifts her head towards it. They each shine separately looking up at the sun. They say when there is no sun, sunflowers face each other on gloomy days to share their energy.

Stand tall and turn your face toward the sun just like the sunflower. When you are feeling off or feeling down, be like a sunflower. Turn to a friend or a loved one, someone who will lift you up to share their energy with you.

From afar, all the sunflowers look the same but when you look closely, you see that they are each special and different just like you and me.

Sunflowers always look so bright and happy. They shine their happy colours and put a smile on my face. I want to be like a sunflower raining sunshine down on others.

“Sunflowers end up facing the sun, but they go through a lot of dirt to find their way there.” ― J.R. Rim

“Turn your face to the sun, and shadows follow behind you.” – Maori Proverb

“Her smile put the sunflower to shame.” – Jerry Spinelli

“Despite knowing they won’t be here for long, they still choose to live their brightest lives — sunflowers.” – Rupi Kaur

www.mindvasana.com

Here for a Good Time

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

A very good friend of mine
Told me something the other day
I’d like to pass it on to you
‘Cause I believe what he said to be true

He said we’re here for a good time
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time
The sun can’t shine every day
We’re Here for a Good Time (Not a long Time)
Trooper

As I looked out from my balcony at the night sky, the moon was shining down and the stars were twinkling bright. I was in awe thinking how beautiful it all was and how the same moon that shines on me, shines on you too.

It does not care whether you are black, white or brown, whether you are a Catholic, Muslim, Hindu or an atheist. It shines on each one without discrimination. Long after we are gone, the moon will continue to come out and the stars will twinkle on. To think how insignificant we really are, in the grand scheme of the Universe!

There is no one in this world like any of us, we are each one of us special and at the same time because we are unique, we are all the same. We are all connected through our humanity. When we judge and hate others or think we are more special than others, it is only our ego because we really are all equally special and unique.

We have no idea how much time we have left on earth, the moment you were born a death sentence was handed out because the only guarantee in life, is death and yet we are so afraid of death. Death does not stop us humans from doing everything to make sure we bring it on sooner by continuing to fight and kill each other.

So many people have died in 2020, it has been an unusual year where it feels like the Universe is trying desperately to re-set itself. As we get older, the inevitable death of loved ones begins to sneak into our thoughts. When our time is up, there is no second chance to make it right. Why waste your time on petty things when you do not know whether you have a day, a month, a year or a couple of decades left with the ones you love? How many more years of your limited time on this earth are you willing to sacrifice?

Live life to the fullest, accept others just the way they are, as you would expect them to accept you as you are. You are only here for a short time so have a good time the sun can’t shine everyday.

“There is no equality. The only thing people all have in common is that they are all going to die” – Bob Dylan

“The bad news is nothing lasts forever,
The good news is nothing lasts forever.”
― J. Cole

www.mindvasana.com

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice
Freewill – Rush

In the nineties I quit my job and Louie and I flew to Brazil for a month to travel around to see the beautiful country and meet up with some friends that had moved there a year before. We met up with Louie’s cousins who he had not seen in decades, stopped by to see some of our old friends and made some new friends along the way.

The cold long winters in Toronto and the fact that after going through all kinds of tests trying to have a child, it looked like that was not going to happen so we decided to take a leap of faith and moved to Brazil to start a new life.

We fell in love with a beach town called Porto Seguro in the state of Bahia, met a lovely real estate agent, Ligia who became a close friend and landed up buying a piece of land there. A year later we packed up a container with all new furniture, appliances and our belongings to live by the ocean in Porto Seguro.

We found a place right in the middle of the most touristy street, in the centre of the town called “Passarela do Alcool” translated as Alcohol Road where they served exotic fruits mixed with alcohol, beautifully displayed. There were outdoor night clubs where they played music every night. The weather year-round was to die for and the ocean was right there.

We opened a store, painted it bright red and called it “Gandhi”. We sold all the usual touristy souvenirs, along with exotic knickknacks, bags, skirts and other items made in India. Everyone crossing the river to get to the island had to pass by our store.

Locally, we met some amazing people including a couple that befriended many locals and who later turned out to be international crooks. That was probably the most exciting and interesting part of our almost a year of living in Brazil.

This young couple spoke fluent Portuguese, English, French and Italian. A few days before they planned to leave Porto Seguro without paying rent where they were staying, eating on credit at different restaurants, borrowing items from all the kind folks in town, they began telling us sob stories. It began with them telling us that he had cancer and only had a few months to live so they were travelling all over the world.

Louie and I agreed to let them borrow our bikes and lent them our video camcorder among a few other things because we felt sorry for them. The next day, a whole bunch of local folks came to our store with the police to tell us that the two gorgeous crooks had tried to borrow a friend’s car. This friend was the only one who was suspicious of them and refused to lend them his car which at that time we thought was selfish and mean of him. They ended up taking the inter-state bus with our bikes, camcorder and other items, never to be seen again.

Around that time, I became pregnant and we had to consider many things including the quality of education and healthcare in a small beach town. I had begun missing family and friends back home too and the cold winters did not seem to matter anymore. We decided to sell everything and move back home to have our daughter in Toronto. We literally sold every single item except for my treasured books and photographs and some clothes which we brought back to Toronto.

There was an older lady who came by the store and wanted to buy the few sarees that I had saved. When I asked her what she was going to do with them, she taught me a great lesson that day. She said she and her husband would frequently dress up and take out their finest China and the best bottle of wine when it was just the two of them and celebrate life. When they had their friends, children and grandchildren over, they used their regular China and inexpensive bottles of wine. She said to me, never save your best treasures for special occasions, make your day-to-day life special together. I can picture her wearing a saree having a romantic dinner with her love.

I am glad Louie was always up for adventure and ready to drive into the sunset with me. In some ways being impulsive has made me open to try many things but at the same time I have made a lot of mistakes when I was younger but those mistakes have helped me grow and learn a lot of important lessons.

Life is so unpredictable, do what your heart wants to do because if you decide to wait for the right time, it may be too late. If you choose not to choose, you are still making a choice not to choose.

“You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices.” – Deepak Chopra

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” – Steve Jobs

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“People always ask me, ‘What is it that you regret?’ And I say, ‘nothing, because I could not buy what I’ve learned.’ And I apply those things to my life I learn. And hopefully, hopefully it helps me to be a better human in the future and make better choices.” – Katy Perry

“Some choices we live not only once but a thousand times over, remembering them for the rest of our lives.” – Richard Bach

www.mindvasana.com

So no one told you life was going to be this way

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.

But, I’ll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I’ll be there for you, like I’ve been there before.
I’ll be there for you, cause you’re there for me too.“
I’ll Be There for You (Soundtrack “Friends”)
The Rembrandts

The suicide of a young Bollywood actor recently and a few other famous celebrities in the past, got me thinking about loneliness, desperation and life.

The last few months have been tough on a lot of people, especially some of my single friends. There are many that are used to living on their own and like the freedom to do what they want, when they want, without having to answer to anyone, but there are those moments when the loneliness is getting to them or they are bored and missing the human connection, a hug that in the past was taken for granted.

Some have been in relationships before and have been jaded or hurt and are afraid to open themselves up to new relationships. Even with the world wide web and all the dating apps, it still is not easy to find that perfect mate, your soulmate that they say, everyone has out there.

If you are tired of being alone, maybe you need to start looking at this differently, maybe there is no one person for you. Perhaps there is more than one soulmate out there; one that likes reading and discussing books with you, or another soulmate who loves your kind of music and concerts, or one who loves to travel or go on adventures or another that just likes to sit at home and relax.

Then there are others who are living in a loveless relationship and wish they were alone because the connection has worn off or they have drifted apart. If you have a strong bond and are open and understanding, that can get you through the tough times. People can be lonely even when surrounded by hundreds of people, admired and looked up to, as we have seen with the many celebrities who have taken their own life.

How does one get to that stage? Unless you have been through such total despair, loneliness, thinking that no one can help, it is hard to understand. I know that pain of wanting to end it all, many years ago, but luckily, having come through it alive, I realize now that when I was at my lowest, I could have gone to so many people that could have helped me but I was ashamed to ask. At that time, it did not feel like an option but there is always someone who will help. All you must do is, open up and trust.

For anyone who is desperate and needs to talk to someone, if you are going through something that you think you cannot take anymore, please know that you are not alone and that you can connect with me and I will find a way to help you or connect you with someone. Even if you think no one cares, you must keep trying because there is always hope when you are feeling total despair. The good and the bad never last forever and this too shall pass.

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” — Maya Angelou

“I am lonely, yet not everybody will do. I don’t know why, some people fill the gaps and others emphasize my loneliness.” ―Anaïs Nin

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.” – Mitch Albom

“I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel alone.” – Robin Williams

“We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” – Orson Welles

www.mindvasana.com

With Illusions of Someday

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First thing we’d climb a tree
And maybe then we’d talk
Or sit silently
And listen to our thoughts
With illusions of someday
Cast in a golden light
No dress rehearsal
This is our life
Ahead By a Century – The Tragically Hip

There is no dress rehearsal, this is our life. We think someday we will have everything we dreamed of and then we will be happy, but there are no guarantees, no one knows how much time we really have or how our life can change in an instant.

We take things for granted, waiting for that perfect time to live our best life and when we look back, another day has gone by, another year and another decade gone by.

Life passes us by so quickly on the treadmill of this rat race. We think we are getting ahead but really; we are not going anywhere, just spinning in one place.

If seems like no one is satisfied with what they have, everyone wants more and more until everything comes to a standstill and then we have no choice but to take stalk of what is important in our lives.

It is only when we or someone we love is suddenly faced with a life-threatening health issue or is in an accident, or hit with some other tragedy, that we realize how precious every moment is. The little moments spent with loved ones, doing things we enjoy are the important moments, not the big dreams of material things.

If you are waiting to be happy once you have a new job, more money, a bigger better house, or the perfect partner, you are not living your best life. The only way to live your best life is to enjoy this present moment and to be grateful for what you have now.

It is okay to dream and plan and fantasize about the life you want but do not forget to live the life you have now, this moment that will be gone forever in the next moment.

If you are waiting for an apology from someone, if you are holding a grudge, now is the time to let it go, do not take it into the next month or the next year. Write down all the hurt, the pain that you think they are responsible for and then burn that paper. Feel yourself free of the hold they had on you and let go of it forever. Remember, forgiving and not forgetting is like not forgiving at all.

If you are still playing the victim, stop wasting your time and know that at any moment, you have a choice to change your beliefs about anything. At any moment you can say this is no longer me, I choose to believe something different and take steps to move toward the life that you want.

Look at all your beliefs and examine them. Is it true or is it because someone told you it was so? What is right and what is wrong, decide for yourself instead of following old rules and beliefs that were passed down to you from generations. You only live this life once so live it on your own terms. There is no dress rehearsal, this is life.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam

“You only pass through this life once, you don’t come back for an encore.” — Elvis Presley

“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” – John Lennon

www.mindvasana.com

Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing’ don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Rise up this mornin’
Smiled with the risin’ sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying’, (this is my message to you)”
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley, Bob Marley and the Wailers

In times of trouble, in times of fear, do you choose despair, or do you choose hope? This life is so unpredictable, one day everything is fine and the next day you are in the middle of this crazy corona virus spell. To top it off, some of us are going through other stressful issues.

Amidst the lockdown, my husband, Louie had to be taken by EMT to the hospital when he lost consciousness and fell in the bath last month. Luckily, he did not sustain any injuries, but the doctors noticed an issue with his tongue which started the rollercoaster chain of events. After several appointments and a biopsy, Louie was diagnosed with tongue cancer which came as a complete shock as he does not smoke and, drinks occasionally.

It has been an extremely stressful time for all of us, going to the hospital during covid-19 for appointments, watching him suffer in pain and losing so much weight in such a short time frame. I think the worst feeling is to see a loved one suffer and in pain.

It is so easy to spiral down the road of fear and anxiety unless you make a conscious effort to stay positive. I know how important it is to look for the good when everything seems to be going wrong and out of control, but some days are a lot harder than others to stay positive.

We have been reminding ourselves that despite everything, we have been fortunate because our daughter Bianca is at home and, her boyfriend made it to Canada just before the flight ban and, his support has been invaluable. Having the three of us at home with Louie, has been a blessing.

With COVID-19, the hospitals are cleaner, getting appointments with Specialists are relatively easy since all non-urgent surgeries have been postponed. The three of us don’t need to physically go into work or school during the closure. My work family at HRPA has been immensely supportive, especially our CEO and my team.

We have my brother and his wife frequently dropping off homemade soup for Louie and meals and treats for us. We have support from family and friends from all over the world connecting us to family friends that are doctors in the States and in India, they are reviewing the medical reports and scans and advising us. People are praying for him, chanting for him or sending him healing vibes and I’m downloading positive healing messages every chance I get, while he’s falling asleep.

All our lives, Louie has been the stay-at-home husband/father who ran a business from home and selflessly took care of all the household work including cooking everyday. The tables have now turned, and it is our turn to take care of him while he gets better.

We realize this is going to be a long journey, but we have the best doctors in one of Canada’s top hospitals taking care of Louie. With the support of loved ones, a few months from now, Louie will be well on the road to recovery.

If you are going through a stressful situation, remember to take care of yourself too. Some of the things that have been helping me keep sane are, meditation, writing all the things I am grateful for each day, visualizing the future that I look forward to and listening to music.

Take one day at a time and each time you have a negative thought, replace it with three positive ones. Choose to focus on all the good in your life and know that whatever is gong to be, will be. Enjoy every moment with your loved ones and trust that the Universe always has your back. As Bob Marley says, every little thing gonna be alright.

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” – Malcolm S. Forbes

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Mahatma Gandhi

www.mindvasana.com

See you on the other side of this chaos

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all
We can’t go on
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are the World – U.S.A. for Africa

Oh, those days of dreaming about not having to commute to work or wishing you could work from home and have more time to spend with family. Guess what, our dreams have come true. No more waiting for another year to be happy.

The whole world has slowed down, we have more time to relax, read books, experiment with those recipes that we had no time to try because we were always busy with work and on the go, all the time. So many things to do around the house? Not to worry anymore, plenty of time now.

Time to spend with your little ones and more time to spend time with the family, playing board games, baking, teaching your kids things that you wish you had time to do in the past, before the whole world slowed down.

I know it is going to be tough for many of us, trying to slow down from our busy schedules, however, when you have no choice but to do so, you are forced to come to terms with it. That is when the journey to a new way of living begins.

Now that we have what we wished for and realize how powerful we are because we made our dreams come true by wishing, thinking and visualizing it, how about dreaming of a new reality. A world where everyone has enough to live a comfortable life, time to spend with loved ones, doing what we love. Our life is so fragile and temporary in this physical realm.

If we all focus on the positive things that have come out during these strange times, perhaps our collective thinking will move us toward a positive outcome. We have no clue of who is going to live and who is going to die or when. The only thing we know for sure is that as soon as we are born, our days are numbered and that we are all going to die one day.

Since we really have no control about when, will be our time to leave this physical world, the limited time that we have on this earth, best to live doing things we enjoy. This is a good time to take stock of everything that matters to you.

Make a list of things you are grateful for (reminder – whatever you are grateful for, you get more of), a list of all the things that make you happy, what would your ideal life look like? This is a good time to reflect and write down your bucket list, you will notice that the things you thought you wanted in the past, no longer really matter.

You never know what tomorrow will bring, things could be even worse but know that the bad times too will pass, and the world will probably be a lot different than the one we knew a few weeks back. I hope we learn to live in peace with each other, with nature and with ourselves. Let go of things you cannot control but never give up hope for the future. We are all in this together.

For those of you with little ones, your attitude toward the current situation now, is going to leave a mark on them in how they see the world and how they react to whatever happens in the future.

Till the age of seven, children download everything happening around them, into their subconscious/ unconscious mind and operate from that in their adult life, so please be mindful and help them focus on things that they can be grateful for and to stay positive.

Good luck everyone and see you on the other side of this chaos. Let us all come together as one and make the best of this situation. This too will pass as… nothing lasts forever.

“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Breault

“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” — Seneca

“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” — Japanese Proverb

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” — Marcus Aurelius

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.” — Henry David Thoreau

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” — Steve Jobs

The Magic Is In The Music And The Music Is In Me

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

If you believe in magic don’t bother to choose
If it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and listen it all starts with a smile
You won’t wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping and you can’t seem to find
How you got there, it all blows your mind

If you believe in magic, come along with me
And we’ll dance until morning baby just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I’ll see you tomorrow, late at night
And we’ll go dancing, baby, then you’ll see
How the magic’s in the music and the music’s in me
Do You Believe In Magic – John Cougar Mellencamp

“Music is all you really need. Love and music is all we need” – Eric Clapton, 2000 Induction. This is the quote that stood out for me the last time we visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Music lifts you up or brings you down depending on what you are listening to and, how you are feeling. A song comes on the radio or the DJ plays a song and it takes you back to good times or sad times.

Music can transport you to your teenage years, to another time, to another country, to your darkest days or your happiest ones. Music can instantly bring a smile to your face or it can bring tears in your eyes. Music and especially words are powerful!

I cannot imagine a life without music. I need music in the morning, during the day when possible and, soothing music at night as I fall asleep. I love the lyrics, the rhythm and all those talented folks that can write and make music.

In times of sorrow or tough decisions that I need to make, I find a song will come on the radio and the lyrics will speak to me as if giving me the answer to what I need to do. A message I need to hear, maybe something that gives me hope or lifts me up from sadness.

There are no coincidences, there is a reason for everything. If you pay attention, maybe it is something you need to hear and the message in the lyrics is for you.

If we listen to our heart and ask ourselves what we need to do, the message will show up, either in a song or in a book or in something someone says or a whisper.

When you are ready to hear the message, it will show up somewhere. All you need to do is ask yourself and then listen and act on it. We always have a choice what we want to take from it.

In my darkest days, I would listen to sad music and feel even more depressed and wish the world or at least my world would end. Now, I am a different person and know that life will always bring joys and sorrow and even the bad days will come to an end. How I choose to respond to it, is my choice. I choose music that lifts me up and makes me dance.

If the lyrics speak to you and make sense to you, you have the choice to do what you want with it. They are just little whispers nudging you because in your heart you already know what you want.

What you listen to constantly, what you read, what you think, how you talk to yourself and to others, is what you are attracting into your life. Careful what you hear and absorb because that is what becomes your life.

Make sure that most of the time, you are listening to upbeat music with lyrics that make you smile and happy. Tap your feet to the music, think of all those songwriters pouring their heart out in a song and dance when you can. Why walk when you can dance!

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent” – Victor Hugo

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” – Albert Einstein

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” – Aldous Huxley

“When words fail music speaks.” – Irena Huang

“He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that’s what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you.” – Hannah Harrington

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” – Friedrich Nietzsche