Look Inside For Talent

"Go and do your gift everyday." - Phil Pringle, Meditations

Watch all of those television commercials while relaxing during the evening after work. You will hear announcer carnival barking the next great thing we need in our life. Truly amazing how good they are at their jobs, a gift no doubt.

The "Easy Jet Water Cannon", "One Piece Dryer Ball", and even a "Three Speaker Rodent Repeller" are must have products. There are so many things materially, monetary, job, or relationship related that we get pumped up to want. Eventually we become immune to what we have already and end up only wanting.

We also tend to forget what we already have inside of us.

It is a talent of some sort that if we don't look inward, we will never see it. The gift will get blurred by the want of other things. And it is a talent so unique because it is your talent. It must also be nurtured and brought out into the light of day.

Once a talent is recognized and understood, it can be shared with others. As you develop your talent, draw yourself to others who can help you build upon it.

The quality of those we surround our self with reflect the advice and life we get. Same is the quality of water you drink is only as good as the quality of the well drawn from. The well needs to be tended and cared for or it will fall into disrepair. A poor well will only create sickness and misery.

Surrounding yourself with good people, the water drawn will refresh you.

Do what you can to shut out the unnecessary noise and wants of life. Concentrate on the gift which already exists inside. Use your gift everyday and see how much your world expands.

Stay inspired my friends!

After The Circus

“When you have once seen the glow of happiness on the face of a beloved person, you know that a man can have no vocation but to awaken that light on the faces surrounding him. In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ― Albert Camus

I am hopeful that all found their own meaning in the madness of what we call Super Tuesday. A day when several States hold their primary elections. And if you thought Barnum and Bailey put on a good show, politicians are a great second act.

But now that we have a short term respite from the noise, I offer you a relaxing moment to spend with Beethoven and Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2, popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata.

Ludwig van Beethoven

16 December 1770 – 26 March 1827

Midnight Sonata - the original title of the sonata is “Quasi una fantasia” (Almost a fantasy). The title of Moonlight Sonata actually didn’t come about until several years after Beethoven’s death. He would likely be quite irritated by the renaming as he was never fond of people naming his music.

History tells us that in the summer of 1801 while in Hungary, Beethoven composed this piece. He was staying at the home which belonged to the Brunsvik family. The composition was published in 1802 and was dedicated to Beethoven’s pupil and passion, 17 years old Countess Giulietta Gucciardi.

Beethoven had become acquainted with the Countess by means of his association with the Brunsvik family. In late 1801, he became her piano teacher, and became quite enamored with her.

Some say she is likely the "enchanting girl", about whom he wrote to his friend Franz Gerhard Wegeler: "My life is once more a little more pleasant, I'm out and about again, among people – you can hardly believe how desolate, how sad my life has been since these last two years; this change was caused by a sweet, enchanting girl, who loves me and whom I love. After two years, I am again enjoying some moments of bliss, and it is the first time that – I feel that marriage could make me happy, but unfortunately she is not of my station – and now – I certainly could not marry now."

While there are many thoughts regarding why Beethoven wrote this composition, and biographers make a connection between the unshared love he held for Giulietta and the harmonies heard.

We do know this sonata was dedicated to Giulietta, and that love writes its own story.

Stay inspired my friends!

Internet of Words

“Our Similarities bring us to a common ground; Our Differences allow us to be fascinated by each other.” - Tom Robbins

The novelist John Steinbeck had a theme in many of his stories about the similar bonds of both love and our humanity "make goodness and happiness possible." It is during times of politics, war, sports, work and every day living those bonds are sorely tested.

I watch my social media accounts reading the various posts of those who are very good and decent people. The internet as soap box will embolden people very much like the perceived anonymity of sitting behind the steering wheel of a car.

The full discourse of human emotion, belief and conjecture are all on display as the melee of words spread across my computer screen. There is no holding back in many instances. The full impact of one's convictions are expressed in fervent display.

At times the noise and vitriol rise to a point of pure hate while other times you will see the crescendo taper off into an "agree to disagree" moment of concession. Yet no one is happy from the outcome and all we are left with is an irritated heart.

What if a partial moment of common ground could be found?

The areas of our humanness where to survive we try to come together. Does it have to be a widening of the gap between what is left or what is right? Do we really feel the middle ground is not a place where we can move ourselves in to?

Or do we simply believe the one who shouts loudest and most often will win over the day? To lead with meanness or or hate is the only way to get attention to be heard. Are we even listening to those who believe differently?

Questions meant to examine how we communicate with each other.

I have a great belief in humanity, in the goodness and love we can show each other. The communication we seek with each other will have its moments of clashing rhetoric. But we can also find commonality in respect and friendliness in our words.

Stay inspired my friends!

Life Lived Simply

"Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."
- Mark Twain

Kindness and gratitude in life are simple acts of goodness.

A smile to the grocery clerk, allowing another driver into the line of traffic or a simple thank you are not so difficult for us to accomplish.

Live life with meaning, with simple kindness and with fervent gratitude.

Others will be inspired by your example, others will be moved to do the same.

Stay inspired my friends!