Gift Giving

I've always had a passion for gift-giving. I love the challenge of finding gifts that people love; something that surprises them and makes them smile. But as the cliche goes, in August I went to Africa and my perspective changed. A $50 goat can change the life of an entire family. But in North America we spend $50 on chocolates! My brain just can't comprehend it.

Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy shopping and enjoying material things. But if I'm going to give someone a gift, I would like for it to serve a bigger purpose somehow.

I found Christmas shopping this year particularly challenging, and found myself wandering through the mall not knowing what to do with myself.

I think next year, everyone is getting a goat.

;)

I hope the hoildays fill you with Love & Laughter!!

One Love & Music,

What is Selfish?

From childhood we are taught about this deluded concept of "selfishness". Mom says, "share - don't be selfish", or "think about others first, don't be selfish". Is that really what encompasses selfishness -simply putting yourself before others? At least, that's what I was taught in my house.

It has taken me 28 years to learn the real meaning of selfishness. To be selfish, I believe, is to impose your own beliefs and/or opinions onto another. To encourage someone else to do or act in a manner that you prefer, rather than their own. What selfishness is not, is putting yourself first. Doing what's best for you. Following your own dreams, even if they are misalighned with those of your friends and family. It's pure logic, really. If you neglect your own basic desires, wants, hopes, or dreams, how are you expected to be happy? To be content enough that you would still have the energy or desire to put others first? Sounds backwards to me.

The truth I believe in is so simple - if you really do what makes YOU happy, without considering what others will think or feel about it (because really, who cares other than them), you will be brimming with so much love and happiness that you won't be able to help but spread it onto others. You'll be so content with life itself that the compulsion to be kind to and help others will come naturally to you. 

The misconception is that if you put yourself first, you will cease to help other people, when in fact, putting yourself first will literally enable you to help others better. Who better to help than someone who has acheived true happiness?

Do what makes you happy NOW, and you will be a better person, I promise. Now! Go! It can't wait a moment longer!

One Love & Music,

Do you know just how lucky you are?

In Kenya with Free the Children 

As I mentioned in my last post, a month ago I had the honour of travelling to Kenya with Me to We and Free the Children. It would be an understatement to say "I learned a lot" or, "it was a great trip"! Visiting rural Kenya was completely life-changing. It gave me an entirely new perspective on life, people, relationships, materiality, and gratitude.

The people in rural Kenya have so little in material things, and are so abundant in everything else. They are happier, and more grateful than any North American culture I've ever been exposed to. For the little they do have, they are endlessly proud and filled with gratitude. 

When I was there I couldn't help but make the comparison with our lives here, and think about how often I hear people talking (including myself) about what they don't have; what they "need"; what they want; and how "happy" they will be when they get those things. What we have yet to understand is that happiness will not be brought by material possessions. True happiness comes from an inner peace that has to be cultivated by each person, within himself. The Kenyan people have this peace, this personal joy that shines through them, no matter how little they have physically. If they only posses one chicken, they are SO proud of that chicken; so grateful that they are lucky enough to have ONE chicken. In the Western world we are CONSUMED with what we don't have. What we lack. And as a result we continue to manifest this feeling of lack, and the inherent dissatifaction that goes along with it. Think about it: how many people can you say you know who are truly happy? Who are not more concerned with the things they are working "towards" rather than the things they have NOW? I find that as a culture we have been taught to either live in the past (in regret or longing) or the future (in anticipation of all the things we think will make us happy). Let's be happy NOW!

I make it a daily practice to pause for a moment and count my blessings. Literally. Then I step away feeling grateful for my friends, family, and everything I have accomplished, and I know that right now, I am exactly where I need to be.

One Love & Music,