Inspiring Commencement Speech

JK Rowling's inspiring commencement speech at Harvard University in 2008.

We Are All Meant to Shine!

Photo Monday

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." ~ Elliott Erwin

This weekend we had a Rainbow Birthday party for my twin daughters 4th birthday. I made a rainbow cake (the cake was actually a rainbow of colors as I had put gel food coloring into 6 different batches of white cake batter and then layered them in the baking pans) and then covered the outside with rainbow colored frosting too. There was a platter of fruit designed into a rainbow (strawberries for red, cantaloupe for orange, pineapple for yellow and so on....) So with rainbows on my mind I thought sharing a favorite photo where I captured a rainbow being formed by a large prism in a window of our home would be perfect.

Here is a little extra rainbow inspiration:

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

~ Dolly Parton

Eva Cassidy singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow:

Do you have a favorite photo you would like to share?

Or look around your space and see if you can find some version of a rainbow and share that too.

(Be sure to leave a comment and post a link to your site.)

Inspired Monday

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words

and that which cannot remain silent." ~ Victor Hugo

One of the things in life that I find incredibly inspirational is music. I love melodies and I love lyrics. When they are skillfully and beautifully put together I am in awe.

I recently discovered a new band called Gypsy Soul. Cilette Swann the lead singer has a beautiful voice and great stage presence. Guitarist Roman Morykit plays the guitar beautifully and also has a remarkable voice. Their ability to write powerful and touching lyrics is remarkable. Below is the lyrics to one of their songs called Be The Change as well as a video that includes the song. A second video shows the band performing a song called Who.

Is there a particular singer, band, musician or song that inspires you?

BE THE CHANGE

(Cilette Swann / Roman Morykit)

We are flesh and bone and
We are parts unknown
We are ashes, we are dust

We are rogues and kings
We are bold extremes
We are jury, we are judge

We are strength and heart
Though we are miles apart
We are one, we are love

We are hopes and dreams
We are noble beings
We are diamonds in the rough

Have we lost sight of all we are
Forgotten history and its scars
Reduced ourselves to doubt and fear
Given up what we hold dear

Freedom is won and fought
Lives are lost, souls are bought
But lasting freedom lives inside
Within our hearts and in our minds

So, BE THE CHANGE you wish to see
Be the peace that sets you free
Be the love you want to feel
Be the cure that helps you heal

Be the dreams that you desire
Be the spark of your own fire
Be the future you inspire
Be the wings that take you higher

So, BE THE CHANGE you wish to see
Be the peace that sets you free
Be the love you want to feel
Be the cure that helps you heal

Be the dreams that you desire
Be the spark of your own fire
Be the future you inspire
Be the wings that take you higher
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see
Be the peace that sets you free
Be the love you want to feel
Be the cure that helps you heal

Be the dreams that you desire
Be the spark of your own fire
Be the future you inspire
Be the wings that take you higher

Here is a video/photo montage that someone created and included the song Be the Change by Gypsy Soul

Here is another song being performed by Gypsy Soul called Who

It is Friday Night ~ Let's Dance

This is one of the best wedding processions I have ever seen and I have been to a lot of weddings. Love it!

Grateful Monday

"When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears."
~ Anthony Robbins

The above quote by Anthony Robbins is very true. Remembering to be grateful has the power to shift one's mood. It has the power to make a glass that once looked half empty, look half full. It is very difficult to remain pessimistic when you take time to look around yourself and consider all that is good and right in your life. Sure there are days where you might feel stretched to write a gratitude list, but even on the worst of days one can still find something to include.

Here is an eye opening video called the Miniature Earth. The idea behind it is that if the world's population was reduced to 100 people it would look like this....



Today I am grateful for:

having all my basic needs met abundantly (food, shelter, clothing)
having clean water to drink and bathe in, as well as indoor plumbing
this beautiful planet called Earth

What are you grateful for on this beautiful Grateful Monday?

Magic Mojo Mondays

Starting Monday there is going to be some Magic Mojo on the Red Boa. There are going to be regular postings on different topics. One Monday it will be "Grateful Monday," the next "Inspired Monday," followed by "Photo Monday," and "Express Yourself Monday" and so on. If you are reading this I hope you will return each Monday to play along. You can post comments and also include links to your own blog or web site and share in the fun! Magic Mojo Mondays are going to be a wonderful way to get the week rocking and rolling in a positive direction. Here is to living our dreams and creating our legendary lives!