Never Forget

Flatiron :: NYC

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
This image was taken of the Flat Iron in NYC a few years back. Every trip I take to that city is an emotional one. New York is so vibrant, but I am always reminded of the loss and the pain that NYC suffered. That in turn, reminds me to be grateful for each and every day I have on this earth and to live and love fiercely.

For me, today is a day of remembrance to honor those lost not just in 2001, but in all crimes of intolerance and power struggles throughout the world. Its also a reminder to give thanks to everyone who works hard every day to keep our country and our citizens safe.

Life is short. Live it to the fullest with love and appreciation in your heart. Hug the people you care about. Don’t be frugal with kind words and smiles. Understand that different doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Be accepting and kind isn’t easy…it requires personal strength to overcome our fears of the unknown. The dream of world peace is a huge under taking, but it starts with us. Every person in our international community has the power to affect the way the winds blow. It starts with our actions, our reactions and the strength of our character. It lies in our ability to talk, to listen, to respect one another, to let go of the small stuff, to be generous with our goodwill, to understand what situations call for strength and what situations call for love. You can be the change. <3

#911 ‪#‎neverforget‬

Peace. Love. Boston.

Peace. Love. Boston.

A day after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, I feel sadness not only for the people affected, but for the nation as a whole.  I spent the drive to work crying as I listened to the reports of what happened at the finish line of what is, in essence, an international event.  My heart ached to hear about the loss and the pain that the people there were experiencing and I knew what today’s blog post would be about.

Obviously, it would be foolish to think that violence and suffering are unique to American tragedies.  In so many ways, we have it easier than nations gripped by unrest, war etc.  That being said, it seems more and more that we are seeing incidences of large scale violence grace the headlines of American media outlets.  Whatever your beliefs on the hows, the whys and the ways to counteract the trend, I think we can all agree that tragedies such as the explosions in Massachusetts are upsetting, to say the least.

Today, I saw this graphic and it resonated with me on a larger scale that just music.  To me, art is more that just the actual finished project. It represents so much that is beautiful and pleasant in the world.  When I thought about it in those terms. I felt that we could all benefit from a reminder to fill our days with love, hope and kindness, and to live more intensely, more beautifully and more devotedly than ever before.

Whatever your contribution to this world, do it with an open heart.  Use the light that you bring to this world and to the people around you as a way to combat the darkness, the sadness, the fear, the hate and the violence we all face.  It’s one world, we are one race and in the end, our journey through life will be marked by, more than anything, the legacy we leave behind.

To those affected by this tragedy: my condolences, thoughts, hope and prayers.  To those who stepped up in a moment of need to help the people around you: my gratitude.