While listening to the sounds of music…

I became nourished in a way that I did not expect. I came to the realization that music truly is food for the soul. Music can either lighten the spirit or dampen the darkest of days. There are various types of music from reggae to soft rock to classic, each one addresses a different aspect of our emotional needs. 

Melancholy music can be sad, yet beautiful in its own right. Melancholy music is poetic and has it's own creative license. The most melancholy music can also be the most majestic. It reminds me of the mantra my friend once told me: "There is beauty in the pain".  Sometimes the emotional pain we all have to go through produces in us the capacity for gentleness, serenity, sweetness, and tenderness.  We need only remember to look for the beauty within the pain. 

Music can be a spiritual nutrient.  Sometimes it feels like we undergo times of spiritual famine.  In these moments of famine it might be wise to know from where one's spiritual sustenance comes. Music can be the most wondrous food to nourish the mind, body and soul. Music lifts you up and carries you away into a distant land where rhythms are butterflies and songs are the voices of angels. Like veins bring in oxygen and take away the toxins, music brings in light and dispels the darkness. 

With the wings of an angel, we bid you adieu

Tara

Beauty in Pain

Oh happy day

i love it when things are going my way!

yet my fingers my toes have become my many woes

they do not thank but instead they challenge 

my very sense of well-being

this pain, this old nemesis of mine

it no longer arises as it remains a constant

it never leaves this friend of mine, this unholy friend

this terror never leaves 

if the absence of pain makes a good life 

i pray to God that the pain will end

we must take what life gives us 

turning its lemons into lemonade 

where does your paradise lay?

is it lost or is it merely hiding in the fray? 

alway return to the golden flower bed of HAPPINESS, 

just ask and she will gently whisper in return 

that there is always beauty within the pain 

there is always beauty in the pain 

listen for it,

it is there 

keep listening 

you will hear her sing a light tune

there is always beauty in the pain

there is always beauty in the pain 

there is always beauty in the pain 

With my warmest Aloha, 

Tara 

Beatlemania at its Finest !?

Truly something incredible about the Beatles is not only their lyrics, musics, or interesting ensemble of musicians. One inescapable fact about the Beatles is their phenemonial success as a band. They  are listed in Rolling Stones' magazine as the #1 greatest band of all time. This is no small feat.  An enigmatic question is Why? Why were the Beatles such a great success? They are forever written in the book of time and have been a sensation for decades. I do not envision that changing, either. Was it the marketing strategies that made the Beatles flourish? Perhaps it was the time that they arived to the scene?  During these pivotal times of social unrest due to the Vietnam War and the civil movements, The Beatles had a message about peace and opening one's mind to new ways of thinking. For example, in the song entitled "Revolution 1", it says " You say you'll change the constitution, well, you know, we all want to change your head, You tell me it's the institution, well, you know, you better free your mind instead".

People were just beginning to move past the horrors of the Vietnam. This was a time of great social revolution, and the Beatles arrived at the scene just in time to soothe the wounds of social heartache. The Beatles creative spark left a wave of impact throughout the western world, and western consciousness. They had a message of peace and love, and that was exactly what the world needed at the time. Today, the youth perhaps look towards the Beatles as a reassurance that there was once a time, a place, a moment in history, where peace, hope and love dwelled.

The Beatles appeared to be the Be all, end all, of music according to young listeners. I didn't really know anything about music other than the Beatles. I was not drawn to the Beatles for their music alone, but more so about the culture that their music brought forth. The Beatles were not solely music. But they were, in fact, a huge entity describing the times and events unfolding. The Beatles, in my young mind, would last forever. The Beatles were my Reality, both culturally and musically.

I remember growing up and witnessing the crazy hysteria that the television stations promoted surrounding the Beatles concert. We all bought into this hysteria. Girls were screaming and weeping at the knowledge that the Beatles were playing the Cow Palace nearby.  I would have down anything to be able to attend this concert. However, my mother nixed the idea as I was too young. My sister who was five years older than I was allowed to attend, which I found to be so grossly unfair. My parents did not allow me to see the Beatles concert and that was an offense larger than any. I stayed home that night and cried myself to sleep.

Another memory I have from my adolecense is regarding the controversy that John Lennon found himself entwined in. John Lennon made a remark that said "We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity." I wasn't really offended by his comment at the time, thinking "it is no big deal".  I thought his comment was interesting, but I hadn't really thought of christianity and myself being attached at all. Not until many years later had i thought that perhaps his wording was incorrect. Now, as an adult, I realize that his comments were extremely outlandish. As a Christian, I understand now why it caused the controversy that it did.  In spite of the controversies, populations still adore the Beatles. Through good times and bad, the Beatles left a profound legacy that most appreciate to this day.

A Hui Hou and with my warmest Aloha,
Tara

If I Coulda Woulda Shoulda by Lou Rawls

Lou Rawls- If I Coulda Woulda Shoulda 

(http://youtu.be/uxSCsldCHhk )

I could have been a little more understanding 
and i'd still be loving you right now

I should have been smarter 
I could have used my head
and we would still be together some how

if i coulda woulda shoulda 
that's what folks always say

if i coulda woulda shoulda
but it's always too late
i'm saying it now

if i would have stopped it before 
it all got started out
i wouldn't be so sad and lonely without you

I wish there was a way 
to turn back the hands of time
I'd do it different if i had to do it all over again

if i woulda coulda shoulda
that's what folks always say

it's always too late
i'm saying it now

you know, i'm gonna profit from all my mistrakes
i'll never do the same thing, the same way, all over again

I could have been a little more understanding 

and i'd still be loving you right now

I should have been smarter 

I could have used my head

and we would still be together some how

if i coulda woulda shoulda 

that's what folks always say

if i coulda woulda shoulda

but it's always too late

i'm saying it now

Do you live a life filled with Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda's? Do you like living life on the edge, or flying by the seat of your pants? Do you like pushing the limits, flirting with danger, or the excitement of living life a little recklessly? When was the last time you threw all caution to the wind and lived life with full abandon?

People say this very often, If i would have done this...or If could have done that...then they would have a more positive, a more preferable, outcome. Yet, to say woulda coulda shoulda, has no meaning because you can not go back. You can not rewrite past decisions whether good or bad. To second guess past decisions you have made in your life can leave you riding a rough wave of discontent.

What can we do to make sure we do not fall into the trap of regret?  Do not be too hard and fast about the rules of the game. Let not the rules bind you from the satisfaction of fulfilling your dreams. Let not there be fear but instead let there be an open heart filled with joy and acceptance for all.  Follow your heart, speak your truth often, and be sure to follow your dreams not your fears. Regret is living in the shadows of the past. Don't woulda coulda shoulda your life away. Rather live life to the fullest by way of making definitive choices.

The song by Lou Rawls is saying that it is never too late to move forward in the direction of your dream. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. It is folly to merely wait around and see what happens. There are many people who merely wait for life to make decisions for them rather than carving their own path. Wouldn't it be great to know that you did what you wanted to do no matter the outcome? Regardless of the outcome, these are choices that you made and are standing by them. The most important things is that you Chose. When you chose, there is no room for regret.

A Hui Hou Kakou (until we meet again) :)
Tara

What it is to be a Woman

To be a woman might be considered by some to be either a blessing or a curse. The feminine in daily life is often forgotten or left behind in the modern pace of our world. Did you know that the civilizations of old were often matriarchal societies?  These societies placed woman in positions of power and often held them in high regard. In contrast, there have also been societies that have thought of woman as lesser beings. Examples that highlight the often harsh realities that being born a woman can be are seen both in the past and the present. 

One example of woman being considered 'less than' can be viewed through the life of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England from 1533- 1536, and second wife of Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn, albeit she may have been in the highest position as wife of the King, she all the same was not able to protect herself from the dire and painful demise that the King ordered to her. The will of the King for her execution was supported by mass public favor.  Henry VIII grew increasing infuriated when the Queen produced no male heir to follow in his footsteps. Equipped with minimal and false evidence, Henry VIII ordered for the execution of Anne Boleyn on the basis of sexual misconduct and treason. Henry VIII would go on to have his long sought male heir with his next wife Jane Seymour, who he would consider as his "true" wife. The legacy of Anne Boleyn will live on as a true story of a female who did her all for her husband, and yet was not appreciated due to her inability to provide a male heir. 

A current example of another travesty that has affected woman can be witnessed through the One-Child Policy that China has long imposed. The enforced policy that Chinese couples are to only have one child often leaves families with much greater favor for their male children. Through this one-child policy, female infants have experienced greater degrees of abandonment and neglect. This brings into question why does our society prefer males so much more  than females? Are not woman, too, capable? 

Woman are strong enough to give birth and strong enough to rule nations. Being a woman exceeds a mere biological reality. Being a woman connects us with something much deeper than ourselves. Being a woman connects us with the history of all woman. Women were once warriors, and medicine women, and wise women. Women were healers and priestesses, goddesses, and mothers. They were counselors and sages. The rights of woman have never been so great as they are today. Most notably we see female presidents becoming a modern trend. For the future, I hope for a new way of thinking regarding the value of women. God made woman to be so intelligent and so capable and yet woman have been down-trodden throughout time. My vision for a world that honors women begins with honoring all people first.  This can also be applied to people with disabilities and those with other forms of affliction. They, too, have rights and deserve respect. Whether you are female or male, we all deserve to be treated fairly. 

The Many Faces of Love

Throughout the day we hear the word Love used in so many ways and fashions, from the profound to the mundane. We have words for nearly everything but only one which truly stands for Love. The word Love has many branches, many faces. It is on the tip of everyones' tongue, but surely there is a difference from when one says "I loved that movie" to when one says "I love you". What is this difference? 

- what is the difference between a loving the forest and loving a baby duck? 

- what is the difference between between loving the sunset and having romantic, lusty love? 

- what is difference between universal love and love of a movie? 

In today's blog, I'd like to highlight the contrasting faces of Love. This distinction is important because maybe it can help us with our own search for love. We can narrow down on what form of Love we are searching for and not get lost looking in all the wrong places. 

The first face I will describe is the face of Agape Love. Agape Love is the capital-L Love. Agape Love is unconditional love. Agape is a Greek word for Love used throughout the Bible to express the deep, all-expanding power of Love. Agape is an ethereal expression that cannot be reduced to words alone. The all-encompassing title of Love is seen best through expressions of Agape Love. 

A second face of love I shall describe as Motherly Love.  We often hear of this love as the deepest potential bond between two human beings. We hear of the story of a mother lifting an entire car to rescue her child. Indeed, this apparent strength could only have come from the mothers' love of her child. The warmth and nurturing that a mother can offer to her child is one of the greatest gifts of all. We do not even have to be mothers, or even women, to begin embracing this form of love. 

The third face of Love can be described as Sexual/Romantic Love. Sexual/Romantic Love is uniting one's natural desire with a sense of intimacy for another person. This feeling of desire is often coupled with love. This is what I mean by Sexual/Romantic Love. Lust is not thought of as a form of love because often times lust is a feeling of desire/want usually without love. It is my personal belief that there is no love in lust. Having said this, one must be cautious not to assume that sex alone will not necessarily procure love. But when sex is coupled with love, then what more can I say than Yiiipppppeeeee!!!! 

The fourth face of Love is that of Committed Love. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, it explains that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” This form of committed love is usually found through time-honored experience together. 

The fifth and final face of love to be mentioned is the Love of nature and its beautiful creatures. The love of beauty in Nature, I believe, is a gift only from above. We can feel natures’ love for us when we feel the sun on our skin, hear the birds churping in the morning, or smell the luscious scent of rain. We can take refuge in the forest, as well as in her healing qualities. This is also a form of Love.  

With these many faces of love (and surely there are many more) should we perhaps expand our vocabulary of the word Love to reflect its many faces? What are some of your ideas about how we can? Always appreciate hearing from you. 

With the warmest Aloha, 

Tara 

Simplicity is Bliss

This is Tara Brock and I'm writing today about the "Happy Planet" called Earth. The question is, do we live on a  planet that experiences true happiness, or do the difficulties outweigh the potential to be happy? According to the Happy Planet Index (HPI), the happiest countries where measured by experienced well being, life expectancy, and ecological footprint. Over 150 countries participated and the results were surprising! According to the HPI , the United States is listed as 105/151. This number is suprising because although the US is a wealthy nation, the harmful ecological footprint that the US is leaving as its legacy greatly dampers the overall national happiness.  

It's uplifting to me that there is such a thing as a Happy Planet Index because it shows awareness that there may be an imbalance. That being said, there still remains the potential for change. Environmental sustainability is one way to ensure future happienss. When a nation is at war over natural resources, it is a sure thing that  happiness goes out by the wayside.  We are learning that happiness does not have to be destructive. 

According to the HRI, material wealth is not any measure of happiness, either. In fact, material wealth maybe the antithesis to what we think happiness is.  Why is the United States 105th on the list when we have such high standard of living? Does our need to consume at such a high rates leave us feeling increasingly dissatisfied? This is a question we all must ask ourselves. Our insidious need to 'keep up with the Jones' can potentially erode our right to happiness. Stress takes us off the course of simplicity, which in my belief, is the secret to happiness. Upon examination, we realize that simplicity really is bliss.  The attributes of simplicity and calmness are the antithesis of fear and discontent.  

One ancient culture and people that believes in happiness, both on a personal and political level, are the people of Bhutan. As I wrote about in my last blog, one thing I find worth mentioning is that the people of Bhutan are an ancient people. They have ancient traditions and ways of wisdom that were passed on to them and their families many moons ago. The wisdom of the ages outweighed the persistence of capitalism, which may correlate to their increased happiness.

This blog is not intended to portray happiness like Disneyland with  sunshine, butterflies, and expensive toys bouncing and fluttering about. But instead, it  is a commentary designed to inform the reader about the measurement of real-life happiness on planet Earth. 

What makes you and I happy may be two different things. However, where we do have a common base is that happiness is something that we all long for in some way or another.  We can not know happiness is unless we have also experienced its opposite. I do believe, however, that our planet is a wonderful place to leap from in order to fully grasp the meaning of true happiness. 

Please feel free to drop me a line or email me regarding what you have just read. Your comments are always valued to me. 

With my warmest Aloha, 

Tara