Important People

One of the aspects of life that disturbs me the most is entitlement. The colloquial way of saying it is, "People who think they're important". Whether it is found in a child who has been given everything and expects it to continue, or someone who calls in on the phone at my job and expects me to know who they are by the sound of importance in their voice, it is a rather unattractive and, dare I say, disgusting quality to possess. 

I don't care who you are, I don't care what you've done, you are not better than anyone else. You are not above basic manners, etiquette and acts of kindness. We are all at the same level. Don't think just because you've accomplished "more", or have a greater number of material goods, that your worth is higher than any other human being you meet. Treat everyone with the respect and dignity you'd like to be treated with. Be kind. 

Just because you've cast a couple movies, been cast in a couple movies, know one famous person or have a rich family, doesn't mean that you have the right to talk down to people. Just because you have a bundle of money doesn't make you any more or less human than the next gal or guy. We are not what we have or what we do, we are how and who we love.  

People who know and are secure with their self worth, don't have to go flaunting it about in obvious ways. They own it, because it's part of who they are. Everyone has a right to be proud of the good work they've done. No one has the right to wear it on their sleeve and try to use it to push other people down. We're all just people. We all just live and breathe and try to survive until we die and in the meantime, we're striving to find a little hope and a great meaning in our lives. Why would you take away from that by being a dick? I'm serious. Knock it off and get a grip!

People who are worthy of being lauded, are those who bring others up with them. If you have achieved an accomplishment, or multiple accomplishments that you are proud of, then bring others in with you. Even if it's only a simple smile, or a bit of patience, these small gestures are a nice way to show your gratitude for the blessings in your life, and to lift others up with your good fortune.

There is no reason to be rude just because think you've done something cool. None. Capeesh? If anything, I would think the more you accomplish, the kinder you'd be, recognizing the luck you've had. What goes around comes around, and whether it's this life or the next, the afterlife, or tomorrow, you'll eventually fall victim or be graced with the same level of respect you treated your fellow human being with.

Be nice and get over yourself. 

God bless America,

Lo

Reminders, A Pep Talk.

Though it may be hard, it's important to separate your soul from the ego. Be humble, yet proud, of your endeavors and do not forget to take a moment to savor the small victories on your path. For sometimes, if you compile all the small victories together, they become quite large and impressive. Give yourself credit. Focus on being, not doing. Have compassion for yourself. Focus on what you desire, and blessings you already possess, instead of what you don't have. Never allow yourself to believe your soul's worth is comprised of what you do or what you have. It's only how you love. Live a life of truth rather than a life of popular opinion. Be authentic. Take time to look in someone else's eyes. Take a moment to acknowledge what is great about you and the many ways you give back to the Earth. You are important. You are seen. And you have talents that no one else on this planet does. You are unique! Relish in this and share those talents with the world. Sing your music out loud, not just in your head. The world needs you, the best, most-truthful version of yourself. So believe in this person and let them live without tearing them down every second. You count. You will be counted. You always have been. Keep going.

LL

Maya Angelou

"I've still not written as well as I'd like to write.I want to write so that the reader in Des Moines, Iowa and Chaohu, China and Cape Town, South Africa, and Harlem and Boston...I want to write so that, that reader can say, you know, that's the truth.’” - Maya Angelou 

True heroes keep searching for truth, no matter how renown, famous or secure they are in their artistry. There's always more. And it's this constant searching that makes you an artist. It's this thirst for authenticity that makes you someone to revere. Doctor Maya Angelou was one of my greatest heroes. Her simple phrase "Nothing Human is Alien To Me," inspired me to write the lyrics to the first song I ever dared to create by myself. Her artistry induced the creativity of millions. She was a teacher to the world and she will be greatly missed. Without ever knowing her, she touched my life beyond any description words can provide. Rest in peace, sweet angel, the world will miss your light.

To Grow Up

To Grow Up

No one taught me how to grow up

Ripped from the sun kissed days of youth

Into the bleak, wintery abyss of maturity

No one prepared me for this.

I know everyone goes through it,

I understand it's part of life,

That in order to be accepted we must "grow",

But I don't understand why.

Why should we have to give up

 The only things that make life beautiful

In order to survive in this world?

As children we understand what's important:

The connections between each other

Singing songs and holding hands

That play and make believe are sacred...

Why must these life-giving entities disappear

Or be looked at as Naive as we grow?

It seems to me that adulthood is code

For throwing your soul to the stones.

Couldn't we compromise?

I believe we can fulfill our childhood desires

While coming at them from a deeper

And more mature perspective.

Until we come to a place where "childishness:"

Is accepted in the adult heart

I will never feel welcome 

In a world that shuts such wonder out.

The Love That You Have

Everybody’s just doing the best job they can with the love that they have, and it’s a damn shame that it’s not enough sometimes. It is heartbreaking. Nobody means to do bad things or hurt someone they love and/or feel bonded to. It’s just I think deep down inside we’re all so empty...That we’re all just trying to feel this deep void in whatever way we can and that sometimes other people’s hearts get tramped in the process. When you think of it, it is selfish, yet so relatable...We all just need to be loved so badly, and we’re all so hungry for it that sometimes we forget about consequences. And we have to learn to forgive those who starved for love so much that they sucked all the love we had out of us. Even they were doing the best they could. And the best we can do is walk away, pick up the pieces and forgive them. 

The Art of Being Bad At Something

Just call me Revelation Sally, because I have a big one to share. I was wondering, wracking my brain about why I am not already a regular Jimmy Hendrix after two years of playing guitar, and I realized something very important: We get older and we forget the art of being bad at something.

Yes, there’s an art. Do you remember the first sentence you wrote, or the first time you danced, or the first time you painted a picture? No? That’s because you were probably terrible at it and didn’t know what you were doing. But you want to know what’s great about that? You didn’t care how terribly misspelled your sentence was,or what your dance looked like, or if your picture was just a blob of paint. The most important part was that you were having fun and didn’t understand judging yourself negatively was an option. 

All you were doing was taking what you learned and putting it to use. And if you continued to do what you learned, and continued to not judge yourself, you probably traveled on to be pretty good at the activity and, perhaps, even an expert. So the first key to getting better at something, and even traveling to being an expert at something, is to refrain from judging yourself.

The second key is to just keep doing it. We often give up citing frustration over not gaining success with a given activity, art or job fast enough. Well, when you’re comparing what you’re just starting, to other skills that you have been practicing for pretty much your entire life, the new activity doesn’t have a chance in hell. Take my guitar-playing situation. I have often compared it to signing. I have been singing since I could talk and taking lessons since I was 14. There is NO WAY that I could possibly compare these newly acquired skills, to ones I have been honing for almost all my life. It would be like comparing a two year-old’s verbal skills to that of a 22 year old. It’s just a wildly unfair competition.

The two year old still needs many years to grow, to learn, and gain damn motor skills. I read that it takes in 10,000 hours to become an expert on any given subject or art. I am probably 5-10% of the way there. That’s a lot of hours to go, son!

In conclusion, the third, and most important key is to embrace the art of being bad at something. In other words: enjoy the learning process. Know that unless you are a prodigy, this is something you’ve gone through many times before and conveniently forgotten. Even the greatest artists, musicians, scientists and poets were novices at some point. No matter what the task is, if you keep at it, refrain from judgement and learn to enjoy the process of learning, you will get better. 

Good luck on your journey from Bad to Expert.

With Love,

Lauren :-) 

A Rant About Spiritual Wealth

If you get everything you want all the time then you never take the time to understand most painful lessons, which are, likewise, the most fruitful lessons for your soul. You need to know what's truly important outside of the physical world, and unless you go through suffering, you never really get the chance to fully comprehend that. When I think of my deepest goals in life, allI really want to do is connect to the my fellow human beings and share the love I've learned--to make sure that whatever I do in my life is an expression of that. I thank God that I've had the chance to learn the truth, and also, that I am open enough to hear new truths each day. I love people, I love this earth and I want to give back to it. I love every creature on the planet,  I love God, I love that I am a part of everything and everyone. Love is the answer. The only answer that heals. The only answer that can take you through to the end and beyond. Everything good is coming to me and I'm giving out everything good...In other words I will not give the world energy that does not serve it and I will not accept energy that does not serve me. I have unyielding gratitude for everyone I meet and I learn from both every blessing and every suffering in my life. I have spiritual wealth. This can never be taken away from me. It is possible to have every possesion, every title you wear and even every person taken away from you...But no human or outside force can ever take away your spiritual blessings-the love you give and receive, that’s yours to keep. If you can base your life on these principles, dispose of your ego and learn to look at all outside forces (your status, job, possessions) as something that can serve your inner life, but that never define it, then, and only then, are you able to find meaning and peace.

I hope you just enjoyed my random stream of consciousness about the meaning of life.

Love,

Lo :)