Seek
out those things that make your soul sing.
- Source
Unknown
Over the last few months,
I’ve found myself on occasion spending a little time on the popular video
uploading website, YouTube. It’s usually when I have some free time on the
weekends that I search for a few inspirational videos from famous motivational
speakers and authors. Tony Robbins and Bob Proctor are two industry leaders
that immediately come to mind.
Speaking of motivational
speakers, are you familiar with TED talks? If not, those are brief speeches
(usually about 20 minutes in length) that are given by people from all walks of
life who speak on a topic that is in some way remarkable. The slogan for TED talks
is “ideas worth spreading.” And the ideas are just that. Any time I’ve watched
a TED talk, it’s been a rewarding and educational experience.
As long as I can remember, I
have always had a strong desire to seek out new ideas – new ways of looking at
the world in which we live? Don’t you think we all owe it to ourselves to have
an insatiable curiosity about life? It’s so easy to become distracted by the
busyness of life and to neglect our own personal development.
Besides using YouTube to fan
the flame of my personal learning network, I also enjoy watching the videos of
a few of my favorite songs. There are six tunes in particular that I’ve paid
attention to of late. In no set order, they are: “Good Life,” by One Republic;
“”You’re gonna miss this,” by Trace Adkins; “Try and catch the wind”, by The
Irish Descendants; “Somebody that I used to know,” by Gotye; “Peace Train,” by
Cat Stevens; and “No Kathleen,” by Ron Hynes. It’s certainly an eclectic mix,
isn’t it?
The above songs resonate
with me on a couple of different levels. First of all, the two songs by
Newfoundland and Labrador recording artists (The Irish Descendants and Ron
Hynes) give me a sense of pride in the province of my birth. They also fill me
with nostalgia and a desire to connect with my roots. The song by Trace Adkins
invokes a similar sentiment.
Secondly, the two songs that
have made it to the top of the hit charts in recent years (by One Republic and
Gotye), as well as the classic tune by Cat Stevens, cause me to reflect on my
own life experience. Yes, this could really be a good life (to paraphrase the
lead vocalist from One Republic) – a life filled with inner peace – if we
decide to revel in the awe and wonder surrounding us, and realize there is nothing
to complain about.
Regarding the Gotye tune, when
I hear that song I’m reminded once again that some of the people I meet just
drift into my life for a brief period of time. Maybe they’re a co-worker or
just a stranger with whom I’ve had a chance encounter. Being mindful of that, I
want to place a high value on my dealings with those people and try to adhere
to the wise words of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: “Let no one ever come to you
without leaving better and happier.”
