Sunday 22 December 2013

Stardust


“But it doesn’t matter what it takes
You gotta keep believing
Cause we are stardust
Shining so bright
Lighting up
As we ignite” 

Stardust – Hurricane Kids

A few weeks I was in yoga class lying in Shavasana corpse pose and listening to the instructor’s words of relaxation. For anyone not familiar with this pose it is one of the final positions you assume during yoga and is the time of inner reflection after all the previous exercises. As I lay in corpse pose the instructor said something along the lines of think of one thing you are grateful for which you can take away from today’s class. My first thought, without a moment of hesitation, was music. And from that moment instead of emptying my mind I repeated the lyrics of Stardust over and over in my head until the end of the class, because right now this song is my jam. 

You may think it was a bit inappropriate to think of music as the thing I am most grateful for, and for a little while after yoga class I was a bit confused with myself too, until I realised why I had thought of music and not my family, friends or good health. It is because music can be all around us and is a integrated part of all our social settings. With my friends and with my family I have music and musical experiences; it has bonded me with many people far beyond what any other social environment could have done. And as for good health – well, I blog on every week how much music has helped my spirit and helped guide me through life. Don’t get me wrong, I am most definitely grateful for all those things, but I am also grateful for music because it has helped me in many other parts of my life. 

I have deliberately bought up the topic of gratefulness now as it is a week out from Christmas, which to me is a time to be grateful. I was speaking to a friend from work who said they hated Christmas time because it is commercial rubbish and people spend too much money on presents for others who don’t really need them. But to me this isn’t what Christmas should be about and if you feel pressure then you are doing Christmas wrong. Christmas is about sharing, caring and showing people you appreciate them and their efforts.  It’s a time for reflection and remembering what is important. And this Christmas I encourage you to be grateful. Be grateful for your family, for your friends, and for any gifts you receive – because it means someone else is thinking of you. 

And most of all this Christmas be grateful for yourself. This time of year we are giving so much time and energy to others we forget to think back on the year we had and reflect on our personal achievements.  This year I have come much farther than I imagined possible last December, and I am grateful for my personal strength and commitment throughout a tough but immensely rewarding year. This festive season be grateful, and see yourself as someone who can ignite and shine so bright. 


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