“I Bet You’d Look Prettier If You Smile”: 3 Reasons To Stop Saying These Words

I’m going to veer a bit left for minute, as I generally write about how to deal with negativity using tools and adjusting one’s mindset, but not today. Today, I thought I’d get a little personal. Hopefully this information will, indeed, help someone.

To smile or not to smile…

 

Overwhelmed? Change Your Lens.

Using Light to Sleep

I didn’t sleep much last night. I remember having dreams. I don’t recall exact details, but they were uncomfortable. I felt out of sorts when my eyes slowly opened at 4:23 a.m., like I was supposed to do something, say something, go somewhere, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move for about 90 seconds. I laid there trying to identify the goings-on of my spirit. Nothing. I was just numb. I finally rolled over trying to recall why a sheer blanket of sadness slung over me like examining room gown – there, but not there. Nothing came to mind. I then, against my better judgment, picked up my iPhone and began to scan random posts on various social media sites. A lot was shared while I slumbered. The sadness grew. The hopelessness appeared. There it was. It wasn’t my dreams I was trying to escape; it was the cycle of hate (disconnect) that currently swirls in the universe. You can’t escape it. It’s here, and it’s smothering me.

Prince Rodgers Nelson: A Modern-Day Rumi – A Master Weaver of Love and God

A number of articles have been written about Prince since his transformation that discussed his mix of faith and music, but they lack the depth, honestly, raw beauty, and unashamed love he had for his (our) Creator. The articles I read, which were not exhaustive so forgive me if I missed something, focused on the “ying and yang” of his relationship with his sexuality and his faith. Certainly interesting, but I have to admit that I found his ability to weave God, Jesus, love, and the after-world into secular music and arts, in a way that didn’t make non-religious people flinch, awe-inspiring. Another writer who mastered this tapestry of sultry poetry and faith is Sufi poet Rumi.

…his ability to weave God, Jesus, love, and the afterworld into secular music and arts, in a way that didn’t make non-religious people flinch, awe-inspiring

It has taken me months of quiet contemplation and various stages of grief to finally put my thoughts together regarding how the artist Prince - because he’s way more than simply a musician - and Sufi poet Rumi unify God and love. They both presented romantic love and spiritual worship as a fluid, wonderful unification for everyone, regardless of religion affiliation, to honor and love God…and themselves. (However, Rumi's writings were solely about God though.) Both compose words that are picturesque, beautiful, and even haunting. You feel them. They penetrate you. They speak to the Him in you.  They can make you feel whole or beautiful or heard or less alone. Their words make you feel loved.

…They can make you feel whole or beautiful or heard or less alone. Their words make you feel loved.