Happy Birthday to my awesome brother

It's my brother's birthday and I want to use this post to celebrate him because he's an awesome guy and I feel lucky he's my brother. He's always been great about making everyone feel happier. Whether it's by impersonating the Knights Who say Nii from Monty Python (and getting my sister and me to shout "Nii"back at him) or just telling a joke, he really helps people laugh more. So I share this clip of the Knights Who Say Nii in honor of my brother. I wish him the happiest of days!

Best things about Thailand!

I've just come back from a trip to Thailand which was an awesome experience. My family and I went there for my cousin's wedding which was really beautiful. Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things about Thailand. These include:

*The reclining and emerald Buddha- they're really beautiful and the buildings that contain them and are around them are spectacular.
*Street markets- you can buy almost anything at street markets. Plus, some of them have performances as well.
*Tuk tuks- these motorcycle taxis are a lot of fun although perhaps a bit death defying at times.
*Bangkok- it's a beautiful city.
*Sawadikah- I'm spelling the word phonetically but it means blessings and people in Thailand use it to greet each other and bowing. I just like the phrase. There's something nice about it.

I'll write more about my trip  in later posts!

Inspiring quote about being brave

"Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave."- Mary Tyler Moore
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mary_tyler_moore_130341

The actress/comedienne Mary Tyler Moore was born today in 1936 and I like this quote because it helps me feel brave. Whenever I feel like I'm not doing well it's comforting to know that "failing" really is a temporary thing. I know that I've grown stronger from it and in an effort to help others be strong, I enclose the song below. 

Speak your mind

"Speak your mind even if your voice shakes."-Maggie Smith

There's something nice about being heard and if anyone knows how to be heard, it's Dame Maggie Smith! As it's her birthday today I thought I'd share her quote here to encourage people to speak their minds! Even if it's hard to do so, as long as it's speaking up for something positive, I know that I always feel better after I speak up for positive things I feel strongly about. So I urge you to speak out and be a voice for goodness!

Pandas like snowmen too.

I've always rather liked making snowmen in winter. Apparently pandas like snowmen too and although this bear seems to be struggling (and possibly destroying) a snowman, there is something to be said for having fun in the snow.

Just for fun

Just because I thought this was funny and to keep the holiday cheer going, I  found this clip of a bird dancing and I had to share it because I'm all about dancing and it made me happy!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

I wish everyone who celebrates this day, a very Happy Christmas! I hope this day brings you and all your family much joy and I send best wishes and much love to all!

Christmas Pageants

 I really like Christmas pageants in churches where kids act out the Biblical Christmas story of Jesus's birth. Last week, my church held such a pageant but the whole congregation was involved and it was really fun. I'm writing about it now, even though it's after the fact, because as it's Christmas Eve it seems especially appropriate. I liked the pageant we held because everyone had a part in it. Everyone who wanted to wear one was given a costume and everyone got a chance to be involved in some way and of course there was much singing of carols which is the best part. There was something really nice about people standing and singing and having a good time. It was also just nice to know that I was with good friends and that I was in a place where people feel loved. Regardless of spiritual beliefs, wherever you are reading this, I wish you much love.

One of my favorite Christmas carols

As it's getting really close to Christmas I thought I'd share one of my favorite Christmas carol which is O Christmas Tree. I especially like the version from the Charlie Brown cartoon because it's pretty and it's jazzy and fun. So I use this song now to send early wishes of Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it!

Just because I can't help myself and it's Friday

As it's Friday and because I like to have a little fun over the holidays (and because I can't help myself) below is a little bit of Christmas silliness! Happy Friday from me and the Minions!

Sharing the same soul

I saw this clip of two little girls who are twins in so many ways even if not by blood. What I liked best about their story is that when they were told they couldn't be twins because they were from different races they couldn't be twins.  This idea prompted one of the girls to say that they were twins because they shared the same soul. It brightened my day to hear their story and I hope it has the same effect on others. Happy Thursday everyone!

If I could be anything in a next life....

If I could come back as a place in a next life I'd come back as an oasis. (According to the dictionary an oasis is: "a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation.") So if there have to be storms I'd like to be the calm in the storm! As it stands, I would really like (and have worked to ensure) that this blog can be a sort of oasis. At least from my personal perspective, writing this blog helps me feel calm and it's my hope that it might have the same effect on others. In that spirit, here is some music that helps me feel calm and safe. 

Show love

I heard this lovely song today called "Show Me Love" by the group Hundred Waters. I like the song because it speaks of how everyone can love. Despite the fact that people have hate and anger in them, I'm glad that love is strong enough to get through all that and come out stronger. I really like how love can be found everywhere. So, with that in mind, and in an attempt to send a little more love out to the world, I send out this post to all the world with all the love I can put in it. I wish everyone much love now and always.

Show love more

I feel like in today's world, there's never been a more important time to spread more love in the world. This point was driven home to me by a video I saw posted by the Ad Council which showed a kiss camera that highlighted people showing love to each other regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or any else. It did my heart good to see the video as it shows that love knows no bounds.

Celebrating Beethoven!

Ludwig Von Beethoven was baptized today in 1770 and as a result, I thought I'd share a piece of music he wrote that I think is rather cheerful. I wish everyone who reads this a very happy Sunday!

Sometimes it's nice to stay home

"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort."-Jane Austen

Although most of the time I'm all for going out and having adventures, when it's cold outside there really is nothing like staying home and being warm. So, to help you feel warmer (if needed) here is a song that always makes me laugh and reminds me that the sun does come out and things get hot, hot, hot!

As Fridays are days for excess

Since Fridays are traditionally drinking days, I thought the joke below was appropriate. I wish everyone the happiest of Fridays!

A man walks into a bar and orders a drink. Then he notices there are pieces of meat nailed to the ceiling of the bar so he asks the barman what they are for. The barman replies, "If you can jump up and pull one of them down you get free beer all night. If you fail, you have to pay the bar £100. Do you want to have a go?"

The man thinks about it for a minute before saying, "Nah, the steaks are too high!"

Source of joke: http://laffgaff.com/funniest-jokes/

A very good speech

King George XI  was born today in 1895 and I'm writing about him now because I like the fact that he and his family were symbols of resistance and empowerment. Despite a speech impediment he gave many speeches and visited many bomb damaged parts of London to boost morale during World War II.  I saw the movie The King's Speech and I really liked it because it showed how he struggled with his impediment and the oncoming World War II and seemed to come out stronger for the things he faced. One speech I like that he gave was a speech at the start of the war that was meant to rally the British people and prepare them for the coming war. I like the speech because despite the difficulty and dangers it described, it still left room for a lot of hope for the future. It symbolizes to me that hope endures long after struggles end.

The nicest word

"Home is the nicest word there is."-Laura Ingalls Wilder

I love being home. There's something nice about being someplace where you always know that people that live with you care about you. In that sense, to me, home isn't about the building. Home is just about the people you live with.  I know what I'm home when I'm with the people I love. So wherever you call home and whoever you feel most at home with, I hope you feel very much loved when you're there.

Be Young At Heart

The singer Frank Sinatra was born today in 1915. He sang this lovely song called "Young at Heart" which I really like because it reminds me of how important it is to always keep part of me young. By that I mean, to not take life too seriously and have fun as much as possible.  So I vow here and now to stay young at heart and keep on singing!

A better place

I heard this song today called "Better Place" by Rachel Platten. I really liked the song and it's music video. In the video the singer had couples and families listen to her song and videotaped their reactions to it.  It was really interesting because the music seemed to emphasize the love that the people in the video felt for each other. I like to think that music can bring people together and possibly help them think of how much they care about each other. Whether that's true or not I don't know but one thing I do know is that my life is better because of all the people in it.

Music Sunday

It was music Sunday at my church today which is always really fun.  The church choir that I sing with sang a piece of music called "Christmas Day" by Gustav Holst. It's a very formal piece and we had some professional singers that were hired to sing with us that made us sound even better.  The children's choir sang Silent night which they also used sign language while singing that which I thought was really cool.  So all in all, it was really fun and I'm glad that it was an inclusive performance that involved sign language since music should be enjoyed by all! Although I don't have a recording of my church's choir singing, below is a clip of what the song "Christmas Day" sounds like.

Happy Sunday everyone!

There''s something about food

My parents came to visit and I love them very much so it's always really nice when they come to visit. One thing I can always count on when they come is they always buying me about a month's worth of food. It doesn't matter that I live next door to a specialty food store, a coffee shop, a gas station that sells snacks, 2 pharmacies that also sell food and that I can walk to another supermarket in about 15 minutes any time I want. There's something about food that's special. I do really appreciate them buying me food. It's yet another way for them to show they love me. It also makes me think of how and why food is such an important part of culture. In the end,  for me, it's not about the making or buying of the food or the amount of food, it's the fact that it can be enjoyed and shared and saved. So wherever you are reading this I hope you had at least one nice meal today and someone  to share it with.

A fun night at the Boston Pops

Tonight I went with my parents to see the Boston Pops Christmas concert which was super fun! There was lots of carol singing and a reading of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol and my family and I really enjoyed it! Music makes people so happy and everyone in the audience at this performance were happy and it was just a nice feeling. If you get the chance to see the Boston Pops Christmas concert series I highly recommend seeing it!

Happy Thursday

I write this to wish all who read this a very happy Thursday and an even happier Friday!

Things I'd take to Mars just for fun

Today in 2006 NASA revealed photos that showed that there was evidence of water on Mars. This got me thinking that if humans were ever able to live on Mars and I was somehow able to go there, there are some things that I'd take that I just can't go without. Such things include:

• A device with some nice music loaded in it-just because everything is better with music.
• Trail mix-I'd get some magical container that never allows food to melt or go off just so I could enjoy trail mix in space.
• A bunch of good books-I love reading.
• A great telescope, so I can look at all the stars even closer. 
• A nice comfortable bed to fall asleep in while looking at the stars.
• Good friends and family (providing they want to come to Mars too.) I love my friends and family too much to be without them. 
• A computer with internet connection (This of course is possible on Mars, just because.) just so I can write my blog while on Mars. 

Music from a Disney movie

I rather like Disney movies, mainly because things turn out all right in the end and there's usually singing or at least nice music in all of them. One such movie that I like that isn't so well known is a live action version of the Jungle Book from 1994. It has a more romantic take on the Jungle Book story and I rather like the soundtrack for it. There is one piece of music that is played at the beginning of the movie that I really like. It makes me want to go on an adventure, then again, all life is a bit of an adventure. So in that sense, it reminds me of how I want to live life to the fullest! So, here's to seizing the day and all the adventures in it!

A simple random act of kindness

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do."-Mother Teresa
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mother_teresa_125711

I'm all about the random acts of kindness, just because I think they're fun. So if you're looking for ideas for easy things to randomly do a smile is as good as anything. If there is one thing I'll always know is that I always feel better when smiling!

Happiness needs to be shared

"Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it."-Bernard Meltzer
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/bernard_meltzer_165985

So my message today is, even if you don't share a kiss with someone today, I hope you still spread the happiness! In that spirit, I include the song below, which is of course, happy!

Some beautiful music for a Saturday

The opera singer Maria Callas was born today in 1923 and because she had such a beautiful voice and because I felt like sharing some beautiful music today, below is a clip of her singing a song I really like called "O Mio Bambino Caro."  I wish everyone a very happy Saturday!

An evening of carol singing

Tonight I had the great privilege of singing with the Harborlight Show Chorus. We went to Beverley, MA and sang carols for people walking around Beverley and  the restaurants there. It was really fun and I liked seeing how happy people were listening to us sing. It's clear to me that music brings light to those who need it and helps put people in the holiday spirit!