Soften your heart

Wonder is music heard in the heart, is voiceless. Rosemary Dobson

I received a link to the rough cut of the song we've been recording for the shelter where I work. It is uplifting. Inspiring. Fun! I played it for C.C. last night, and he was in awe. "That's got commercial value," he said. "It could be a real hit."

Many of the clients heard it and they too were in awe. Wow. Imagine! That's some of us!

I can't share the link here, but you can catch a glimpse of what it's all about in this clip from The Calgary Herald last week.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/videos/Video+Musicians+stand+Drop+Centre/1354228/story.html

One of the musicians was in a watercolor workshop held at the shelter yesterday afternoon. At the beginning of the session Richard Boulet, the visiting artist, asked each person to introduce themself and to talk about what art means to them. In his self-introduction he told about his battle with mental health issues. How schizophrenia drove him into homelessness and how in the 90s he was once a client of the shelter. "Art saved me," he told us. "It keeps me on track today."

The musician/artist spoke up. "I've always been passionate about my art," he said. "But now, after being here at the shelter for a few months, after being given the opportunity to experience not only art but music and all the people supporting me, I'm passionate about life. I've never felt passionate about life before. It's pretty exciting."

He too suffers from mental health issues. Bi-polar, he cycles in and out of depression. When he stays on his meds, he's stable, but life lacks the vibrancy he craves. With art and music, life takes on a whole different hue.

I am in awe every day of the power of the creative spirit. I am in awe of its power to awaken the soul to its beauty. Its power to ignite imagination, touch hearts and set spirits free. I wonder at what would be possible if everyone, the whole world over, were to stop fighting their own magnificence and sink into the beauty and wonder at their core. To set their spirits free to soar and create and dance and laugh and sing and be all the wondrous things we can be.

What a different world we would be.

On Thursday night, lying in bed feeling crummy, my eldest daughter called to chat. "I just wanted to tell you mum what a difference 'softening my heart' has made. I was angry with someone and by softening my heart, I no longer feel anger."

It's all about compassion.

She had called the night before to talk about her angry feelings about someone dear to us. "Soften your heart," I counselled. "It is all we can do to help them as they struggle with their inner demons."

Soften your heart.

She wrote an amazing blog about her grammie. A woman of contradictions. Generous yet stingy. Caring yet angry.

It is an amazing piece. A true reflection of my daughters beauty and soul. She is a woman of a soft and loving heart. If you'd like to read it (and it is worth the read says the proud Mama bear) follow this link to wonder! http://alexismcd.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/88/

And, no matter what you do today, soften your heart. Open your senses to the wonder around you and be free of all that would hold you down.

The question is: Are you letting hard-headed attitude keep you from opening up to the wonder and joy of the world around you? Can you soften your heart?