"the presence or manifestation of two opposite or contrasting principles or tendencies." (taken from dictionary. i highlighted in red)
i'm not a linguistic - but if this is the meaning of POLARITY, it makes me wonder... We hear a LOT nowadays about polarity in nations, religions, movements, medicines, education, politics, psychology and more. "Polarity here.. polarity there...polarity polarity everywhere".... Suggesting that we, the people of the world, are divided now more than ever.... How can it be a polarity when more than two things are involved? If there's more than two religions, nations, ideas, political parties, point of views, ways of education, arts, ways of living etc :
This is our time to LISTEN to the different notes in the symphony of our existence. This is the time to BREATHE together- inhale our variety, exhale our uniqueness and make the world OUR home - the home of all of us. We've had our End of Year Concert today. My heart is filled with Grace and Gratitude.
Sitting there, listening to each student playing their solo pieces, and bathing in the warmth of sound and heart. In today's world to watch all these children playing a non digital instrument and making it sing soulfully, was a moving experience. They played with naturalness and heart. They listened to their sound and the sound of all other performers. They were so very present in what they were doing and clearly enjoyed sharing their music with others. After the concert they relished in friendships. The young ones ( age 3 +) played and laughed together. The older ones sat together and talked. I looked around and felt in heaven - such a treasured community of children. And the parents ! oh, the parents. When i arrived at the venue ( i thought i came earlier to set the hall...) everything was already set. The parents prepared everything !!! The food after the concert was deliciosisimo!!! We had a mixture of "normal" and vegan food (i would never have believed that vegan cake could taste so good !!!). We had a very special Guest Artist who is also a mother in our studio. Patrice Arkins sang Ave Maria by Schubert. The piece that touched Shinichi Suzuki 's heart so deeply as a young man listening to Mischa Elman playing it on violin, touched our hearts so deeply sang by Patrice. I'm reflecting on the power of music; power of community; power of love. I feel grateful and privileged to be part of this community - my people - my tribe. Thank you Parents. Thank you children. Thank you Shinichi Suzuki. Thank you all the masters of music who created such music. Thank you everyone and everything that enables a day like this happen. Merry Christmas ! Birthday morning. Birds singing - calling in the rain. i'm sitting with my morning coffee, looking at this beautiful world.
This is the world i was born to. Has it changed so much? Have i changed so much? Have we all changed so much? And still - this is my world; our world; and i love it so much. My life, like everybody's life, have brought many experiences. A rainbow of existence. Many colours, feelings, thoughts, adventures. i'm grateful for them all. Each and one of them had a gift; sometimes obvious, other times in disguise. Getting old is such a privilege ! The canvas of my life has many more colours. Some lines are beautifully shaped; others are crooked and broken. Some colours are glowing; others are faded. And yet i can see more of the picture and appreciate it in my veins. i feel the blessing of each stroke of brush. Growing old is such a blessing ! From the vintage point of the conductor's podium i look at the orchestra of my life. Each instrument had a role. Some play better than others, but with practice they keep improving. And the music - dissonant at times and yet this is the symphony of MY life, and i'm ever so grateful for it. Becoming old is such an adventure ! Many people in many countries crossed my path, participated in my journey and enriched my life. i feel grateful for the roles they had in the theatre of my life. I AM GRATEFUL AND BLESSED TO BE ALIVE ! As i'm packing to go to Sydney ( for my students' graduation concert at the Sydney Opera House), i'm contemplating about my life, work and love. The latter is the binding element of the first two.
i've heard people talking about "finding balance between life & work". What if my life is my work, and my work is my life? And between them?, you ask. Either there's no 'between' as they are one and connected, or between is me dancing my dance. Sometimes it's a fast and wild dance; other times it's a slow and reflective one. When my life and my work are one i live my life to the fullest. The word 'opus' (Latin) means 'work'. It is also a musical composition or set of compositions. We all are the artists of our lives. Everything we do with mindfulness ( i mean- paying attention to what we do and being present in what we do) becomes an art. "Art expresses man" ,said Shinichi Suzuki. When we are fully present in our 'work', we express who we ARE and it becomes an art. So next time you ask me: "what do you do for living?" i will tell you what i live for doing. |
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