Time Traveler

Today's lesson was thought to me by Dr. Noel S. Anderson and Dr. Haroon Kharem.
One of the things out of many, that stood out to me was Dr. Anderson's point of view on traveling.
He said "the more your travel, the less you know." I have to agree with him, we need to start conversations and interactions with people from different backgrounds, and get to understand where we all come from.

"If you don't know where you've been, you don't know where who you are, and you don't know where you are going. "- Dr. Haroon Kharem

Educate yourself, there's a world of possibilities out there.


I start now!

Inspired...

Inspired by a poem written by Arnaldo Antunes, a writer and composer from Brazil.

I wrote in response to his poem, posted by Borbuletas no Estomago.

It's written in Portuguese, but I will translate it, afterward.


O Que Me Faz Feliz

O que me faz feliz?
O que me faz feliz?
Faz-me feliz, os que bem me quer.
Sou feliz por ter a bençao de Deus; o amor da minha familia, a simpatia dos meus amigos.
Faz-me feliz a vida,
o meu bem estar,
a paz do meu espirito.
Sou feliz por ser feliz.
Feliz por ter-te na minha vida.
Feliz por dizer Amen! qdo todos gritam PAZ NA TERRA A TODOS OS HOMENS!
Sou feliz pela minha respiraçao,
o meu coraçao que bate,
o sangue que corre nas minhas veias...
Sou feliz!
Pelas coisas mais simples e pequenas que possam exister.
Faz-me feliz, um sorriso espontaneo e cheia de graça.
Faz-me feliz, a minha saude.
O meu amor a musica, a arte...a vida.

E ainda me pergunto,
o que me faz feliz?
Porque sou feliz?

E te respondo com toda a sinceridade,
que sou feliz, porque sou um ser Humano,
mais vivo do que nunca.

Sou feliz.

Words of Reality

"You may think I'm a small person here, I'm 28 years old, for the record. Just for those who are saying, who is this small person telling us or teaching us... I'm not teaching anybody, I'm just sharing my experiences. That's what we call O.D.D at home [Nigeria] ... What I'm trying to say is...I take everything so serious, I find myself taking everything so serious (this year), like, it's good to be focused, is good to be serious, but it's also important not to forget, to feel, to really feel. And i decided to take a break [...] I went back home, and so many things happened within that one month in Lagos (Nigeria)...so many serious, like...accidents, I see people dying, I go to the general hospital, and I see how people are packed, together in one room, with all sorts of sickness and stuff like that...and I'm like...Nneka, your life is good, and God is good, and I'm not saying that if one is going through hardship, that God is not good...God is always good. Important is that we live life to the fullest, that we love. The only thing, that is important in life is to love, and that's the healing to every thing, to every sickness, to every whatsoever. The answer is LOVE, begin, end, middle...so that's my own. [...]"

These words of reality, were spoken by Nneka, live in Philly, before singing Heartbeat.
Her words, speak to me, as I live my everyday life.
The link is as follow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_FRY0Ypik8

Power on the Rise

Nneka was born in Nigeria, and at the age of 19 she emigrated to Hamburg, Germany, to follow her singing career while she was at a local university pursuing her BA in Anthropology. After meeting DJ & Beatboxer Dj Farhot. her secret to success, she has risen.
Her music reflects her life in Nigeria, but also the time period, lived in Europe. The distance from her homeland to her current city reflects in her voice, as well as her music influences. As key references, her compatriot Fela Kuti, Bob Marley the Reggae lend, and recent rappers such as Miss Lauryn Hill, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep and Mos Def.

I was introduced to Nneka in late 2006, by a friend who lives in Germany. Since then I've researched about Nneka, about her life, her story and her music. I've found myself, listening to her music non-stop. I've learned to embrace her lyrics as part of my reality. Her voice is so angelic and rustic, that I've recommended her music to other people.
Before, she became well known in the US, she had fans all over Europe, and her mother country Nigeria.

Ye Yo

Ye Yo means "Mother" in Swahili.
I heard this song for the first time, less than 7 minutes ago. I immediately fell in love with it. Erykah Badu's voice is so powerful and pure. I respect her for who she is.

She begins by saying:
"I'd like to thank the Creator, for giving me this gift, and I'd like to thank you for being the reflection of this gift. 'Cause sometimes, you feel like you are by yourself and hmmm...no matter what anybody ever thinks...no matter what anybody EVER thinks, I still get cold when it's cold, hunger when I'm hungry, miss my mama when I'm away...get tired... I'm a person and I represent you."

Lyrics and the video to this beautiful song:

Ye yo, ye yo, ye yo, ye yo
(Help me)
Ye yo, ye yo, ye yo, ye yo...

Sometimes,
Sometimes I get so lonely, lonely, lonely
I feel all by myself up here
That's when I take a minute
To re-evaluate things
All of the things I think are special
Oooh like
When you wake up in the morning
And you see the morning sun
And you need to know the world is on your side
Who do you run to?
Who can you turn to?
Come on
Then the evening comes to greet you
You need someone to hold you close
And you feel the need to rest your aching mind
Who can you run to?
Who can you turn to?
Well see the sun's in the east and the moon reflects
Like the knowledge and wisdom I manifest
If you wanna go to heaven lay up on my breast
I'm ye yo, your ye yo
I say the sun's in the east and the moon reflects
Like the knowledge and wisdom I manifest
If you wanna go to heaven lay up on my breast
I'm ye yo, your ye yo
Ye yo, ye yo, ye yo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXyKgoptqBg

Mediation-Veil

Yesterday,
I went to the weekly Binghamton Sitting club aka Meditation club meeting.
For the first time, since the beginning of the semester, I was able to truly concentrate and just feel as if I was in a different world. For the first time, my state of mind was free.
Subsequently, our first "exercise" was to sing...different hymns and beats, all at once; different melodies and sounds, all in different tempo. I felt such a good vibe coming from it. I felt lighter.
Secondly, we had to introduce ourselves and say a word that describes who we are and that starts with the letter of our first name. Mine was Sunshine...This word describes me almost perfectly*.Then, we did the "veil meditation".
.... The instructor, told us to close our eyes, and think of veils that covered our faces/our body. Each veil had it's meaning and a different color.
I'd like to tell you, about my experience, while doing this meditation.
Before I begin, I just would like to point out that I was able to concentrate knowing that none of my friends had gone that day, and that I had to do this, in order to really feel how it is to be a meditative state of being. All of my veils were see-through and light.
The first veil, was colored blue, it represented me being a student. I had to take it off and put it down. I felt as if I had lost a part of me.
Green colored veil meant family, I took it off and I missed my family so much. I wanted to cry; and all the good/bad memories rushed into to my mind. I missed those who have departed from this world more than ever. I wish I could see them for a last time.
Next, we had to take the veil that represented friends, for me that was a red color. I felt so relieved, liberated; I felt as if I don't to prove anything to anyone.
My future was colored white, I was happy to know I have plans for the future, for my tomorrow. Plans of being a greater person, of walking my talk, of going places, meeting people, achieving peace where there's war.....of meditating at a Buddhist monastery in Tibet. All of these plans, and many others are part of my dreams, my future.
Second to last, I had to take the veil of self, off. I did it, I put it down carefully. I promised myself that I would take care of myself more, that I would enrich myself with positivism and realism.
Lastly, I had to let my body go...I felt as if I was dissolving. That's when I started dancing, my body started to wiggle, All in all, I felt freer than ever before.
Meditation veil: I did it, I like it, and I recommend it.







If you would like to know more information about different types of meditation. I recommend this site. It is great. http://www.spiritualnow.com/articles/20/1/The-Different-Types-of-Meditation/Page1.html