To be alive is...

“Those who danced were thought insane by those who could not hear the music...”

For Carmen Lousia - who lived it, breathed it and loved every secon of it!

Convention is a dangerous thing. It puts those who dare think outside the box in a position of oddity in the eyes of others. Haven’t we all seen someone doing something out of the norm and just thought to ourselves "Is he/she for real ???" or "is he/she nuts?" … Yes convention sets the bar for mediocrity to feel comfortable.

I am reminded of the story of the Wright brothers who dreamed of a flying machine and were mocked until the day the first plane, the kitty hawk, drew wind under its wings and flew for 12.5 seconds, for a distance of less than that of a modern day jet.

I am also reminded of every person who has inspired me (or YOU!) by marching to the beat of their own drum; maybe an aunt labeled crazy or an uncle previously believed to be odd or whichever type of unconventional character who might have inspired you. They all, you see, had things in common: They thought outside the box and they also had an unquenchable thirst for life. They drew inspiration from it and were happy every single day they were given. In my opinion these characters had tapped in to the secret of life.

We constantly see these people walking around, not able to hear the "tam tam" of gossip that surrounds them and completely oblivious to the fact that they are being mocked by others who lack the energy and openness of mind to be different, to be unique. Originality has its price; it just never concerns those who have it, only those who think they can’t afford it.
So as you make it through your walk of life (whichever you might have chosen, it makes no difference) I beseech you to listen deep and hard inside yourself, for the very instrument from where, traditionally, All feeling emotion, and passion is derived from has also been equipped with a beat. A beat that is yours and no one else’s. Follow it! Dance to it like no one is watching! And rejoice every day to it. There will be no victory sweeter than that of having lived a life as only you could have done so!