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Fitting
in...or Not
There is a beautiful story about
a tribe in Africa.
In this African tribe when a woman
becomes pregnant, she prays and meditates with the midwives and old
women of the village until they hear the song of the child. After learning
the song they return to their tribe and teach it to everyone else. Upon
birth the community sings the song to the baby. Through life changes
from childhood to adulthood to death, friends and family gather together
to sing the person's unique song.
In the child's lifetime if they
fall and hurt their knee, someone picks them up and sings their song
to them. If they commit a crime or display negative behavior, the person
is called to the center of the village. The tribal members then form
a circle around them and sing their song to them recognizing that it
is love and remembrance of identity that heals.
As a little child I overheard
my grandmother say to my mom about me, "She's just cut off a different
bolt." I thought what does she mean? I have two legs and arms. I speak
the same language. Why does she think I'm different?
Growing up I began to wonder, 'where
do I fit in - do I even have a song?'
Entering the working world of
8-5 p.m. only served to heighten my dilemma. I definitely did not fit
in. Yet there I was sitting behind a desk answering phones with dyslexic
ears struggling to make sense of my life.
Then I began to discover my creativity.
Along with it my song began to emerge and with it a resurgence of energy
and excitement. Over the years with the nurturing of my artistic side,
my song has become stronger giving me courage to express myself honestly
with clear intention. It has helped to move me beyond people pleasing,
allowed me to set healthy boundaries and connected me with members of
my tribe - fabulous, sensitive and caring friends.
Do you know your song?
In order to discover the expectant
child's song the African women became quiet through prayer and meditation.
They began to quietly listen and intuitively trust what they heard.
They were listening for the child's true identity lying in repose at
the level of the soul. They were listening for the still small voice
that would guide and bless the expectant child through his or hers life's
journey.
What is your song? Is it still
buried deep in the recesses of your heart? Or is it occasionally expressed
in moments of uninhibited joy? Does it sing to you through your art?
Does your art sing your song to the world?
Can you imagine living your entire
life and never hearing your song? Some do. For them life is colorless
and drab - full of suffering and pain. Can you imagine what happens
to them when they begin to hear their song? Hope is born. And with the
courage to begin expressing their individual song life takes on new
meaning and purpose.
Listen for your song and begin
to sing it. Don't stifle it out of fear of where it will take you. Your
song will give you all you need to live a peaceful, prosperous and purposeful
life. It will allow you to breathe. It will allow you to soar. It is
your freedom.
Art does and always has contributed
to the healing of the world. It awakens and opens the hearts of others
in order for them to begin to hear their unique song.
With every stroke of your brush,
every performance, every artistic creation you mold, courageously express
your song. Whether it's a soft refrain or sung loudly, give it wings
to rise above the ordinary - above the chaos into the harmony of the
spheres.
Don't worry if it feels too solo
or bends the rules or challenges the status quo.
The other day I said to my 89-year-old
mother, "I wonder if I'll ever fit in." She replied with wisdom, "Are
you supposed to?"
COACHING - Take conscious control of your life and live
creatively in the solution.
Click
here to
learn more.
© Copyright
2002-2010 Susan Ann Darley. All rights reserved.
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