“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” ~ Maya Angelou

Exactly my feeling…

Each and every day now I wake up with a smile, convinced that the Universe is plotting to do me good. My heart is overflowing with the fullness of gratitude and I live fully in the present moment.

All around us, we keep receiving messages about scarcity and lack, but I know better. Life has been good to me and I know for sure that the Divine guides my every step and sees me thru every difficulty. Granted that there have been numerous challenges and heartbreaking experiences, failures in relationships and ventures. But I have known what it feels like to be loved, to be successful, to be inspired and to be full of joy. I let go of regrets about the past and concerns for the future, and I live in a constant state of appreciation for what I already have. Abundance surrounds me and passion is what drives me to be the best I can be in every single moment.

“Let’s get away from the clever human

Who put words in our mouth

Let’s only say what our heart desires” ~ Rumi

This life is truly a gift and my journey is the rich reward. I’ve been fortunate to have travelled the world, met wonderful people, seen rainbows and been so inspired that my heart would burst at times.

One such experience happened very recently, and I would like to share it with you.

I just returned from a visit to Barcelona, a city that gave me so much inspiration that my heart is overflowing with gratitude. To say that I was awe struck would be putting it mildly. The works of Gaudi, known as “God’s architect”, was apparent in the various buildings and historical monuments that are strewn all around this beautiful city. However, none could compare with the stunning basilica, La Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family), a spectacular piece of architecture that extends up to the sky, like a magnificent hand reaching out to God.

I was blown away by the beauty, and inspired by the reverence, which could be felt in every minute detail of this basilica. Everywhere I turned I could feel the love and the purity that Gaudi had poured in, so touching as to take my breath away. Gaudi was a creative genius, a visionary, daring risk taker, whose mind was way ahead of his time. The breathtaking decorative motifs of the cathedral and the pillars so lovingly carved into the shape of a tall tree trunk, branching out as support for the high ornate ceilings that were designed with etched flowers and leaves. The interplay of sunlight and color streaming through the tall, magnificent stained glass windows reflected Gaudi’s love for the “One Light”. The epitome of art and creativity, of dedication and hope, this was Gaudi’s labor of love, a true masterpiece that was created out of stone into this stunning beauty that reflects the magnificence of God.

The creative genius that Gaudi was, he died a lonely man indeed. Although born rich, at the age of 73 he was so poor and alone that when he was found at a crossroad, knocked over by a tram, he was taken to the poor people’s hospital where he died with the poor. Today, this famously unfinished basilica, La Sagrada Familia, draws millions of visitors throughout the year and must be worth billions! The anticipated completion date is 2026, but as Gaudi said “my Client has a lot of patience”, meaning that God was certainly not in a rush!

Studying the life of Gaudi, a modest and simple man, totally dedicated to his vocation, whose driving force was solely to leave a legacy, is worthy of having us pause and reflect. The lives we live, mostly driven by wealth and fame, and acceptance, and the need to accumulate more and more. So engrossed are we in achieving and doing, that we have forgotten what it is to give back and to be grateful for what we already have. We are oblivious to the legacy we will leave behind.

How about starting something today, no matter how big or small, that will give hope and courage, optimism and confidence, something that will continue to inspire others and bring benefit into our lives and that of others, tomorrow? Let’s expand out vision, give free rein to our imagination and release our inner genius. Not because of the credit and the glory we may attain, but just because it is our Divine purpose…

What inspires you?

“Speak a new language, so that the world will be a new world” ~ Rumi