The universe speaks to us if we only take the time to listen.  Listening is one key of many to unlocking our inner doors, but we are all to often otherwise engaged.  This morning while doing my daily readings I came across this beautiful quote by Vincent Van Gogh, “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint”, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”  These words resonated deep within my heart.  I elected to obtain a degree in Art History fearing I had no actual artistic talent, but was so completely in love with art, fabrics, textiles, and music that I felt compelled to incorporate it into my life.  I have taught Art to small children in elementary school when the art program was slashed, and these children all felt like they could paint!  Every one of them painted a picture with great excitement and passion.  Why then as we get older do we shut down our natural gifts and abilities and start to listen to this other voice that tells us ‘you cannot’?  If we listen to our heart, we might be happier, more joyful, better stewards of the Earth as well as to one another, but we get older and turn our dial toward the negative.  How might we begin to listen more?  Meditation, exercise, mindfulness, living in the present and listening to our heart wholly are just a few ways.  We become so caught up in material things, the haves and have not’s that we forget why we came to this Earth during these most powerful times.  We are here to share our love and joy with one another, and by all means if you hear your inner small voice communicating ‘you cannot’ just do as Vincent Von Gogh says, do it and that small voice will be silenced.  It doesn’t serve you or our beautiful universe to play small.  I think I am going to go paint!

If you desire a glorious future, transform the present.  There is actually no other choice. ~ Patanjali