Hallo folks,
I hope you are all well and ridiculously happy!
So, what have I learnt about life and the universe this week?
As the airing of my new E4 television show "Playing It Straight" approaches I am becoming increasingly more concerned and aware of how I present myself to the world. It is really important to me to keep a good heart and a great spirit and to keep my Karma in good shape... What do I mean by that???
It is very easy in this industry to become too focused on oneself which can quickly turn into arrogance, ignorance and shallowness. Performing is all concerned about how we look, how we sound, how we move... me me me. I feel it is important for us performers to keep that in check - 8 shows a week for a year, year after year - that is a whole lot of me me me-ness! This can really infiltrate out minds and spirits and change us in some way, not always for the better. So, what am I going to do about it? HA! Well, the first step is being aware of it... I am well aware of the affects any kind of fame or success can bring. So the only way to combat these negative forces is to strike them back with a big old dose of positivity. And what do I mean by positivity. Well, having studied Buddhism for a year and a half, I have learnt a lot about creating value in society by making good causes, genuinely from the heart and as long as we do this in life we will be protected by our good karma. Now I am not saying that we should only do good things because it will benefit ourselves but helping others and relieving the suffering of others is the quickest and most effective route to happiness. Which leads me on to my exciting idea...
... Ever since I can remember I have had a strong connection to India. I remember even at junior school looking for the Indian story books... I remember being obsessed over this lovely little story about an Indian girl and her family celebrating Diwali. I just couldn’t stop reading it over and over. I could taste the tastes, smell the aromas and hear the sounds. I even started going home from school trying to talk in an Indian accent and almost got into trouble in my local corner shop one day as the owner thought I was being rude and insulting. He didn’t realise it was an innocent game fuelled by my love for his country. Some years later we moved into a flat next door to the most beautiful little old Indian lady and I used to clear the leaves from her garden for a few pounds. I used to call there about three times a week to see if she needed any jobs doing. I was only about 13. Of course I hated doing the actual jobs, but it was all a ploy to get into her house and smell the incense, feel the plush thick bright red carpet under my feet, to take a peep at the altar she knelt down at to pray, and to just generally be in her presence and in the warm comforting environment that all Indian households seem to posses. Her name was Sue. She used to offer me herbal tea and mini Indian pastries and sweets. I turned my nose up to the tea and used to take an extra sweet instead. Ever since I have been interested in, drawn to and fascinated by India, it’s culture and it’s people. It came as no surprise to me to discover recently that Nepal is where the origins of Buddhism began. Why am I telling you all of this? Well, I have been thinking this for a long time but have now fully decided and am planning on making a trip to travel around India at the end of next year with a view to checking out some areas where I can go to do some charity out reach work with children and the community in 2013. What and where I have no idea, but I have such a strong and burning pull in my heart to go there to figure something out. I have a friend who works for Amnesty International so maybe she can help me with some ideas. If you have any tips on where to go, who to see, who to talk to or have any ideas yourself please do get in touch. I most definitely want to use my music and performing skills in some way...
If you are a performer, and even if you are not just have a think about what I have written at the top of this Blog... let’s all be aware of others and their happiness. Our own happiness will increase as a result.
Much love for now
x
No comments:
Post a Comment