He did poorly at school, was suicidal, and was beaten daily by his domineering father. Despite it all, Ludwig van Beethoven became one of the world’s greatest composers – surprisingly writing his best music when he became deaf. Beethoven believed his music would do more than entertain people – it would enlighten them and give […]
In 1982, he was paralyzed from a serious car accident. But Harry Wayne Casey survived, re-learning how to walk, dance and play the piano. Today, Casey is not a household name. But the musical group he created – KC and the Sunshine Band – was famous the world over during the height of the disco […]
He hated being called a legend. But that’s exactly what Miles Davis was. Davis, who started playing trumpet at age 13, was one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. His unique views on how life should be lived provide lessons for us today as we navigate life’s complexities. “Do not fear mistakes. […]
I want to liberate myself. I want to give meaning to my life, to be a positive influence, “live” rather than “exist” and make a difference. It is time to let go of the world that was. False prophets, false people, false direction. Mindless routines. Loveless direction. Let go of things. Life is not about […]
We have all asked “What is the purpose of Life?” and nobody has yet come up with the definitive answer. I am asking the question again this day in the hope that we can find answers to lift ourselves up from the tedium of existence, making life less of a struggle and more of a […]
She was only 13 years old. Riding a bicycle. Struck by a car and killed. Her name was not revealed. No details on the accident. It was a short blurb in the newspaper. The kind of “tiny” story that papers typically hide in a side column, tucked away from the major headlines of the day. […]
After a particularly hard week, I was exhausted and just felt like going outside to get some fresh air. I started to look up at the night sky and as I stared at the vastness before me, my problems suddenly seemed so small. I was in awe of the sheer endlessness of space and the […]
Today, our society is obsessed with winning. Enormous pressure is put on our youth to go out there and “win”. And if you’re not viewed as a winner, you’re seen as a loser, with no middle ground. This obsession eats away at our subconscious – to the point where each and every day, we evaluate […]
He was the Emperor of Rome in the years 161 to 180. While he waged wars, Marcus Aurelius is best remembered for his philosophy on how to live a meaningful life. His advice, over 2,000 years old, is worth contemplating. “Our life is what our thoughts make it. Many of us have rambling thoughts which […]
He is known for his experiments on electricity and being one of America’s founding fathers. But Benjamin Franklin was also a successful entrepreneur, owning real estate and businesses. He was an avid inventor too, responsible for the cast iron “Franklin stove”, the lightning rod and numerous musical instruments. As if that wasn’t enough, he made […]
