On Harmony: In You

"I value when people do what they know they should do, what feels right in their hearts, in the face of all the noise. If my noise is harmony, great. If not, equally great. You only have one job-- listen for the harmony. That is what I want most from you. Trust yourself enough, value yourself enough, and empower yourself enough to not to let noise in, even when you feel an overwhelming desire to be kind to the noisemaker. You can be kind to others, and be true to yourself. What is noise from someone one day may be harmony the next day. I listen to all the sounds around me all the time, and love them all, but I only write "new bars into my song" for the ones that enhance the symphony of my life." - Dana Leman

I am publishing this short blog because this really uplifted me today. My newest mom, Dana Leman--mother of wunderkind and child philanthropist, Talia Leman-- wrote me this in one of her usual lovely and inspiring messages. I believe that it may be able to do the same for others.

How can one be so famous yet so lonely?

It has little to do with having 2 or 20 or 200 friends, I've learned.

Quick note, this was meant to have been published in early January.

Loneliness stems from lacking a strong sense of spirituality.

For the past 3 weeks, my mother has been in Nigeria (very far away from me). This hurt me emotionally because I am very close to my mother and .

When you hold in tears, they only pour down heavier. My eyes rained for 3 nights.

The night in which I told you that I had a long conversation with God in my previous blog is when I learned that my loneliness was of God himself. The main reason our conversation was so long was because I had ignored him for so long. I always praised him but I forgot to listen to him and talk to him.

They way I now talk with God is through habitual and informal conversations.

Next time you find yourself so lonely, please don't pick up your phone to call somebody (boyfriend, sister, mom etc.), please don't get on the computer (myspace, YouTube, Google, what have you). Instead, talk to whoever that is you believe in. Kneel, lay stand (however you feel less anxious and more relaxed). Tell him/her what is the problem and let the spirit guide you to a sense of tranquility, wholeness and harmony.

You will know when it's harmony when you no longer need to pick up the phone and dial him/her or waste precious time randomly "googling" non-sense (whatever that may deem to you).

Try it.

How to Meditate : Sleep Better

Meditation is analogous to detox for me. When I meditate, it helps cleanse my mind and renew my spirit. I find it very refreshing when I perform it before bed. It reminds of when I would take a 20 minute - warm shower after a 6 hours of tedious dance lessons from Debbie Allen's rigorous summer intensive. The water falling on my head to my nose to my lips to my belly button to my waist to my knees to my toes felt so serene and purifying. Meditation is like this bath for me.

I begin by cleaning my room, especially my bed which for some peculiar reason tends to have piles of clothes stacked on it by the end of almost everyday. (I guess I have a hard time finding something to wear EVERYDAY).

Next, I put on warm pajamas (usually a hoodie, sweats and socks). I place two pillows on each side of me (right & left); will explain the use of pillows later in the message. Then I find serene music on Youtube and play it. I sit with my legs crossed and I rest my elbows on my knees with my palms facing the top of my canopy bed.

My attempt is to keep my head balanced but for some reason it tends to fall from place. I just let it go and let to music take me...

Or should I say lead me. Sometimes, I the music leads my hands upward and downward. Sometimes it leads me to stretch out my legs and relax my head on my knees. Last night, it made me stretch a really good stretch that when I woke up I felt very light.

The stretch consisted of second position of the legs exercises. It also consisted of the splits stretches. I ended with laying down and stretching my legs to the top of the canopy bed. Usually I attempt to rest each of my legs on a pillow (as in second position) and I try to lay backwards and with my palms facing above. This one really helps me to stay focused.

When the song finishes so does my meditation.

I then grabbed by pocket bible and cross and spoke to my God. We had a very long conversation last night and he lulled me to sleep.

Waking up today, I wanted to write this post particularly to remind myself of how I meditate in the circumstance that I forget. Also, some of you may find this helpful so I invite you to try it and let me know what happens...