Inspiration

Jamie’s Gems – Power of Love & Kindness, Pt. 2

 

“The Power of Love and Kindness ~ It Makes Us Feel Alive” 
Part Two

 

We are all so interconnected in this life.  Allow yourself to be curious. Meet new people, learn about them, learn from them.   Be open and don’t look at people you don’t know as strangers, look them as humans!  Some of my greatest experiences have been from simply being open to meeting new people, diving into conversations with them and embracing moments WITH them.

My dear college friend Jon Foreman, who is also the lead singer and guitarist for the popular San Diego rock band Switchfoot, recently wrote a piece for The Huffington Post titled “When We Come Alive” (which is also a title of one of their songs off their current album “Fading West”).  

fadingwest

The piece is all about life-giving moments and what it means to really truly be alive as an active participant in THIS LIFE, OUR LIVES.  Jon talks about how being alive is more than just merely SURVIVING and having a beating heart, but rather THRIVING….being bold, taking risks and living LOUD.  He challenges his readers by poignantly pointing out that “there is a dramatic difference between thriving and just surviving: life abundant and mere existence.”  The article is beyond inspiring, beautifully written, and quite possibly one of the most meaningful things I have read in a very long time so I just felt so compelled to share this powerful excerpt with all of you: “When we come alive we are stretched to become more than we were. When we come alive we are thankful for what we have. When we come alive we are bold in our love. When we come alive we gain a perspective that was lacking before. Because life is both a choice and a gift — we seek after it and it comes to us.  The meaning of life… Maybe it varies for all of us. But if the meaning of life cannot be answered by the scientists or the philosophers, then it’s up to the rest of us to define what it means to be alive. We, the living, answer that question every day — not with our words, but with our lives. Let us show what life means to us with our actions. Dreaming and hoping and reaching forward – we live our lives in the present, wide-eyed and expectant.  The depths of this life have yet to be found. The highest peaks, the furthest reaches. Maybe abundant life has yet to happen. What does it look like when we come alive? Let’s find out.”  (Jon Foreman) 

Wow, right?   Do you feel alive after just reading that beautifully written excerpt?  I know I sure did.  When I first read the article, I felt like Jon’s words literally reached through the computer and lit my heart on fire – and not just any fire, but an intensely passionate, carpe diem FIRE!   For the full article (which I HIGHLY recommend everyone takes a moment out of your busy day to read) you can go to this link. 

Switchfoot also recently did a photo contest, inviting fans to post photos where they felt most alive, photos demonstrating for them what it means to truly feel alive.   Well, needless to say, the photos submitted by Switchfoot’s fans were beyond awe-inspiring.  Even if you are not a Switchfoot fan, please visit their website or Facebook page to see these incredibly inspiring photos.  They are such a beautiful reminders of what it truly means to be alive, to feel alive, to thrive, to live full and loud.   Here’s one incredible shot that Jon posted on his Facebook page with the caption “Seizing the moment” (submitted by a fan for the contest).  I definitely feel ALIVE when I look at this photo!!



 Here’s another fan photo from Jon, where he says: “This one got me good…#WhenWeComeAlive.”

photo

So, as we go into this new week, let’s try to be the BEST versions of ourselves we can possibly be.  Let’s be active participants in our own lives.  Let’s put our love into action letting love, kindness and compassion lead the way allowing us to be that game changing force in the lives of others. Kindness is invigorating for both the do-er and the receiver….let it take hold, taste its deliciousness, see its vibrant colors!   And remember, everyday is a gift, there are no guarantees — Let’s wake up everyday with the goal of making TODAY the greatest day EVER!!   And above all, let’s live a life abundant, never ever giving up the quest for what it really means to truly be ALIVE!   

* Special thanks to Jon Foreman for inspiring me with his powerful words, his music, and how he lives his life.   Thank you Jon for inspiring me to never stop dreaming, to never stop reaching forward, and above all to never stop embracing what it truly means to be ALIVE!!!

 

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