I haven’t written in my blog for quite some time. Within that duration, I am a year older.  My birthday was spent with a library visit (more Beethoven CDs), traditional Brazillian music and dance, red wine, a delicious creme brulée dessert, lindy hopping, and an oh so fine after party after the second concert of the night- New Orleans Jazz (Cannibal Dandies) at Temple Bar. 

Amidst the hooting and hollering, as the band was playing a killer “Dead Man Blues”… I realized then and there on my 25th, that in fact, life is full of abundances.  Never deficencies. No way. No how. I was in a crowd of people that were sharing an experience of music, a celebration of life and passion, a cup overflowing.  I recommend you put yourself around people that love what they do and life will bring you even more abundances, live is giving, never taking.

I’ve been preparing my paperwork to stay in France as a temporary worker. I was rather frustrated and discouraged a few weeks ago when it just seemed all so overwhelming.  I didn’t have all the documents needed. I was thinking in terms of deficency.  I took action to stop this idea of deficency.  After taking advantage of what I already have, this abundance of knowledge and creativity in my case, I researched and asked everyone I knew (along with dozens of emails to both friends, friends with friends who are foreigners in France, and government officials), more and more possibilities seemed to come my way.  I can stay as a student (masters or license, or a program for learning French) or I can even stay through my music as long as the concerts are declared, along with the original temp. worker way to stay.  Sometimes our perspective sees a problem as a wall but it’s really just a test to see how much you really want something, and when you want something you already have what you need to make that happen.  It’s the desire, the seed, and it’s the universe, the sun, soil and water, which grows that seed.  When I thought I was deficent in my ways to stay in France, I actually have full of options. Abundances always flourishes in life.  If I decide to not stay in France, than there’s an abundance of other options as well.

The idea of abundance doesn’t pertain only to situations and possibilities in your life externally, but also to how we think about ourselves.

Why is it that people tell themselves “I’m not ready” or “I’m not good enough”?  This false idea of deficency holds people back from their happiness.  It’s a lie, this idea of deficency.  In fact, you are always good enough, and even if you’re not ready to take on a challenge, that doesn’t mean you should stop yourself out of fear.  You will grow ten-fold when you take on something just out of your reach.  Don’t play it safe, be an outlaw.  We can’t plan our lives out like a blue print because life is a beautiful mess.  When you think you’re not ready, that’s the best time to go for it.  Perhaps, when you think your ready it’ll be too easy and not as rewarding and you’re up for more daring adventures!

I find women especially, tell themselves they are not beautiful enough or they’re not good enough.  (Not good enough for a guy is the worst!)  The truth is, there’s always going to be someone more pretty, more talented, more successful than you.  But you know what you got (that no one else has)? You got you! One in a million, you.  And no one’s got exactly your spirit, or your eyes, or your heart.  I dare you to embrace yourself- in whole.  We are always enough and we have always been enough, because we are ourselves.  The greatest gift to ourselves is self-love.  Not only acceptance (that ain’t enough) but a fervent joy for our health, body, mind, and spirit.  Also, concerning guys, just remember if this one doesn’t work out, there’s an abundant amount of others!

The idea of abundance only works when you are confident in your choice and you have a determination to act, and strength to follow though (but you have all that already!).  So, take a hold of the thread and the universe will weave a tapestry more beautiful and magnificent than even you my friend, can imagine.

I send you love from my unique, sparkling heart to your unique, sparking heart!
xx

Emily

“Paris was nicknamed the “City of Light” (not City of Lights) originally because it was a vast center of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment. In 1828, Paris began lighting the Champs-Elysées with gas lamps. It was the first city in Europe to do so, and so earned the nickname “La Ville-Lumière” or The City of Light.”

quote taken from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_Paris_called_the_City_of_Lights

picture from http://favim.com/image/118643/

These press photos are for Hippocampus Jass Gang and my solo projects. I give a big kiss to Lucy. It was a splendid day spent at the brocante, old city streets, and Papa Doble.  xx

Smiles are contagious what more can I say?

I’m back! That is, I now have internet after a few weeks of being in the dark.  But being in the dark (concerning the wild wild web) isn’t so scary.  In fact, it was liberating.  I don’t regret it at all!  It’s a brilliant change and I would recommend it for everyone. A few changes have occurred since I’ve broken the addiction of too-often-being-on-the-internet!  Remember, don’t be an internet zombie.  Spice up your life.  Stop your internet addiction.

n˚1 Use Facebook sparingly.  I only allot 15 minutes per day on email and 15 minutes per day on Facebook. Because it’s only 30 minutes, I am obliged to get down to business messaging people emails/fb messages.  Any more time that 30 minutes I get bored and my eyes are strained. Why would I want to spend any time reading dull-I’ve-heard-it-all-before status updates?  Constant knowledge of what other people are thinking or doing is kinda obnoxious, to be frank.  Go and live your life, then write in a journal about it, or a blog, but no.  don’t update on Facebook.  That’s not to say I don’t still post when I have concerts and events such as “Cabaret Sauvage” like yesterday.  If, I am on the internet, it’s on TEDtalk, or another informative yet extremely amazing website!

n˚2  Read. Because less time on the internet gives me more time in the real world.  That’s the juicy part of life anyways, the real world.  I’ve been drinking tea outside with sunscreen and a cowboy hat, reading. I have bought 5 new books this past month. And just have finished the book Lolita, which I loved!  There’s something nice about spending money on books. If you are on a low budget, go to the Library. Reading is more intellectual and stimulates creativity.  It will also make you a better writer.

n˚3 Listen to music.  My dad gave me some recommendations for Beethoven. My group, Hippocampus Jass Gang, also, gave me recommendations for early swing music. There’s something about putting on music and just laying down and completely engaging yourself in it. No this is not I’m-doing-something-else while listening to background music. This is massaging your ears.  Massaging your mind. Your spirit. Your heart.  Since then, I can not stop listening to Beethoven’s Piano Concerto n˚5.

n˚4 Take a day trip. Go into town or a city nearby.  If you live in the city, go to the countryside, or a park. Go somewhere where you’ve never been before. Go alone and reflect on your life. All you will need is: Public transportation or a car. 5-10 $ for transportation and a coffee/snack. Paper and Pencil to write. Oh, and a positive mindset because you don’t want to get in your head too much.  If you can’t go anywhere, take 15 minutes to meditate.  Even just repeating a word (mantra) like “peace” is very soothing.  Clearing your mind will make it possible to find out what you really love doing and then you can start doing it (rather than wasting hours on the internet doing practically nothing).

n˚5 Dance. Whether it be belly dancing and lindy hop (those are my two faves!) or African tribal dancing, modern, ballet (boring but yeah some people dig it), salsa, etc.  Don’t know how to dance? Well learn and get back to me on it. You won’t be discouraged or disappointed. I didn’t think I could dance when I was younger but damn it, now I am dancing to the Cannibal Dandies, Magicshook Heads, and Bolden Buddies Orchestra. Thanks guys you know who you are. And thank you even  more so, Alice and the Swingjammerz.

So that’s it. Simple and to the point. I am now going to do n˚5.
x
Emily

Me and the lads, at Chez Felix. 

Lately, I have been having false awakenings, I awake from a dream with in a dream… so I become conscious within my dream but I continue to be in another (new) dream that I am not completely lucid dreaming. Here’s a brief article about this phenomenon.  It explains that I’m on the right track yahou!

Happy dreaming x

Emily

“Milk and Honey (Home to Me)” An original song by Emily Cole. A new music video.

I sing a song that is about Montpellier: the city that feels like home to me. Video director/producer Audrey Theuliere. Filmed at Montpellier Zoo, January 2012.
http://Emily-Cole.com

I had a dream within a dream when I was taking a nap yesterday. I had realized in my dream within a dream that I was dreaming but for some reason I couldn’t change the fact that I was in a dimly lit bar with red lights. I was lost in the maze of the bathroom. It was odd but dreams usually are so that’s nothing new. This is the second instance that I became conscious in my sub-conscious-sleeping-mind.