Anyone who knows me is aware that I’m all about growth and evolution. In my work I strive to help people not only heal from their concerns, but evolve beyond them. This is my life’s work and most certainly my passion, both for myself and for those I serve.
I recently had the amazing experience of attending an Indigo Girl’s concert in the majestic surroundings of Red Rocks Amphitheater just outside of Denver, Colorado. The Indigo Girls have been around for almost 30 years, writing and singing beautiful, inspiring, and meaningful lyrics related to personal growth, global concerns, and of course, multiple heartaches, which every artist eventually writes and sings about (and learning from these wounds is most certainly part of our evolution). This concert was particularly spectacular since they were accompanied by none other than the full Colorado Symphony. Seated dead center, my friend and I were able to view the entire stage comfortably, complete with a lightening show across the Denver skyline, just beyond this awe-inspiring outdoor stage. Despite the rain predictions, the weather was a perfect 71 degrees, light breeze blowing… clear skies…, and not a drop of moisture to be felt. (We did have to chuckle at the occasional waft of wacky tabacky that drifted our way now that Colorado has legalized the substance. No, it is not legally permitted at the amphitheater… and no, we did not directly partake— only through second hand wafts…)
One of the Indigo Girls’ iconic songs, which also happens to be my favorite, is called “Galileo”. The light-hearted lyrics speak of things such as voicing your truth (regardless of the consequences), learning from your past (both present life and those beyond), and reaching for your potential (no matter how long it takes and with as many attempts as necessary). The chorus goes like this: “How long ‘til my soul gets it right? Can any human being ever reach that kind of light? I call on the resting soul of Galileo. King of night vision, king of insight”.
This song seeps of evolution. It captures everything I believe and all that I strive to instill in others. Every moment is not only a lesson, but a brief and often poignant juncture in our evolutionary journey. We are here to be our truest selves, no matter the consequences of living our truth because the only way we can reach our ultimate soul health is to align completely with who we are—no matter what others may think. We are here to learn from our mistakes—the multiple road bumps of our past. We will relive these moments over and over again until we have evolved beyond the old ways that seem to keep us revisiting the dark intersections of our human condition. Once we move beyond these repetitive actions, we have graduated to the next lesson or level of our growth. And when we constantly and consistently reach for our highest potential, we see the light. We receive the ultimate satisfaction of knowing we have transcended our past, our hesitations, and our resistances. It always (ALWAYS!) feels better to have grown than to have remained the same. But we have to move past our fears and basically get out of our own way.
It’s true. I want to get it right. Have I done it yet? Nope. I wouldn’t still be here if I had. Have I made mistakes? Absolutely—and sometimes more than once for the same situation. Am I getting closer to getting it right? I’d like to think so. I think my “baby”, The Soul Health Model, is a pretty good blueprint for moving in the right direction, although like others, I’m still working on perfecting my tree. Will I keep trying? Undoubtedly. That’s who I am. Will I continue to push those around me to grow? No brainer.
When the Indigo Girls sing Galileo, everyone inevitably stands up and sings along. Was I one of those people? Oh yeah! Did I belt it out? You betcha!!! There was nothing more beautiful on that cool evening than almost 10,000 people jumping to their feet, singing and dancing along with the Girls to proclaim their promise to evolution. How many of them took it to heart? Impossible to say. But what I do know is that the song has seeped into the souls of many, whether or not they fully understand and live by the meaning of the words.
“Galileo” will be played at my Celebration of Life ceremony when I die; it is already written into my funeral plans. In fact, I would love to hear this song played nonstop as I make my transition in hope that I will take the words along with me into the next stop on my journey, whatever that might be.
As I say in my book, Soul Health, our evolution is infinite. And I will always reach in that direction.
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