Wrapped Beautifully

What You Can Use To Reflect How You Feel Or Want To Feel Inside

I'm not exactly sure why, but  I have always bought scarves  that seem to reflect how I feel or want to feel inside: happy, beautiful, vibrant, and special.    Certain ones seem to be so perfect year after year for those formal important things like job interviews or weddings.    But, I also like to wear particular scarves for fun, casual things, like apple picking in October or going to a surprise birthday party.  Wearing a scarf is uplifting for you and sometimes even for the people you are with!

It's not that different for me when it comes to music.  I listen to music that reflects how I feel or want to feel inside.  So what I like in music is pretty distinct and diverse.   I am crazy about:

• "Early" music from these periods:
• • Baroque (1600 - 1750), which  includes the work of these composers: Bach, Handel, and  Vivaldi
  • Classical (1750 - 1825) which includes the work of these composers:  Beethoven, Hayden and Mozart
  • Romantic (1825 - 1900) which includes the work of theses composers: Brahms, Chopin, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky
• Beautifully structured rock. There are too many groups to name.  But it starts with early 1960s material (like the Beatles) and even continues through today (Lady Gaga!) 

Music in particular is so powerful when it comes to being able to affect how you feel.  I can have the most draining day at work.  But on the way home, if I listen to a piece of music that is hopeful, energetic, and/or positive, I'm just about guaranteed to be heading in that direction by the time the song finishes.

My dad studied music at Boston University, both voice and instrument (clarinet). He taught music  in public schools to children for many years in Massachusetts and Maine.  Although I learned to play flute and piccolo in the 1970s (and here I am in this concert photo- the flautist in the striped shirt),  I have minimal skill.

My sister Sharon sings and directs choral music and teaches music to elementary school children at a private school in New Jersey.  She went to Westminster Choir College, has sung at Carnegie Hall a couple times and sounds like Jessye Norman. It's such a gift!  The next generation of children in my family could yield a couple musicians. 

And if not, we'll make sure they will know how to enjoy and use music as much as their parents do.

Waste Not Want Not Is A Very Green and Good Way To Be

The prevalent historical definition of Waste Not Want Not is “wise use of one's resources will keep one from poverty”.  I would like to propose an alternative green definition “waste not want (or need) less (going forward)”. 

 

I never was a fan of throwing out or tearing down anything for the sake of getting something new.  Something new isn’t always better.  A lot of times it isn’t as well made and there won’t be any sentimental value in it.  See what you think after reading this green article.

Do You Realize How Much Money Solar Panels On Your Roof Could Save You?

I know that it is good to be and go green, reduce our carbon footprint, etc.  What would make this goal really attractive to the masses and me?  Reduce some painful cost I’m currently absorbing right now, every month.  Make it obvious.  Give me a break even point that hits fast.

I researched photovoltaic (solar panel) technology recently and made a 5 point checklist to help me decide whether to get solar panels now or not.  It really makes it very clear how to proceed given a particular situation. 

If you score well,  you should seriously consider  getting solar panels for your roof right now!  Every month that goes by with you not using this technology will unnecessarily take a lot more money out of your pocket to pay for electricity.   The checklist is in  this Solar Panels  article.

Feel Beautiful and Therefore Be Beautiful

Did you know that when you feel beautiful you become beautiful?  There are four  things that you need to do in order to make this work.  The first one is a surprise to a lot of people. It's finding and actively pursuing your passions. 

Passions are those things you have an extreme interest in.  They reflect your personality, your curiosities and what you can seemingly effortlessly get joy from. They can easily fill you up and sustain you when you are running on empty. They help bring out the best in you and help you to feel happy inside.  When you feel happy, physiologically, it triggers many wonderful things, including becoming more physically beautiful, on some level.  This  article covers each of the four things I've discovered which will show you how to feel beautiful and therefore be beautiful.