Reflect Archives

Reflect

An act of courage

November 3, 2020
2 minute read

With the new LAUREL Monthly Soundlust out now, I got inspired by the theme of Courage and the words kept free falling from my fingers. In this short piece, I’d like to mention a few of the things that I was reminded of when writing the story of the song list.

Reflect

When the world seemed to slip away

August 1, 2020
3 minute read

The world has turned so unequivocally upside down, that a crescent sense of desperation kept sneaking its way into people’s hearts. As much as I have fought against it, in the end it got to me too, in the form of many strong emotions, ranging from sadness, to fury, to anxiety, to hope, to optimism and energy to move mountains. Here is a personal take on mental health during the world's difficult times and its effects on creativity, inspiration and overall energy.

Sunday poem

Sunday Poem | In Summer Time, by Paul Laurence Dunbar

July 12, 2020
2 minute read

This week’s Sunday Poem is “In Summer Time”, by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906), one of the first African American poets who became known on a national level with his writings. “In Summer Time” beautifully depicts the slow nature of the summer days, in a very descriptive and contemplative manner, transcending the reader to a state of enjoyment and peacefulness.

Sunday poem

Sunday Poem | “The Happiness of Home”, by Alice Hawthorn (alias of Septimus Winner)

July 5, 2020
2 minute read

The verses of the poem “The Happiness of Home” sprinkled a welcoming feeling of bliss and consolation, a sense of protection that you often find in the heart of a home, despite everything that might cause disruption in the outer world.

Reflect

Happiness means a life in balance, a life of meaning

July 1, 2020
6 minute read

A life in balance, that’s aligned to the present and to an inner purpose, is a better, more astute expression of happiness, with everything that may involve.

Finding a purpose in your life [a practical approach]

July 1, 2020
2 minute read

A practical exercise that can help you in the search of a purpose and more meaning in your life, by answering a bunch of not-so-easy questions.

Sunday poem

Sunday Poem | “As once the winged energy of delight”, by Rainer Maria Rilke

June 28, 2020
3 minute read

“As once the winged energy of delight”, by one of the greatest German poets of his time, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), explores some great ideas that I invite you to ponder upon, like embracing the energy and delight of living beyond fear, or the challenge of trusting our instincts and power to accomplish great things in the face of the unknown.

Sunday poem

Sunday Poem | “Wild geese”, by Mary Oliver

June 21, 2020
2 minute read

This Sunday Poem invites you to explore the verses from one of the most acclaimed contemporary American poets, Mary Oliver, and the poem I’ve chosen for today is “Wild Geese”.

Sunday poem

Sunday Poem | “The Wind”, by Vasile Alecsandri

June 14, 2020
3 minute read

In this Sunday Poem second edition, we’re celebrating a great Romanian poet, Vasile Alecsandri (1821 - 1890), well-known for being a pioneer in writing pastels. A pastel, from a literary point of view, is a lyrical poem, that describes scenery from nature, landscapes or natural phenomena.

Sunday poem

Sunday Poem | “A Brave and Startling Truth”, by Maya Angelou

June 7, 2020
3 minute read

Today’s choice is Maya Angelou’s “A Brave and Startling Truth”. This poem was composed by Maya Angelou especially for the United Nation’s 50th Anniversary back in 1995. It speaks about our journey in this universe, where we’re “traveling through casual space”, our journey in our global space and history, but also about our journey towards what’s ahead of us.