I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤

Photo “Beach, North Sea” by Kordi Vahle, Pixabay

The quoted verse is from “Being Kind” by Empty Hands Music.

Empty Hands

One of the co-creators of Empty Hands Music is Nimo Patel.  I am grateful and honored to count Nimo among our friends. My husband and I got to meet Nimo after his concert in DC a few yeas ago.  So much love. It shines through his words, his smile, his hugs and every note he sings.

Years ago in Los Angeles, Nimo was a successful and wealthy rap artist with record sales and music videos.  Then, everything changed.  In 2014, Nimo gave a TEDTalk about his transformation.  It began with a choice to go from outward seeking to — nothing.

There were three steps and four lessons in this nothing:

1. Simplify
He unloaded possessions.

2. Experiment
Nimo was inspired by Gandhi G’s story of experiments with his truths; small little practices, like not eating at a restaurant for a year; no sweets for long periods of time; birthdays cleaning the slum area; experiment in empathy.

This a way for us to purify ourselves…Little experiments kept changing my conditioning.

3. Serve
Gandhi often said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”  Nimo connected with kids in one of the slum areas and together over three years they created a shared vision around music and Gandhi G’s message.

From this came these lessons, Nimo said.

a) Big is not the most important.  “The kids taught me small is most beautiful.”  As Mother Teresa’ said so beautifully, we can do small things with great love.

b) I’m not changing anybody; It’s hard to change ourselves, but we can plant seeds; pure intention that will eventually bloom on its own.

c) The greatest virtue- the “mother of all virtues” as some people say – is gratitude. “I thought I was serving but I was the one being served.”  With gratitude – every day something was chipping away old context.

d) “In the space of service, whenever we offer ourselves with a pure intention, the world conspires to support you.“ It is not planned, not strategized. The world conspires when your heart is connected.

From this quiet three years of nothing came music that has circled the world repeatedly and lit the lives of millions of people.

from A Smile and Five Blessings

♡. under1000skies
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