“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it.”

~ Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

“Our children deserve as much truth as we all do, if not more. Their naivete demands it.  They are destined to be greater than us.  Because you truly love them, do not hold that brilliance back ~ encourage & foster their growth which will only lead to our world’s rescue.” ~ Ellen Cortez Alvarez

Today I spent the day with a very dear friend discussing religion and proposition 8. We spoke about the hate and fear that is derived from religion. What I do not understand is how can the love between two people be wrong? Why should anyone’s love be questioned? Why should someone be persecuted for love? They or some religious people say it is against Gods will, but I have never met anyone who has ever even met God, not in person. So if God does exist and is the all loving God that we are taught about, why would he want us to carry out evil actions, by taking away a persons equal rights. I believe some think God speaks to them, but I think most are just lying to justify hate and to promote fear.

If those who place their energy, time and money promoting hate and fear would replace the hate in their heart with love for humanity, imagine what could be accomplished. Isn’t there enough sadness in this world than to add to it by ripping out the soul of love?

The holiday season is upon us but for so many it is not a season of joy but a season that continues a life of pain. I know as for myself, I count my blessings and I have many of them. I may not be rich but I am wealthy in friends and family who love me, food, shelter, clothing and freedom.

This holiday season when you are making your Christmas wish list or celebrating Hanukkah, think about your blessings and be grateful for what you have. Think about those without, who have no hope, whose holiday season does not bring glad tidings. Ask yourself, what you can do at this moment to help another human being, give hope to the hopeless, show love to a stranger and make the world a better place for another. The smallest of gestures can bring the greatest rewards to someone else. If it is a dollar, a new or used toy or a helping hand…the idea is not to wait until you can find a way to give, but to give, to help with what you can now. Tis the season to give!

A musical genius with a positive vibe and a passionate supporter for world peace, “Swiss Chris” is the music man with a mission. Activist, artist, entertainer “Swiss Chris”, a Grammy Award Winning Music Director and Drummer formerly with John Legend and who is currently working side by side with legendary artist Gloria Gaynor, is also the founder of S.W.I.S.S (Saving With Instruments, Samples & Soundz), “Resolving Conflict Through Music and Sound.” (Saving With Instruments, Samples & Soundz is pending 501C3 approval)

I met “Swiss Chris” through Lou Ricca founder of EuroRock/Peace Full Sail and program director for S.W.I.S.S. Celebrated for his genius on the drums and for his work as a music director, this very talented musical mastermind takes his success to the next level; he is a very busy, very passionate and very active human rights activist, lobbying the rights for people whose voices have been ignored.

As a young curious boy, growing up in Switzerland, Chris was attuned to the world and the people of the world. When attending a geography class in school, he asked himself an important question and one that would create the man he is today, “If Africa is the richest in natural resources, why is it the poorest continent in the world?” Although he was only ten years old, he was wise beyond his years. As a young aspiring drummer and a young boy hungry for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the imbalances in the world, he began to research and follow the path of the drum. In all forms of life, from centuries past to present day, the power of the drum with its rhythm has been and is a very important part of life and can be a very powerful tool to raise or uplift consciousness, lead us on the pathway of truth and understanding and restore the spirit of humanity. He realized that playing the drums was his way to inspire, enlighten and heal people.

“Music has a positive impact that can be effective in healthful changes. More and more doctors are using music as part of their treatments to help patients stay healthy and recover more quickly from illness.” (continue reading…)