The Universe Speaks to Us…
I met Ben Harper at “The Roxy” on Sunset Boulevard in L.A. I got to shake his hand and he introduced me to his family. After I finished what I wanted to say (I had been thinking of what I would say to him his whole set), he turned to me and with the utmost ease and coolness, he said these words (I will never forget), “Keep up the positive vibes.” I will never forget that night. I literally did not wash my hand for about a week. Yea, I am one of those… I was a 17 year-old kid, star struck, but as important as that night has been in my life, the sad thing is that I had “forgotten.” One of the best moments of my life had been crowded out by anxiety and fear and worry and all sorts of negativity that 2020 has been excellent in manufacturing in my head and my soul.
The other day, a young friend and I were talking about music at work. I mentioned Ben Harper and that specific show at The Roxy. The other day I heard this song on the radio and chills took over. The Universe speaks to us. The Universe is ALWAYS speaking to us. We just don’t always listen. I will admit I have lost a lot of my positive vibes this past year. I will also admit that I have lost the faith in my own two hands to make this world a better place, but I will also admit the Universe has not lost its faith in me. If I am honest, that is a bit scary, but it is also something awe-inspiring and magical.
If you have a moment, listen to this song. Listen to the words, the music, the rhythm. It is the Universe… speaking, and it will make your day better. I promise.
“With my Own Two Hands” by Ben Harper.
I have always loved this song. ❤️
Another song I bet you’d love is ‘I’m Amazing’ by Keb Mo. I used this with my first graders for years as our finish up/clean up song and loved hearing them sing “I’m Amazing” to themselves as they prepped to share their reading & writing with their peers at the end of literacy workshops. This is one of the things I miss most about teaching.
I am looking up that song directly after I write this reply! The title alone makes this song one of the best already! Thank you for thinking of me and sharing this, Betsy. But what’s more… the image that you have permanently put into my brain in association with this song makes it WAY BETTER ONLY for those who have worked closely with first graders! They are SO CUTE! (Mostly… I work in Special Ed so sometimes… ;-)) Lastly Betsy, I just want to say thank you! I don’t know EXACTLY what I would like to say thank you for but you have been a positive influence in my life. International Women’s Day is coming up on March 5 and Rowan and I are thinking about trying to release an episode thanking all the AMAZING women in both our lives (We haven’t recorded it yet… we don’t know if it is totally appropriate or we can actually pull it off) but you are such a woman for me! I don’t know why I have been so blessed with all the people who have touched my life in some way and I realize I always haven’t always acted so correctly in many situations, but I have been blessed. You are a blessing to me! All I can say is thank you, Betsy, for being an amazing person and sharing that amazingness with me… just a bit. That “bit” is a WHOLE LOT MORE than you will probably ever know though! Have a great day!
OOOHHHHHH!!! The song is even better than the title!!! Thank you so much, Betsy! My day just got so much better! Amazing! 🙂
I’m Amazing. Guess what? So are you! 😉 You are right with how cute those first graders were…they were so serious about that song and we would all point at each other at the “so are you” part.
Also, I totally forgot that part of one of the lines is “accept responsibility.” This could totally be your theme song!
Ha!!! I heard that part also and thought you were messing with me a little. I was like, “Dang, a great song but is Betsy messing with me a bit?” Ok, maybe just a coincidence but I do agree the song seems to fit Nopes and Opes pretty darn well! Maybe… 😉
Betsy, have we really been communicating on Facebook? I am just having a tough time today and I freaked myself out last night. Anyways, I really hope it is YOU! I will be taking a break though because sometimes I simply think too much and I go to weird places. Please take good care and I will talk to you again soon.
Yes, Hylan! It has been great reconnecting with you, too! 😊
It just occurred to me…once I was messaging with my exchange student from India and five minutes in I got the feeling that it wasn’t her. I get it–like you just never know for sure.