Oh happy me!  I just found out that Yusuf Islam is coming out with a new album on November 13!  He was known as Cat Stevens in the 60's and 70's.  Then he became Muslim and changed his name and stopped recording.  But he's back, baby!  Dudes, I am excited.  He is one of my favorite hippies of all freakin' time!  He is coming back as YUSUF and his new album is called "An Other Cup" and I heard a clip...it's the same old beautiful voice!  In honor of Cat/Yusuf's comeback, I would like to leave you all (yeah, all two of you who read my blogs) with a song I am learning on the guitar right now by said artist.  (This song is from his album "Footsteps in the Dark" and it's the one I listen to on my headphones when I go to the dentist...to block out reality.  Great album!)

Trouble-by Cat Stevens

Trouble
Oh trouble set me free
I have seen your face
And it's too much too much for me

Trouble
Oh trouble can't you see
You're eating my heart away
And there's nothing much left of me

I've drunk your wine
You have made your world mine
So won't you be fair
So won't you be fair

I don't want no more of you
So won't you be kind to me
Just let me go where
I'll have to go there

Trouble
Oh trouble move away
I have seen your face
And it's too much for me today

Trouble
Oh trouble can't you see
You have made me a wreck
Now won't you leave me in my misery

I've seen your eyes
And I can see death's disguise
Hangin' on me
Hangin' on me

I'm beat, I'm torn
Shattered and tossed and worn
Too shocking to see
Too shocking to see

Trouble
Oh trouble move from me
I have paid my debt
Now won't you leave me in my misery

Trouble
Oh trouble please be kind
I don't want no fight
And I haven't got a lot of time

(Let me know if you need guitar tab!)

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."  Yeah, we have all heard it and we agree with it.  But how do we actually make a difference?  Most of us want to make a huge impact on the world....like ending world hunger...and when we are not successful in ending world hunger we take a defeatist attitude and tell ourselves "I can't make a difference.  I have a family.  I have bills to pay.  It's a nice dream with great intentions, but it's not realistic for me to think I can actually impact the world working my 8-4:30 job.  I'm really busy!"

And we tell ourselves that if we were rich, then we could REALLY make a difference. We could spend time pursuing that dream of being a catalyst, instead of spending our time chasing a paycheck.  Man, if I were a multi-millionaire I would send so much money to the Darfur refugee camps.  (I'm serious.  I really would.)  And good intentions are cool.  Those of us that are idealists carry around a lot of guilt because of good intentions that never quite get carried out. 

But I have decided that it is, in fact, possible to make a significant impact on our world/universe and it doesn't take any money.  After having a defeatist attitude about "being the change I wanted to see in the world", I have decided that with purposeful intent on a daily basis, I am going to impact the world in a powerful way. 

*Sidenote*    I have been totally stoked about  going on this medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic in January.  We have one dental and one surgical team that will, for 2 weeks, do 40 or so free surgical procedures a day on the people there.  I had a friend who went last year tell me that the people there walk for miles and miles to stand in a long line waiting for their turn to have their surgical procedure.  I have been very excited to do my part to make a difference....until recently I found out that I need to come up with 2 grand by December to go on this trip.  I can't even go to a wedding out of town this weekend cause I don't have gas money to get there.  So there goes my wish of making a difference.  I'll have to start saving for next year.

What I am attempting to do is spread peace among my my co-workers by my attitude and the way I handle problems.  I am changing my mindset....the way I treat other people who are being manipulative and deceitful.  I want to, by my actions and attitude, inspire others to change their behavior and their way of thinking.  I want to (and intend to) live my dreams by creating music and being courageous in all that I do.  I will no longer listen to the voice who says I'm not good enough.  I'm living my life with intent....intent to make a difference by showing my nieces how to be accepting and nonjudgmental of others, even if they are really different.  I want to change the world by meditation and positive thinking.  Just putting it out there is powerful.  I want to be free of the guilt that says I'm not doing enough.  I'm seeking to learn what it means to be a human being in the highest sense.  I want to live my life with faith, love and bravery....and I hope that with my self-expression, I can give hope...or a hand-up to someone else so that they can pass it on. 

I'm going to impact the world with my focused intentions.  Will it be profound?  Maybe not.  But it's better than what I was doing last week...which was nothing.  Who's with me?