December 28, 2013

Songs Teach Us About Life

How are you, my dears? Do you know that situation: You listen to a special song and, automatically, you begin to feel a certain way. Whether you feel happy, sad, angry, bored etc. music always brings you in a different or emphasizes your mood. Music is emotional, it transports feelings. However or especially because of that, we can learn a lot from the lyrics. Writing a song that inspirates or moves lots of people is an easy and also great way to spread a message. 

Michael Jackson's songs "Earth Song", "Man In The Mirror", "Heal The World", especially "We Are The World" are kind of songs making people care more about the others, help each other, make the world a better place. In general, all Michael Jackson songs have an important message. Therefore, and, of course, also because of his amazing talent he is one of my absoultely favorite singers. 

There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race

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I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right
. . .
I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
. . .
I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?

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We are the world 
We are the children 
We are the ones to make a brighter day 
So let's start giving 
There's a choice we're making 
We're saving our own lives 
It's true we'll make a better day 
Just you and me


So, keep your eyes open for the people around you, for everyone. If we all help together, be there for each other, everyone can be able to have a great life. Focus on lyrics - they (can) have a deeper function than only entertaining.

Have a nice start into the new year!

♥ xoxo

December 6, 2013

Advent Calendar - December 4, 5 & 6

How are you my dears? Sorry for not posting the last few days, but I was very busy.


Something very upsetting happened last night: Nelson Mandela passed away. He did so many wonderful things for the world, for making it a better place and was a very important person in the Civil Rights Movement. Here are some of Mandela's great and inspiring words:

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right."

"Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all."

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela - you will never be forgotten

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Today is a special day in some countries: "St Nicholas' Day" if you translate it in English. The children get small presents. Usually, they clean their boots the night before, place them in front of the door and St Nicholas will gift them something, but only if they behaved well during the last year. 


For December 4, 5 and 6 I want to share some ideas for Christmas presents with you:

  • Music: You could create a list of songs you and another person share with each other, songs which make you remember great moments.
  • "You-Don't-Have-To"-Tokens: A great gift for your parents or other family members. You can write "You don't have to make the dishes" on one and then this person can give it to you and you will do the work.
  • Personal letters: Sounds very simple, but it has a huge effect. Just write down what you love about the other one, what he/she did for you etc. It just has to be nice and personal. Much better than everything bought. And isn't Christmas the time you spend with the ones you love and to let them know how much they mean to you?
These are only a few ideas - there is a lot more you could do. 

What are your special tips for Christmas presents?

♥ xoxo

source for the quotes: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

December 3, 2013

Advent Calendar - December 3

How are you my dears?

Today, I want to share a wonderful poem with you. It creates a peaceful and enchanting atmosphere - just as during Christmas time -  and is one of the most beautiful ones I have ever read. It is a German poem and, therefore, I will post the German version. Nevertheless, an English translation will be below. ;)




"Mondnacht"
Joseph Eichendorff (1837) - Romantik

Es war, als hätt' der Himmel
Die Erde still geküsst,
Dass sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nun träumen müsst'.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog durch die stillen Lande,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.



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Moonlit Night

It was like Heaven's glimmer 
caressing Terra's skin, 
that in Her blossoms' shimmer 
She had to dream of Him.

The breeze was gently walking 
through wheatfields near and far; 
the woods were softly talking 
so bright shone ev'ry star.

And, oh, my soul extended 
its wings through skies to roam: 
O'er quiet lands suspended, 

my soul was flying home.


Such a wonderful poem - I absolutely love it.

What do you think about it? Do you like poems? If so, what are your favorite ones?


♥ xoxo

sources for English translation: http://myweb.dal.ca/waue/Trans/Eichendorff-Mondnacht.html

December 2, 2013

Advent Calendar - December 2

Today I want to share a wonderful inspirational video with you

Two young men decided to make a difference. They bought food and gave it to homeless people. See their reactions in this video:



"Make The Homeless Smile"


Seing how happy and thankful the people are for being noticed and how they react - it is very moving and emotional! It clearly shows that everyone is able to change the world, make it better, just by doing little things. Take a look at yourself: What about being nicer to your siblings? Helping others? Giving people walking by a smile? You can do it; everyone does. But we have to make our minds and hearts open to the world's problems in order to solve them.

"Give someone one of your smiles, it might be the only sunshine they see all day. It can change the world, maybe not the whole world, but their world."


What do you think about this video? 

♥ xoxo

December 1, 2013

Advent Calendar - December 1

How are you my dears?

It's December 1st - only 23 days left until Christmas. Do you already know what your wishes are? 
I have decided to make kind of an Advent Calendar here on my blog. Everday there is going to be a Christmas-themed post. Some shorter, some longer, quotes or pictures - be surprised! ;)


Christmas Time

♥ Cuddling
♥ Snow
♥ Lights
♥ People get nicer
♥ Nature looks enchanted
♥ Food 
♥ Spending time with family and friends
♥ Thinking about presents for each other


Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

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If you have not noticed it yet: My blog has a new name and therefore also a new address:
makeyour-change.blogspot.comPersonally, one of my goals is to inspire people, make them happy, give them hope. Also, a lot of my posts are about life and its ways of being. The new name just fits much better to my contents ;) 

I wish you all a wonderful day, week, month, year, life. Enjoy every moment, because that is the way life is!

♥ xoxo


quote found at: http://www.quotegarden.com/christmas.html