Gratitude Day 11 – Music

November 20, 2009

Today I am grateful for the music in my life and the people that I’m honored to share it with. Much like reading – music has always been an integral part of my existence. I actually can’t remember not singing.

Every Tuesday evening I have the honor of directing a great group of women and creating some beautiful music. The fact that we discover more about ourselves, the music and the possibilities each week, creates a unique bond filled with love, laughter, memories…and more.

Additionally, I have the joy of singing with three wonderfully passionate ladies in Playlist! When we come together to rehearse or perform it’s always a new experience.

Then there are the times when I have the privilege of sharing the intimate details of clients lives when I’m asked to write a song for a loved one. Their appreciation when I connect their hearts in such a unique way is a blessing beyond mere words.

Finally, watching my kids perform everything from Opera to Hard Rock or singing along with the radio – just the fact that they have each found ways to share music with the world is something that every mom and performer can appreciate.

I’m thankful that I grew up amongst a family whose faith and joy of singing created a foundation that has lasted over 50 years…but who’s counting :) !

To my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, classmates, fellow thespians, and Sweet Adelines…thank you all from the bottom of my heart. And to my husband who supports and encourages my endeavors in performing and teaching music – I love you.

May the music fill your days!

Love,
Kira

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By Kira | Posted in Family and Friends, Religion, Singing, Your Freedom Guide, empowerment, self-help, teaching | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Happiness is a choice that we make every moment of our lives

July 5, 2009

Over the last week, I had the pleasure of spending time in Anaheim as a volunteer at the Barbershop Harmony Society convention. On Friday, the emcees of the contest were twin brothers with a great sense of humor and…both blind.

As I listened, laughed and watched their banter, I was reminded of my parents (both John and Larry Gassman have a build similar to that of my father – though my apologies to the brothers as they are much younger and very much alive :) .

My parents were very much in love with two very active little girls and both of them blind.

As the music continued over the course of the day, I found myself reflecting on our time together and many of the lessons they taught me through their daily living. Moreover, even though they have passed on, there are insights that are reinforced every day.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some 50 lessons that I have learned from either them at the time, or as a result of hind-sight.

Starting with something close to home – Happiness is a choice that we make every moment of our lives.
My parents had plenty of opportunity for choices..

My (Russian) mother was born in Shanghai and spent much of her youth in a convent while both of her parents worked. Actually, when she was born, my grandmother cut off her own braid and would leave my mother in her crib with the braid and a bottle. The doctors couldn’t make up their mind if my mother was smart enough to be educated since one would come through and say put her in school, and then the next would say that her blindness affected her intelligence and it was a waste of time. In the 40’s their family escaped on a refugee ship to the Philippians and finally landing in California.

On the other hand, my father was born in Oklahoma and enjoyed sports and looked to the possibilities of serving in the Marines until he had a stroke at the age of 17, which resulted in a severe loss of sight. The endless search for answers and cures took their toll on my grandparents and yet – their faith that the answer was there somewhere kept them going. Over time, they too moved to California.

With their vision challenges as well as my father’s ongoing health issues associated with the brain tumor, my parents still took the time to show each other and us how they cared very deeply for each other. I know there were times when it was hard for them with hospital appointments, young children and so many other distractions that accompany raising a family. However, they still had their faith in God, love for life and a belief in the possibilities. They made a choice to be happy and make the most of every moment they had together. They made a choice to give my sister and I the same opportunity. They would fill our home with friends and relatives, laughter, love and music until the day they died.

I think it was a pretty good lesson on how to live and how to choose to be happy.

Stay tuned for the second installment!

In Harmony,
Kira Wagner

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By Kira | Posted in 50 lessons from blind parents, Family and Friends, empowerment, self-help | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

My Birthday Offer

December 18, 2008

Happy Birthday!

Well tomorrow IS my birthday and I love sharing cool ideas and opportunities, and Christmas is just around the corner. So…

…we all know that life is about choices and balance. That is how you came to be here in the first place. Sometimes we become so caught up in the work or the “doing” that we tend to neglect the fun or creative side of our “being”. That is why I am excited about this birthday special!

As many of you know, my husband Paul is a wonderful artist. He is also a very good teacher. I’ve had visions of him helping aspiring artists ever since I first saw his work (you can see some of it here http://www.kirawagner.com/2008/12/18/paul_art/ ) What you may not know is that several months ago he began to combine his technical expertise with his art and created a wonderful drawing course – How To Draw Online. Simple and straight forward isn’t it? Just like the course. You can read ALL about it here at How To Draw Online.

Now, I know all of the hundreds of hours he has put into this program to make sure that anyone who has ANY desire to become an artist CAN! I also know that he provides individual attention to students when they have specific questions (he is very diligent about checking their artwork when they send him pictures).

I also know that this course is worth far more than he is asking. All because he really believes that anyone can draw and he wants to make sure that if there is a desire they have the opportunity.

Therefore, it may not make much sense pricewise but I’ve gotten him to give me a birthday present in the way of allowing me to offer this to you and anyone you know (just because I know you can forward this link:) for even less than his current price of $47.

For my birthday – and through Christmas Day – all of my friends receive the full course for an additional $20 off. Not only that, but he has some really cool bonuses that accompany the course – and it’s all online so no matter where you are you have the opportunity to get started instantly.

All you do is enter this special code – 1219KPW – and you will have the…Learn How to Draw Step by Step MULTIMEDIA Course…for only $27 (US).

This price is only available from one of my emails or pages, and in time, I know that the full retail price will go up when everyone realizes just what is being offered.

This also makes a GREAT GIFT for a friend or family member with access to a computer that wants to learn how to draw.

To move on this opportunity right now go to http://tinyurl.com/5y9×5b (I shortened the link so that it stayed on one line)

If you want a little more information about what is included in the course let me share the following:

The three bonuses include:

  1. The Creative Process of Art
  2. How to Introduce Perspective into Your Drawings
  3. The Practice and Science of Drawing

Then the 15 lessons take you from the basics including how to hold a pencil…yeah I know…I thought I learned that in school too, but there’s a different energy to holding it like you do when you write to holding it and getting the results you want when your drawing a picture…through drawing faces, flowers, animals and more.

You will get a handle on proportion. This means that if you had a cup and an apple in the picture – your cup doesn’t look like it was meant for the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and the apple looks like it’s only big enough for Jack :) .

He shows you simple ways to get a handle on composition and dimension for your artwork. This means that it will be something that you not only feel good about sharing with others (you may even find yourself giving some of your art as gifts next Christmas if you start now) but you also may find that others are looking at what YOU have done and wishing they could do the same!

So if you have EVER had the desire to learn how to draw – and even paint beautiful artwork (it all starts with drawing) here is your chance. Take advantage of my birthday special now and even if you start after the holidays, it will be there for you in perpetuity…OR…wait until the price goes up.

You choose.

Just remember I have gotten him to create this offer for a short time and you’ll want to move forward with it today before it’s gone.

Here is the link again http://tinyurl.com/5y9×5b that will take you to a secure site and remember to enter the code 1219KPW to immediately take advantage of my birthday special.

Wishing you a warm and beautiful holiday!

Sincerely,
Kira Wagner
Your Freedom Guide

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A Reason For Thanksgiving

November 24, 2008

All you have to do is open your eyes and look…

When I look beyond my ego
I find a cause to sing
When I look around at the universe
I find joy in the tiniest thing
When I look within at the love I’ve known
I find the laughter that seems lost
When I look into your eyes my friend
I see a life worth any cost

by KPW

If we just take the time to open up, open our eyes, open our hearts and our lives we find there are miracles in every moment.

I just happened to be talking to my Chiropractor Dr. Alan Dubin about belief and how the smallest doubt can affect the outcome of a situation, when he mentioned that he had just started reading a new book. Our conversation led to my watching a lecture by Dr. Bruce Lipton. Presented in 2000 during a lecture to colleagues this video – over 2.5 hours – was amazing to watch.

If you have not had the pleasure of acquainting yourself with any of the works by Dr. Lipton – I assure you – you are in for a treat. In The Biology of Belief Dr. Lipton goes extensively into how your thoughts affect your genes (and you life isn’t about hereditary cause and effect). His extensive historical documentation, in-depth cellular research and  ability to communicate the information so that even someone who didn’t particularly care for biology in school could grasp the wide reaching effects of what he was saying was impressive – to say the least.

Check it out here: The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, & Miracles

Yes – it’s a pretty amazing universe and we have much to be thankful for so in the USA or any other county in this wonderful world – make it a beautiful day!

What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

Love,
Kira

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By Kira | Posted in Family and Friends, Freedom, Freedom's Formula, Science, Singing, empowerment, self-help | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

International Day of Peace

September 21, 2008

Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

On September 21, 1981, the United Nations declared an International Day of Peace. In 2002, the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for this momentous occasion.

As a habit then, I believe that peace starts within, within our own hearts and souls. World peace will only be a reality when we find ourselves at peace individually. We can make this happen one moment at a time. I don’t know anyone that rides the Love Train 24/7 – 365 days a year, but we can begin the journey together and find ways to embrace the peace and love. 

One morning a few days ago, I woke with two tunes going through my head. One was a line from the song by John Lennon – “all we are saying is give peace a chance”. It repeated incessantly. It was overlaid by another tune and the following poem, which I wrote and share with you today –

 

I feel love in every day; I feel love in every way

I feel love deep in my heart, in every day there’s a brand new start.

I feel the peace flowing through my soul I feel the love that makes me whole

I feel peace I know I’m free I feel that peace deep inside of me

I feel peace of ages past; I feel that peace – I’m home at last

I feel the peace flowing through my soul I feel the love that makes me whole

I feel peace I know I’m free I feel that peace deep inside of me

I feel peace of ages past I feel that peace – I’m home at last 

 

I won’t kid you and say that I always feel this way. In fact, I’ve really begun to understand that the more I think I know, the further there is to go.

Nevertheless, it is a start and it is part of what allows me to know moments of total freedom. Something so ingrained that I know no one can take it from me. That if I “lose” it – it’s because I’ve chosen to give it up.

Thank you all for being part of my journey to freedom!

Love,

Kira

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By Kira | Posted in Family and Friends, Freedom, Freedom's Formula, Poetry, Religion, Singing, Uncategorized, Your Freedom Guide, empowerment, new age, self-help, women's issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Labour Day – Family, Friends and More

September 1, 2008

I’ve spend the day today putting together photos from our Anniversay / Open House … as well as pictures from around the yard. When you hover over the pictures you will be able to read the captions where they have been included :)

Have a wonderful day and feel free to comment – here or on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/kira1955 when you look at the pictures.

And here are pictures from the yard within the last two days.

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By Kira | Posted in Family and Friends | Tagged , | Comments (2)