The Meaning Of Noi (sounds like Joy)

I met Noi in California...

Yes, I thought she was gorgeous but our relationship simply began as a new friendship in my life and a connection to someone willing to assist me to organize a service tour in Thailand, since Thailand is where she is from.

Our relationship blossomed and led straight to the joy in my heart. We celebrate each November coming together and cherish finding each other.

Her name Noi is a nickname and in Thai, means little or small. Nicknames are very common in Thailand, it was Noi’s mother who gave her this name for Noi was a very tiny baby and wore the name well. Noi’s birth name is Kanlayanee (which means beautiful woman) and if you heard me try to pronounce Kanlayanee properly, you would know why I am hugely grateful to her mother for anointing her simply, Noi.

What inspires me most about Noi is her ability to accept whatever experience is in front of her. A tragic car accident forced her into a wheelchair when she was twenty-six years old. I marvel in witnessing Noi embracing each day of the life she has been given, even after that life-changing event altered so radically her future at such a young age.

A year before we met in California she lost her best friend and loving husband Denny, to a sudden heart attack. Facing life's challenges with grace is one of the many things which inspire me about Noi. She is an observer of an experience, rather than a victim of it. Oh, she feels the pain and sadness of loss deeply yet moves steadily forward, breathing through it one breathe at a time.

Perhaps Noi’s buddhist upbringing helped to mold her generous and giving personality or she is simply lucky to be able to lean a little further towards joy rather than toward life’s sorrows. It is my joy to share a little about Noi with you and give you a small glimpse of her depth and inspiration in my life. We have had many fun adventures and will strive for many more. I added a few of my favorite pictures of Noi, which I believe capture the essence of her. May you be reminded often by someone you love to lean a little more toward JOY on the other side of every challenge.

Be well,

Karl

If you go through hell, fine...just don’t stop for tea.

“When the ground is shaking under me, hold the sky.
When kingdoms crumble into dust, say goodbye.

Sometimes life can bring you down to your knees.
If you go through hell, fine...just don’t stop for tea.”

— Karl Anthony

Please listen to my Hold The Sky song.  I hope it lifts your spirit.

You can download Hold The Sky or buy the CD Here.

New Song - (Mother India) - LISTEN FREE

“In her heartbeat, I feel the rhythm of her love, she lights up the universe.”

— Karl Anthony

Please listen to this new recording and let me know if you think it would make a good music video. I am considering capturing footage on our next Mantra India Trip to put this track and these words to a music video which tells a story.

The encounters we have connecting with communities in India on our Mantra trips are life changing. Being able to share those experiences when we return in a music video would be amazing and if you would like to be part of that first hand, come along and travel with us. It is not too late and you CAN do this.

Your comments and music video ideas are deeply appreciated. To join us in February, send in your deposit and contact us today.

Do you feel welcomed?

Feeling welcomed is an inside job. Whether it is traveling to India or traveling to the grocery store, wherever we go, there we are. Our mindset, our attitude, our opinions travel with us.
 

On my tours to India and other wonderful places in the world I find people are so welcoming and generous. When traveling with a group, our theme and focus is not about what we see, rather our focus is who will we BE through our amazing journey together.

Each year we stay in an ashram which is in the photo with my arms open wide. The Parmath ashram is in a beautiful mountain town of Rishikesh, nestled on the river Ganga.

It sounds elegant and in a way it is. Staying at an ancient ashram is amazing and yet it offers the opportunity to be in community and be in-sync with each other. It is unlike experiencing the private comforts of a hotel with cushy room service rather the type of service you enjoy allows you to really be with people and connect with each other at a deep level.

Of course we broaden our travel experience by staying in a few nice hotels but most of the group find they prefer the simple elegance of the ashram. Yes, the accommodations are more modest but the energy is open and the food is extra amazing since it is prepared with real love. And when else would I have a chance to live like a monk for a few days? With the right attitude, adjusting is as easy as breathing.

I think being able to gently adjust my attitude must be at the top of my list of important strengths to embody. Our expectations can throw us off sometimes when all that is needed is welcoming that which is in front of us. If you have felt lately something missing or any sense of not enough, practice feeling welcome wherever you go. Like I said, it is an inside job and our attitude can lead the way to a happier life.

Namaste.....Karl

The India Mantra SEVA Trip

You'll be welcomed with us in India

On My Way

Shall I leave or shall I stay?....decisions, decisions.

On My Way

A few years ago I moved near the beach in a beautiful spot located near a very loud train. I was wondering if that palpable sound of the train would be a huge problem. Lucky for me I actually enjoy it, maybe its because I enjoy traveling and it reminds me of being on another adventure or reminds me of the welcoming feeling of returning home.

We all have decision to make and inspired by the sound of that train I wrote a song titled, ON MY WAY. It may be as close as I will ever get to writing a Johnny Cash style song. Give it a listen, perhaps it will help you with a decision you have been pondering lately. Most of the time our gut knows exactly what we want, it is connected to our deeper intuition and is just waiting for the rest of us to listen. Go ahead, listen to the entire song for free. The lyrics are below if you wish to read them.

You can order ON MY WAY and rest of the Hold The Sky cd, at my store.

On My Way

(by Karl Anthony, on the Hold The Sky cd)
On my way, I'll be on my way
Time to go, I hear that whistle blow
When you hear that train, that whistle blow
Must be time to go, on my way

On my way, I'll be on my way
Got to fly, got good reason why
Cause I feel that pull, guess my gut just knows
That's when its time to go, on my way

(whistle)
When you hear that call, go find a circus show
Its a sign its time to go, on my way

On my way, I'll be on my way
Time to ride, time to say bye-bye
Don’t you cry, darling dry your eyes
On my way, I'll be on my way
When you hear that train, with load in tow
Look like its time to go, on my way

On my way….on my way….on my way

On my way........ I'll be on my way
On my way........ I'll be on my way
On my way........ I'll be on my way

What if I look up, and I notice you?

Look Up

I remember a time as I was walking down a busy street, I noticed people would look down as they passed by and would avoid looking up even if I said hello. On this particular day it felt like everyone was going out of their way to look the other way although I am sure it was nothing personal. I took notice that day because I had heard about another tragic school shooting in America and I was feeling a sense of sad numbness and wondered why are so many in our society feeling so isolated and alone.

There was a time when I performed for high school students all over the country and one of those communities were the students of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. I shared my music with them before that horrible shooting at their school. They were no different than any community living their life in America and they had no idea of what they were going to be asked to face.

After that tragic day I was asked to return to Littleton and offer any comfort I could. That experience will always be with me and whenever I hear of a similar act of violence I remember the importance of our need to be recognized and acknowledged. The greatest of all human needs is the need to feel connected with each other. I wrote a song which I call, Look Up. You are welcome to listen to it for free right here.

Life is full and often the things which matter most are the activities which receive little attention. They can be as simple as connecting with the person waiting on you at your table at a restaurant. When I was a boy my mom used to say to her friends that I had never met anyone that I didn't already know. This is probably because I would always would have conversations with any stranger, especially at restaurants. I enjoyed hearing mom say that about me and I sure hope I never lose that part of my personality.

Perhaps we all know each other more than we realize. We're human and even though the experiences we go through are widely different, the feelings we share all run through our hearts and minds in similar ways.

My song "Look Up" is a reminder to glance at each other with a little more kindness, especially those just walking by or those who serve us in our daily activities. You never know what another is going through at the time you happen to walk by them. A simple smile may be all that is required to offer a life altering moment. We create with our every action in life and have an opportunity to lift the vibe with our every interaction. The ripple effect we create can destroy or heal the world.

Next time you're in a restaurant, Look Up at your waiter or waitress and say hi...before you say place your order.

Please share your comments below.

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Look Up

by Karl Anthony (from the Hold The Sky cd)

What if I look up and notice you
But I turn away, like so many do, as if I didn’t see you

When people look up, then the walls can come tumbling down

When you see a child, stare at your face
They want so bad, to walk in your shoes,
every child looks up to you

It all seems to matter, as we pass one another, we must look up
When people look up, then the walls can come tumbling down
We got to look up, then the world will look up

Now there’s a boy out there, who could take his life
He thinks no one cares,
so he withdrew, one smile is all he needs from you

And all those who hate, they need our love
Every move I make, is a chance to get through,
when I take time to know you

It all seems to matter, as we pass one another, we must look up
People look up, then the walls can come tumbling down
We got to look up, then the world will look up
We must look up…look up, look up
when people look up, we must look up…look up
when people look up…we must look up

What if I look up and I notice you,
but I don’t turn away, kind of like deja vu, like I already know you

What Do I Need?

What is it that I need if I knew that LOVE was surrounding me. Well, the answer I am making an attempt to say is that we need very little especially when we see our universe as made up of the same star stuff we are made of and the most powerful element surrounding us is love.

It is similar to what was communicated clearly in one of my favorite movies, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The message was simple, "everything is going to work out all right in the end. And if it is not all right, it is not yet the end."

What do I need? ...is a great question to ask yourself and when dare to you dig deep and answer this question for yourself, it reveals we have all we need in front of us and all around us. Being at peace with life and feeling complete within ourselves is a worthy goal. The path of forgetting and remembering is a natural journey and what I consider a good and perfect day.

Here are the lyrics to my song What Do I Need? And a brief video clip from a recent Hold The Sky concert.

Lyrics

What Do I Need? by Karl Anthony

You don't need to know what your doing
You don't need to have it figured out
All you need to know is that loves the only show
And thats what life is all about

You don't need to know where you’re going
You don't have to plan the perfect route
All you need to know is that loves the only show
And that's what this whole things all about

    Then what do I need, what do I need
    when love is surrounding me

You don't need to be, all you can be
You don't need to always do your best
All you need to know is that loves the only show
You’ll do fine at all the rest
What do I need, what do I need

I got, all I need, surrounding me, surrounding me…I got love,
and its all around me, that's what I need, that's what I need

You don't need to, make a fortune
No need for more than enough
All you need to know is that love is good as gold
Man it helps, when times are tough

Cause you, don’t always feel like you should feel
You don’t always look-like you’d like
All you need to know is that love steals the show
So tell your doubt, go take a hike
What do I need, what do I need

Order this song at this link.

Meeting Patch Adams

The day I met Patch Adams, the physician, comedian, social activist, clown, author and out-of-the-box thinker, was the day I noticed something. A label like doctor or musician does not need to define who we are.

In a hotel lobby years ago in Moscow, we were introduced and Patch Adams himself presented me with a bright red clown nose. As a matter of fact he proceeded to place it gently on my nose and then he placed another one on his nose as we stood eye to eye, nose to nose and tried not to laugh.

Actually we didn't stand eye to eye for he is very tall, not at all like the actor who beautifully played him in the movie, Robin Williams, but Robin sure did nail his creative spirit.

Now that I have been working in a Children's Hospital setting for many years, I relate to the powerful messages Dr. Adams has shared about the need for compassion and laughter in health care. And it turns out to be a uniquely important ingredient for our human experience.

Many of us are way too busy, disconnected and even feel lonely much of the time. The need to feel connected runs deep in all of us, especially when we are sick and require healing. Music and art can lift our spirit. Humor and a heart warming story will allow you to travel to places where all is well with the world.

I predict one day there will be Healing Arts departments in all hospitals, not only in children's hospitals. And these programs will not be asking for volunteers but seeking out qualified artist to collaborate as employees and work closely with staff to alleviate discomfort and strengthen the conditions for healing.

I am foremost a facilitator with music and use my gift to open the door to a deeper human connection. I understand Patch Adams is still traveling the world sharing the need for compassion and building hospitals where health care is free. I wish him well and thank him for introducing me to the power of connecting with people with whatever gift you have inside you. Hey, it is not rocket science, even a clown nose can make a difference.

My Healing Arts Page

As always, your comments are welcome...

What do I believe?

Our vision breathes life into our ideas. Thinking things up is only a seed of possibility which awaits and is eager to be pulled by our beliefs and that vision.

Most of the time when I have something new to offer, it can be an unnerving and slightly vulnerable place to be. I love being a songwriter and will most likely be one until my last breath. I can imagine this only because writing another song is always floating around somewhere in my thoughts.

What I believe tends to be an ever changing story but who I am and who we are in our hearts remain familiar, perhaps the same even as we continue to blossom. I believe life is a random wild ride and the genuine moments we are able to capture and share with others are the grand prize.

What I desire is a closer connection with my community and a receptive ear to hear the music which flows me.

What do you believe?

Listen to the song, I Believe.