On Gratitude

A foundational truth: inspiration doesn’t arrive in just one manner.

Sometimes a melody comes to me while traveling with my husband. Sometimes it arises from a talk with a stranger or a memory that suddenly resurfaces: or simply hearing a piece of music that touches something within.  The origins of some of my favorite songs are rotted in moments of stillness – during a walk or while in meditation or during those quiet hours of the silent night. But most often for me, inspiration comes through people – the ones who love us, challenge us, teach us and forever change us.

A second truth: creativity is a spiritual experience.

I believe that God instills within all of us an inner light and an intuition that gently guides us toward who we are meant to become. Throughout my life, especially during difficult seasons, I’ve learned to trust that voice along the way.

Every place I’ve lived, every culture I’ve experienced, and every chapter of my journey has added another layer to who I am.  My adolescent years at boarding school in Germany instilled independence, resilience and the beauty of seeing the world through different perspectives.  And coming to the United States was more than moving to a new country – it was being given a new chapter and a second chance at life. America gave me the freedom to dream, create and become the woman and artist I was meant to be.

A bigger truth: inspiration and creativity give rise to gratitude.

Gratitude is everything.  I am deeply grateful for those people, places and experiences that shaped my life and gave me another chance to begin anew – and for the generations who endured hardships, made sacrifices, and paved the way for opportunities I now have.

I am especially grateful for my selfless mother, whose strength, love and sacrifices shaped so much of who I am today. I am equally grateful for my absolutely amazing husband, who has believed in my dreams and constantly leads by example in reminding me to keep moving forward: even during moments of doubt. And my children are among my greatest inspirations, as they remind me to see the world with wonder, to lead with love and to live with gratitude and purpose.

I am grateful for every person who believed in me, encouraged me, challenged me or offered me kindness along the way. So when I create music, these songs are love letters to all of those experiences and to all of the people who have helped shape me.  I want these tracks to remind people of their resilience, their strength and their capacity to love, heal and begin again.

A final truth: the greatest revolution of all is an inner revolution.

I know that we are all here for a reason and capable of transformation.  And the greatest revolution isn’t always the one happening around us – it’s what is happening within us. 

And if my music can help someone reconnect with their own light, trust their intuition and remind of their God-bestowed worth, then I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Own your light.