Jour et Nuit

My life is only a movement of constant change. It's like day and night, but from day to day! ...If that makes sense.

Anyway, yesterday I got my first two songs sent to me, which are still being edited, but the latest versions were awesome! Of course the one is a little heavy and sad, but it's cool to listen to. The other one is just a pure fun jam, with a super vintage feel. I can't wait to release them and share them with the world!

Today I'm going back to the studio and recording another two or three songs. Needless to say, IIIII'm excited!

Otherwise on the menu this week is composing, getting the rest of my life together, and so on... 

I am so ready to break out of my shell and out of the "old world." I just want to see and hear and feel everything. I'm dying to go back to New York (it's been 5 years on the dot!), I want to see Singapore, Peru, Russia, etc. Just bring it on!

I am also coming to an unfortunate realization that some things in my life just aren't working. It's up to me to fix and change them, but it's not the easiest thing in the world. There will be people I say goodbye to. There will be doors closing very soon from my side. It makes me sad, but I know in the long run, there's so many things in this world to see and experience, I won't lose by saying "no more!" to negative influences. I feel an extreme pull to get out of Innsbruck. It's a lovely town as I always shouted from the top of my lungs, but I feel like I need to be somewhere else right now. I'm thinking Chile or Hong Kong.

Anyway, I need to get my hands on some cash, and then I will be gone like lightning! And I will be absolutely everywhere...

I dream of a clean earth. I dream that one day the Hudson River will be drinkable, and that in India there will be farms and (good) food and houses for everyone. I want to give people hope through my music and my work. I truly hope that I am able to inspire people to dream and dare to achieve their visions for their lives. There's so much more that I imagine for my life and the lives of others...

My dear readers, I hope all is well with you and that you enjoyed the holidays with your families. Have a wonderful Wednesday and rest of the week. Try to do something you love today. Something that makes your heart sing.

All my heart

India

Song for the day: Ich lass für dich das Licht an by Revolverheld

Coincidence?

I don't believe in coincidence at all. Now I don't believe in fate either, but I believe everyone is responsible for both what happens around them, and what they cause. I mean think about it, why do we have all of these expressions about "karma," "what goes around comes around," and the "golden rule?" 

Because in some way or another, they're all trying to tell one truth- your output (things that "happen" to you) will mirror your input (messages, thoughts, and actions you release) 100% of the time. So if you don't like something in your life, put up or shut up- do something to fix it or stop complaining!

I'm on a kick at the moment. I started reading The Success Principles by Jack Canfield today, and I've always admired Jack. His style of writing, his life philosophy, and his energy all seem to jive with mine. This book is a cool deal- already in the first chapter he starts with "take responsibility for your life!" While I completely accept that everything that "happens" to me is basically controlled by my choice, I also had a realization that sadly some dear people around me are causing themselves pain and suffering simply by not taking responsibility for little things like attitude, response to situations, and mental stamina. While dealing with people who don't give 100% is both hard and heart-breaking, there are a few ways to deal with stuff like this.

a) either you can control what's happening with the other people or things directly (so fix it!)

or

b) you can't control other circumstances (people and situations), but you can control your response to them, and find a solution!

Frankly, I don't think there's ever a good reason to complain. I'm starting a campaign to stop the complain (haha that actually sounds like a good motto) and today is my last day. Whatever I complained about today, whoever I blamed for my bad mood, why I dropped the dish on the floor... it's over. Complaining is dumb and cowardly. Either you do something about the scheiße in your life, or you deal with it. 

So join me, friends, in taking responsibility from this moment forward for everything in your life! If you don't like something, change it! Yes, maybe I sound extremely hard right now, but this is what "getting ahead," giving 100%, and making something of your life is all about. And I'm done with the excuses. Excuses are all illusion, what everything comes down to is your willpower and your demand for greatness in yourself.

I don't claim in myself perfection, and I understand I also have many miles to go. The mirror can tell me some nasty things sometimes. But when I don't accomplish something, I have no one to point to but myself. And that's the story of life. I could have stood up for myself in high school. I could have changed schools altogether. I could have saved my money instead of buying myself Manolo's. Whatever it was, it was always, always, always up to me!

Join the campaign to stop the complain! Put an end to victimitis and start living a proactive, healthful, extraordinary life!
Yeah it all sounds so great and wonderful, and wow it seems like I have it easy, galavanting around to all these countries and doing all these things. But is all of this a coincidence? I think not! As I wrote in an earlier post, I always dreamed of living in the mountains. I held on to that vision and dream. I always wanted to travel the world too. I think I did myself a favor by not really talking about these dreams (so no one could really tell me it wasn't possible), and the people who did know either said nothing or said, just do it! And here I am. I don't make vague wishes, I make decisions. Decisions will take you to your destination. Wishes are as said, just vague. So no, it's not completely easy obviously, my life isn't absolutely amazing, but I have controlled everything 'til now. Everything I've done and had was all planned. So what about you? What's your plan? Because I guarantee you, you'll have everything you want if you stop the excuses and start making the plans.

That's my little spiel for now ;)  and I know, not everyone's gonna go for what I just wrote, but for you, yes you who does, well, you're gonna have an amazing ride. Life is a paradise.

Much love and adoration
India

Music for the morning: Don't Wait by Dashboard Confessional

Am Meer (by the sea)

So far, La Palma is fantastic! It's beautiful here, the food is great and cheap, the sun shines and I can hear the ocean from our hotel room! On January 1st we went sailing from Tenerife Island and we saw dolphins! That was incredible. I had never been on a sailboat before but always wanted to, so it was really cool. That night though we took a ferry to La Palma island, where we've been ever since. On Thursday (2. January) we hung out at the black sand beach in the small port town we're staying in, Puerto Naos. 

The Canary Islands are pretty cool because they remind me of Hawaii; they were formed out of volcanoes, there's a huge variety of flora and fauna, and the best part: there are few frangipani (plumeria) trees! Those are the best smelling flowers I know. Anyway, on Friday we went to a special boulder beach where you can actually go surfing. That night we went to a really great unknown restaurant and just ordered a menu of the typical food of the area, and it was so good. I don't know what made it so good, it just was! 

On Saturday we visited a national park in the mountains where they have an observatory and we went on a walk through there, but then we visited some land in the area where there was a small farm with horses and chickens and it was pretty cool- one of our friends said it might even be possible to ride the horses! Ahhhh! Sunday was just been another chill-out day, laying on the beach and turning brown. Sunday was actually the first day I went in the water (and got tossed by the huge shorebreak about a million times), getting tons of black sand in my hair and bathing suit. Man, I love the Atlantic but I don't know if it loves me!

I do have a pretty big and exciting announcement, however!

Everything's changing! I'm moving again! This time to a new country- to Austria! Okay, it's not as big of a deal as I make it seem- I'll only be 90 minutes away from Munich, but still... I'm thrilled! The town is called Innsbruck, well-known mostly because it's a huge winter sports destination- deep in the Austrian alps. It's a beautiful spot and I'm so excited to start a new adventure there! For now I'm networking there (which is going to be awesome), working hard, hey who knows? I might even sing in a few clubs! If you can't tell I'm excited, then you haven't been reading ;)
 Austria, are you ready for me?!

More news when it's more exciting!

Music for the morning: Only the Young by Brandon Flowers 

Countdown!

The New Year is upon us!
 
...look at me, Madame Creativity over here writing about the coming New Year just like anyone else.

But how could you not think about it? New Year's is the time when everyone is thinking of change, and many people are hoping this is the year that will change everything (just like they hoped that last year and the year before)...

I don't mean to sound morbid or cynical by any means. I actually want to say that I'm as excited for 2014 as anyone else and hope it will be magical and wonderful and all of those things.

I know there are also people who couldn't care less about the approaching year. I have noticed people become a bit discouraged at New Year's because they begin with so much gumption and motivation and little by little it fades away... and that's sad.

What I want to say here, is that every year can be your year. It's purely up to you what you want to do with all of the January's, February's, March's and so on that you get. New Year's happens to be a great time to get in the mood for fixing things (maybe you want to quit your job or learn guitar). The thing is, you have to stick with it!

Think about it. Mostly everyone makes New Years resolutions. Then the year goes by and most people break them. They get disappointed and hope the next year will be better. But they don't change the input! Giving up each time will take you nowhere.

So whatever it is you want to accomplish in 2014, just do it!

Dont't fall into the trap of thinking whatever you want is too hard or impossible. Don't worry about the how's and why's. Just know that if you want 2014 to be great, then make it great. Be the person you'd love to be best friends with. Be the person you would love to date. 2014 is the year for you to achieve your dreams and goals. They might be huge or extremely small, but each are significant and the point is to make steps. Each day, take one step closer to where you want to be- and by the time 2015 rolls around, you'll be amazed at where you are.

So that's just my motivational speech. As I said, I am very excited for 2014, as I will be spending the first two weeks of it in Spain, somewhere I've never been before! 2014 Also looks very busy on my horizon, with prospects of visiting my family and being able to start a lot more work on music. I'm halfway done with my very own first-ever song! I don't know what I'm calling it yet, but it's got a very personal theme to me (family). I've also started a second one (it has a title ;)) and this one is also pretty personal (a guy). I'm excited to start sometime on recording them and sharing.... I hope sometime before April or May!

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great Winter so far.

See ya next year! ;) (I know, that line is also pretty original).
Love
India
 
Song for today (or Tuesday): The New Year by Death Cab for Cutie