Noticing Beauty in the Ordinary Moments: Luke Vassella

Ah…. Sweet sweet possibility; even the word itself sounds exciting, fresh and invigorating! If I weren’t so entrenched in holiday mode I’d be jumping out of my skin!

Possibility also just happens to be my chosen theme for 20-10 instead of taking on a New Years’ resolution (at Karen’s suggestion) and using it to berate myself about the things I don’t achieve. ‘Possibility’ allows me a freedom and space, and encourages me to look at the positives, and can be whatever I choose, whether that be sloth like or overflowing with excitement and successes.

So, since I’m in such a relaxed mood, I refined it just a little to choose the possibility of noticing the beauty in the seemingly ordinary moments to be my focus for January. Things like; stopping to see if the gorgeous red Hibiscus that’s been at the top of my parents driveway for 20 plus years actually has a smell, marvelling at the wonder of a tiny seed blossoming into a bush that can feed a family, noticing the character lines on my Mum’s face that make her so beautiful, and looking for the beauty in the world and people around me; without a filter of who or what I believe them to be. I have however finally given up the possibility that the cleaning fairy will have visited when I wake up each day or that I will no longer have wrinkles or will have bigger calves in the morning!

It seems that this ‘noticing the ordinary’ worked for Luke Vassella too and the proof is his album Foreign Language. Luke has managed to take life’s ordinary moments and offer them with great beauty and in a stunningly simplistic manner; a story telling of the things around him presented in a manner anything other than ordinary.

“The songs are stories from four years on the road, thick with places and people, and some reflections on human nature; the presentation is warm and relaxed”

In person Luke is a softly spoken man that has an aura of calm and tranquillity about him that shines through his music and has always intrigued me – how does one achieve that? What does he do so differently in his life that I’m not doing in mine to achieve such a seemingly ‘Zen’ state? Maybe its simply the ‘noticing’ and appreciation of the little things that makes the difference?

Whenever I listen to Luke’s album I feel a sense of stillness wash over me, and I’m sure it’s his state of being that is reflected so well in his song writing and vocal abilities that is the key. His soul is gentle, as are his words, and it’s obvious to me that this foot tapping album is the January tonic I need.

In the complication of life’s activities and choices we make, it’s refreshing to listen to an album that feels like a clean slate, so that I can openly look and appreciate the seemingly ordinary moments in life and the beauty that is in front of me at every moment, if only I dare take a moment to look.

Will you stop to appreciate the seemingly ordinary moments in your day? I’m off to work in my veggie patch and enjoy the sounds of the Butcher Birds whilst the butterflies do their thing – I feel like a kid reborn and I love it!

You’ll find more on Luke Vassella here, along with samples of his music!