Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

- W H Murray (1913 – 1996)

When I was a child my Father would bring me to the Easter parade in Dublin, Ireland. Now I was pretty small at the time and the crowds were massive – I was a small boy holding my fathers hand for dear life, looking up at frightening human giants all around me. I never remember seeing any of the parade as we never managed to get to the front row! Luckily though I could still hear the parade as its sounds filled the streets.

What I heard was a sound that moved every cell of my body, that touched every part of me. A sound that inspired me and made me feel like a giant in my small boys body. It was the unique sound of the bagpipes.

As the years passed the Easter parade was stopped and I rarely heard the sound of the bagpipes. Life got busy and serious and childhood dreams were left behind. But they never died!

About twenty years later I had a dream of learning to play Amazing Grace on the bagpipes for my wedding. I had no idea how I would learn it and it was only three months to our wedding! Then I heard there was a bagpiper at the hotel we were getting married in. So I wondered? I wondered would he teach me? Another part of me said he’d probably tell me to “Get lost! There’s no way you’d learn it in three months”. Would I call him?

Well I decided to make that call and he was so open to helping me it was fantastic. And three months later unbeknownst to most people at our wedding, including my very surprised wife, I walked in after the meal playing amazing grace on the bagpipes!

Not longer after our wedding I wondered again? What if I called my bagpiper friend and asked him could I join his band? Now another part of me said “Sean, you’re too old now, get serious and forget it!“. Luckily enough I didn’t listen to that limiting voice, made the call and joined the band. For the next number of years I travelled twice a week, an hour each way and learnt the bagpipes and enjoyed myself to the hilt!

In 1999 my Father died from cancer.  As I watched my Fathers life ebbing away, it reminded me of my own mortality and I made a commitment to nourish my love of music a lot more before it was too late.

One day I sat in a cafe and wondered could I actually get paid for performing and doing what I truly love? As I contemplated this I heard a lady in the cafe say to another lady “and did they play bagpipes at the wedding?” This was the last sign I needed from the universe.

That afternoon I put an advert for playing bagpipes at weddings on an Irish weddings website. And within a couple of months I had my first paid professional music gig. From that moment on I would never again believe that you can’t get paid for doing what you love! You can!

Since then I’ve performed in many countries around the world with bagpipes and guitar, in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, New York, Washington State, Hawaii, San Francisco, Chicago, Peru (in Machu Pichu & at 4,200m high), Israel, Palestine, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, South Korea, Bosnia, Croatia, Italy, France  and Luxembourg. I’ve had the honour of piping for thousands of people from all walks of life from the rich and famous, to some who live under curfew, to some of the worlds poorest people.

Now suppose I never made that call to ask someone to teach me bagpipes? Suppose I decided to believe I was too old? Or hadn’t enough money? Or the time wasn’t right yet? Or I was too young? Or some other limiting belief. None of the above would have happened and I dread to think how much joy, happiness and absolutely unbelievable fantastic  experiences I would have missed out on. Maybe even more importantly how many peoples lives would I not have been able to touch with the music,  just like mine was as I held my Fathers hand in those crowded Dublin streets filled with bagpipe music from the Easter parade.

Have I played “bum notes” along the way, you bet I have! But it’s better than playing no notes at all! And as the famous psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) said

“Don’t die with your music still in you”

Make that call! Your Dreams can come true!

Sean M Kelly

PS: Remember this is the last week you can vote to help my book “A Pipers Tales – Celtic Wisdom to Nourish the Soul” get to the next round of the Next Top Spiritual Author competition. Just click this link www.aPipersTales.com Your vote is greatly appreciated.

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I’ve often spoken or written about the importance of having a purpose for what you do – your life, your work, your relationships and other important areas of your life. Have a great purpose and you’ll be motivated greatly! A great purpose acts as a lighthouse for the direction we want to go and we find it easier to make decisions because we know what’s really important to us. And when our purpose revolves around helping others we often find the extra energy and motivation to go the extra mile.

No more is this true than in the case of Dick Hoyt and his son Rick. When Rick was born his Dad was basically told to put him into some sort of institution for life and that he would never amount to much because of his extreme paralysis. Luckily enough Dick didn’t listen to such life limiting advice. Instead he nourished his sons talents whatever way possible and now they compete together in Ironman triathlons and Rick has graduated from university. To be inspired and feel the spirit of these two great people watch the video below. It’s amazing and a great example of the power of purpose in a Father/Son relationship:

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For more on the Power of Purpose, Vision and manifesting your dreams purchase Sean’s latest ebook Dare to Dream – click here

“Sometimes life hits you on the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith!” – Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios

In 2005 Steve Jobs founder of Apple Computer gave the commencement address to new graduates of Stanford University. It is a brilliant address where he focuses on three inspirational short stories from his life:

The first story is about joining the dots – which addresses in a very interesting way the question why did he drop out of college?

The second story is about love and loss, a story which will inspire anyone who has faced adversity particularly in their career as Steve talks about being fired from the very company that he founded namely Apple computers.

The third story is about death where Steve talks about being diagnosed with cancer and his attitude to life. It’s brilliant!

The video is just over 15 minutes and well worth watching in full and indeed taking notes. Here’s some inspirational quotes from the address which I felt were excellent:

I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love and that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you havent found it yet keep looking. Don’t settle! As with all matters of the heart you’ll know when you find it. And like any great relationship if just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking. Don’t settle…

If today was the last day of  my life would I want to do what I am about to do today. Whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I have to change something…

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart…

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Stay hungry! Stay foolish!

To read the whole speech you can go to this link – Text of Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford University 2005

Or watch the video below.

Be Inspired!

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Want to be deeply inspired right now and I mean deeply inspired? Then watch this short video prayer created by Shafin de Zane and inspired by Francesco Bernadone of Assisi (St Francis of Assisi). Simply sit back and connect with that place of peace which is within you. Be Peaceful! It’s a beautiful video. Thanks to Shafin for creating it. Be Inspired!

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Many of us have dreams and unfortunately many have let those dreams die into the distant past. Every now and again however you come across someone who has had the courage to keep their dreams awake. Not only keep them awake but to take the courageous steps necessary to turn those dreams into reality. One such person is Donna Sirianni whom I came across on youtube. Well if this is not an example of someone who is “Daring to Dream” I dont know what is!!!

If you’re looking for massive inspiration and a real life example of someone who is saying YES to their dreams this video is for you … Be Inspired! Totally fantastic!

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Have you ever wondered what wisdom the renowned actor Will Smith needed in order to reach the level of success that he has? What are his beliefs? What motivates him? What fears has he got? These and many more questions are answered in this excellent video.

If you have children (I have 4) and you’d like them to be inspired by someone who they know and can relate too then this video is the one!. I showed it to all my kids. It can help sow seeds of greatness in their minds and hearts. So get the whole family around to Be Inspired by this outstanding video -

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I’ve never seen sand painting before and this 24 year old girl from the Ukraine is probably one of the best in the world and not surprisingly won the Ukraine’s got talent show.

The video is absolutely mesmerising! It brings you on a very moving graphic journey on how World War II affected the ordinary people of the Ukraine. Not only is the journey very moving but the magical way in which Kseniya Simonova, 24,  creates the journey with her amazing artistic talent is unbelieveable!

It’s just over 8 minutes and well worth experiencing every moment! (She draws the images on a table of some sort and they are projected onto a screen)

Be Inspired!

Here’s one fantastic video to begin the year with, in fact to begin the decade with! It’s one highly inspirational personal testimonial by Dewitt Jones on the power of vision and focussing on whats right with the world. You can watch a clip of the video at the following link, its great and a really long clip! Enjoy it all!

Celebrate whats right with the world – Dewitt Jones

(Thanks a million to Jenny Brice www.jennybricemusic.com for sending this video link)