By Kris Carr on December 31, 2009

New Year’s Resolutions: 10 for ’10

Holy Glitter – we made it through another decade! For me, it was the decade of diagnosis, rock bottom, a creative explosion, empowerment, marriage, the loss of cherished family members, the addition of Lola (the best rescue dog ever!), physical and emotional healing and a loving Crazy Sexy global community. So many lessons learned, so much gratitude felt. And yet I’m just getting started! That’s a fantastic and spooky feeling. Can you be a grown up while still growing up? I sure hope so.

With oodles of thoughts swirling through my head, it’s a perfect time to scribble some resolutions: 10 for 10 – I hope you join me. Yearly goals help set our inner coordinates so that we can sail into the warm sunshine.

Take some time and reflect on where you are, where you’re going and where you missed the mark in the past. Then grab a pen (and a bikini) and swan dive in.

Here goes…1-2-3…SPLASH!

1. Take a yearly honeymoon and do not talk about work.

2. Take a yearly trip with friends (no spouses allowed).

3. Meditate for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. If it’s good enough for the Beatles, it’s good enough for me!

4. Take guitar lessons and sing Neil Young songs.

5. Exercise please. The ass won’t take care of itself.

6. Therapy please. The head won’t take care of itself.

7. Watch more good films and less bad TV.

8. Start a manifestation posse, share secrets dreams and be held accountable.

9. Take a break from nutrition books and read delicious literature

10. Listen more; talk less and forgive, forgive, let go, forgive.

…Bonus resolution: Toss fear and smile. Money, health, career, love – they’re all there for the taking, but only if my hands are wide open. Fists suck!

There, that seems pretty doable. I often shoot too high and then splat. Can you really be an astronaut, the best chef ever, save every animal and solve global warming in 12 months? Oh, and have Madonna arms too? Maybe if I’m more realistic I’ll find a deeper happiness in the simple things. If I have extra energy, I’ll win an Emmy. If not: Fuck it.

Hmmm, I like this list a lot. In fact, I’m gonna keep it handy and check in with you from time to time. Buddies certainly help keep things on track.

One last thought before I close up shop for ‘09…

Go for it – don’t wait or procrastinate! And above all, don’t tofu chicken out! Life is moving at a fast clip…are you living it? Am I? Some of my nooks and crannies are still very junked up with stuff that holds me back. If you feel the same way then let’s do a little spring cleaning in January. That’s right, grab some Mrs. Meyer’s lavender scrub and get crazy sexy busy! I’ll bring the rags, you bring the tissues, the universe will bring the freedom.

Many blessings for an abundant and healthy New Year!
Kris

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By Mallika Chopra on June 29, 2009

The Magic of PS22 Chorus

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the King!”

Some of you may recognize the words above as the opening lyrics to Coldplay’s single “Viva la Vida.” Chances are, you have never heard these words sang by a chorus of fifth-graders from the elementary school P.S. 22 in Staten Island, New York.

The P.S. 22 chrous is lead by music teacher Mr. Breinberg, more fondly referred to his students as Mr. B. Mr. B, who arrived at P.S. 22 in 1999, convinced the administration to let him become a full-time music teacher and start a chorus choir at the school in spite of financial cutbacks in the arts. Instead of teaching traditional children’s songs, he had his students singing contemporary adult songs. In addition to “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay, the P.S. 22 chorus have also tackled covers of songs by Tori Amos, Stevie Nicks, Bjork, Journey, and others.

One fateful day three summers ago, gossip blogger Perez Hilton came across the choir’s cover of a Tori Amos song on YouTube and posted the video on his famous celebrity blog. The rest, they say, is history.

The P.S. 22 Chorus have been aired on ABC News, written about in The New York Times, and — as quite possibly the greatest honor of online fame one can achieve in this day and age — tweeted about on Ashton Kutcher‘s Twitter. Tori Amos herself once came down to see the choir’s live cover of her music, which immediately moved her to tears. As of last Sunday, P.S. 22 Chorus videos have been seen by 5 million viewers.

The Intent team was mesmerized watching these vidoes on the P.S. 22 Chorus blog. Hearing worldly themes of love, cynicism, loss, faith and betrayal sang with so much earnestness by such young children lends the lyrics an aching vulnerability that yanks at my heart strings and brings tears to my eyes. What a great gift these children have given to the world for all of us to experience.

Kudos to Mr. B for believing in the importance of arts in public schools, and for giving these amazing and talented children a chance to achieve well-deserved fame. Ending the school year, his passion and commitment to his students reminds us of the power a teacher has to change the world.

And as a mother of two little daughters, I couldn’t think of a more hopeful sign of our future generation than the shining eyes and soaring voices of the fifth-graders in P.S. 22 Chorus.

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