As mentioned in the video above:

May you be filled with lovingkindness.
May you be safe and protected from all inner and outer dangers.
May you be well in body and mind
May you be at ease and happy.

(The above is the Metta prayer, from the Buddhist tradition, and I used to include it at the beginning of every one of my newsletters. With everything that’s currently unfolding in the world, it seems timely to include it again.)

The news from here:
Life is good on all fronts (Health, Wealth, Love and Self-Expression).
In this moment, I’m particularly grateful and happy that I’m still going strong with my Morning Musings (I’ve now done 88 of them since August ’20!); that I continue to (virtually) serve many churches in both Canada and the U.S.; that next weekend (May 6 and 7), I’ll be a part of a musical tribute to Aretha Franklin & The First Ladies of Motown; and that I’m performing at more and more retirement homes. (For more detailed information on my performances, please click on any date in my online calendar.)

AND, I’m also thinking a lot about what a challenging time it is for everyone – with the war that drags on between Ukraine and Russia (as well as all of the other areas of conflict around the world), and COVID stubbornly refusing to leave our lives.

As a result, my weekly chants continue to be about love and loving.

The original chant that I want to share with you this month is called “Love First”. It was inspired by “Keeping It Simple”, a poem from Sandy Wilder at The Educare Unlearning Institute. Here’s Sandy’s poem:

You will never know
precisely why things happen,
so don’t wait until your mind thinks it figured it out
to decide if you will respond with love.

Love first.
Wisdom as needed,
will flow from love.

Here are the words to “Love First”:

1. Love first – love first

2. You – will never know
Just why – things happen
So don’t wait – until your mind
Thinks it’s figured it out

Just love first
Wisdom – as needed
Will flow from love
(repeat)

The chant begins at 4:33 in this month’s video (above). May it serve you well!
(FYI: Due to current limitations with technology, I’m only able to share beautiful images on my green screen OR offer you video recordings with stereo sound. This month’s chant has several vocal parts, so I opted for stereo sound.)

And, as always…
You can listen to my songs and chants here and here.
You can find the words to my songs and chants here.
You can buy my CDs here.

How about YOU, dear Friend? What’s most resonating in YOU this month? Do YOU have a word/theme for 2022? WHEREVER you are on your journey, I’d love to hear from you, and I welcome any and all suggestions for future Morning Musings or whatever else you’d like to share.  Please e-mail me; we’re all in this together, and we have much to learn from each other. (THANKS for being a part of my journey, and SPECIAL THANKS to all of the kind souls who respond to my newsletters; reading your comments is always a highlight of my month.)

APPRECIATION

Every Monday on my Facebook business page, I post messages of appreciation.
Please have a look, join the conversation, and SHARE the posts with your friends. 

UPCOMING AND ONGOING EVENTS

– PERFORMANCES

I’ve now created 88 chants for my weekly “Morning Musings” broadcast (live on Wednesdays at 9 AM Pacific on my Facebook page, or any time on my YouTube channel);  I continue to serve many churches in both Canada and the U.S. (live, online via streaming, and with pre-recorded videos), as well as local retirement homes; and I also perform in several local groups. (On May 6th and 7th, I’ll be a part of “A Natural Woman – Tribute to Aretha Franklin & the First Ladies of Motown”, and the 7 PM show on Saturday will be live streamed!)

For more detailed information on my performances, please click on any date in my online calendar.

– VIDEOS

To watch my
Morning Musings,
Keynote Concerts,
Facebook Live Concerts,
Performance Videos,
and Small Steps Big Life: Walking The Camino videos,
please click here. 

As a very dear and wise friend in Montreal once said to me, “All I can offer you is my experience”.

My sincere desire, in every one of my newsletters, is to encourage us all to live our Big Lives one Small Step at a time.

Much love to you, dear Friend.
May I – may you – may we – just love FIRST.

Go with Love,
– Nathen

Nathen Aswell
Performing Songwriter / Inspirational Speaker
Encouraging people to live Big Lives one Small Step at a time
NathenAswell.com
paypal.me/NathenAswell
(604) 618-4429