Embracing the Unusual and Finding Your Inner Mozart

Reflections on the Conversation with Ann Cantelow-Miller

I've spent the last few days thinking about the conversation I had with Ann Cantelow-Miller, a woman I've known for over 25 years! And in all that time, I've never ceased to be amazed by her. She's quiet, unassuming, almost invisible if you don't really look. But beneath that gentle exterior lies a world of vibrant curiosity, a life lived on her own terms, and a spirit that radiates pure joy and aloha.

Our talk - that could have been much much longer if only I didn’t have to stop for the podcast! - really brought it home for me. Ann embodies so much of what I hope to share in my work and life – the power of embracing our unique selves, the beauty of human connection, and the sheer delight of saying "yes" to life's offerings, as unusual as they come. Ann is the actual living proof that embracing the unusual isn't just about being quirky; it's about living authentically and fully.

"We're all a Mozart, isn’t it?" she says. Think about that for a second. How often do we hold ourselves back? How often do we let fear, doubt, or that nagging inner (or outer!) critic silence the music within us?

And Ann doesn't just say these things; she lives them. She plays the theremin (if you haven't heard of it, here’s a neat BBC article about it), cultivates a garden of edible weeds, and even DJs a funky radio show at 3 a.m.

Ann sees the world as a voice of experiences, a constant source of wonder. As she put it, "The whole world seems to sing and talk to me, and I look for the beauty in that." To open our eyes, our ears, our hearts to the beauty that surrounds us, even in the most ordinary moments. It's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, the unusual in the everyday.

Our conversation was filled with these little nuggets of wisdom, these gentle reminders of how to live a more fulfilling life. "It's all play, isn't it?" she said, and it really resonated with me. We often take life so seriously, forgetting that joy and laughter are just as important as hard work and achievement. Ann's life is filled with music, nature, and play. "Just explore it on your own," she encourages. It's okay to be different. It's okay to pursue our passions, even if they seem unconventional. In fact, it's in those unique pursuits that we often discover our true selves. It's where we find our own unusual, unique, path.

And finally, she said something that made me smile: "The meaning of life is being friendly to cashiers." It's a simple statement, but it speaks volumes about Ann's approach to life. It's about kindness, connection, and appreciating the small moments that make up our days.

So, what's your "yes" going to be? What's that thing you've been putting off, that dream you've been too afraid to pursue? Don't wait any longer. Go out there and find your inner Mozart. Find and embrace your unusual, extraordinary, self.

(And don't forget to listen to the full podcast episode or watch it! You won't be disappointed!)

Much Aloha,

Olga