a story to warm your heart

(Faith in her Path, mixed media)

I just heard this story and I so wanted to share it with you all. It's heartwarming + inspirational and out of this world amazing. It's the late 60's in Detroit and a singer/songwriter (Rodriguez) makes a couple of albums that supposedly go nowhere. No money, no attention...no nothing. So he gives up on his dreams, becomes  a construction worker and raises his 3 daughters. All the while thinking that he has made no artistic contribution; that his work has not meant anything to anyone.
 Meanwhile... halfway across the world in South Africa, his music is more popular than Elvis!!! His work had inspired millions of South Africans trapped under the evil political system of apartheid. His artistic soul had lifted a nation ...and he had no idea!!! There was no Internet back then and, under apartheid, the S. Africa government  imposed  domestic censorship (the government controlled what you read, listened to etc). Rodriguez made absolutely no royalties off his music and struggled to support his family all these years. Now, at the age of 70, someone tracked him down and has made a documentary about him. He was flown to S. Africa and has played in front of adoring, sold out audiences...I cried when I watched his story unfold. He has risen like a phoenix from the ashes. And his story illustrates an important lesson (to me)...

 When we bring love + heart + soul into our work (painting, writing, singing, gardening, raising  a child, tending to our marriage, loving another person, blogging..)...that is our success!! A lot of times we measure our worth (+ success) in monetary value as if that determines the importance of our work. While I  certainly don't believe in the starving artist archetype ...Rodriguez makes an important point. He says that he has no regrets about his life, the way things turned out or the decisions he has made. 
How can we put  a value on how our work may inspire others?? When we have faith in our path...we have to let go of what we think should happen and trust that everything is as it should be.
Now...how inspiring is this story??? With that...I want to wish you a happy weekend...we are heading out of town for some summer R&R. xxx