To those are scared to do something new, those who fear they will be judged, remember that there are other people exactly like you out there. The only difference between those who make it and those who don't, is the effort to "just do it". Simonetta Lein
I still remember when as a little child my grandmother would make me pray in my little bed asking for protection by baby Jesus and all the angels. I remember it as if it were yesterday when she passed away; I was eight, she was in her bed at home. She said she wanted to see the priest. She asked to be dressed properly; she did not wanted to die in her pajamas, she wanted her hair to be done up nicely, and a little bit of make up just to cover what the cancer had done to her. All of a sudden she did not feel pain any more, her face changed, she started to say: "Oh, they are so many!" My mother, who was in the room, asked her what she meant. She replied: "They've come to take me, there's my father, there's my mother. They are beautiful. They are ready for me, surrounded by angels and there, right at the end, there is Jesus." I was in the room, holding her hands. She looked at me and she said: "Goodbye my love. Ciao amore." She closed her eyes, and they made me go out of the room. She passed away after a couple of hours as if the cancer left her, comforted by those angels.
That experience opened my life forever towards seeking to gain an in-depth understanding of what I don't know. It placed me in the mindset of a person who realized that just because I can't see it, it does not mean it does not exist. It raised many questions that I still have, and that maybe I will only clear up the day I die. I truly believe that there are things to be understood and others that are better where they are.
Angels fascinate me. No, I do not see them. I wish I could. I have a good feeling if I think about them and I know people whose lives were changed by them. Wouldn't be amazing if they were here with us? There are those who tell us that they are indeed, and I am delighted to have this opportunity to share with you one such person, someone whom I have never had the pleasure of interviewing - Gary Quinn.
I had met Gary for the first time in Italy, in Milan. He's a world- renowned life coach and bestselling author. He has a very intriguing story. He was a sportsman and even participated in the Olympics as a swimmer, when his life changed completely as a result of a spiritual revelation while he was in Paris inside the Notre-Dame Cathedral. He decided that he needed to help people, and he gradually became a life coach. He has helped thousands of people around the world to find their happiness. Whether or not you have any belief in angels, I find Gary to be a very wise man and I am sure he will inspire you as much as he inspired me.
When you were a child, did you wish for the career and for the life that you have manifested today?
Yes, as a child, I was always looking to work with large groups of people. I was always a people person who interacted with anybody. I wanted many opportunities to happen. I know that my career today is really still that of a people person, and helping individuals find balance within their own energies. I've had the opportunity to work with many Olympic athletes, top celebrities and business people and it has been an amazing experience.
**Gary Quinn is the author of Living in The Spiritual Zone, The Yes Frequency and May the Angels Be With You. With these three books he has traveled the world teaching his method in the US, in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Australia and England. Gary has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People, InStyle and Vogue magazine, and has been seen on NBC, CBS and the Fox Morning news. He is far from being a solitary person, although I am sure that sometimes he must need his own silence. He is a gregarious globetrotter who loves meeting people, and his childhood wishes undoubtedly live with him.
Name a wish that you had for your life or for humanity that finally came true.
My wish for humanity that finally is becoming true for everyone is that more people have the opportunity to think and speak and live consciously. I have seen many individuals begin to live their dreams in reality. Their world is changing and I personally think that anyone can become successful or have the life they dreamt of.
**Every time I see someone succeeding I am happy, and despite the hate and negativity that we still have in the world we are very blessed, we really can see people making their dreams come true and having more perception. We are certainly capable of experiencing being joyful not only about our dreams coming true, but also those of others. Despite the innumerable problems which may befall them, the majority of people reading this have the opportunity to study and to strive to fulfill their dreams. To know that "trying" is easier today compared to the past is a luxury for which we can express gratitude, and that humankind should be proud to have accomplished.
If you were granted one wish for humanity or for our planet, what would it be?
My wish would be that people were able to overcome the struggle, suffering on a daily basis, and create amazing careers and energy shifts. I would like to see it come true for humankind that we all have no limits in this world for individuals, and that breaking down all barriers is the key to the social alignment of consciousness. Individuals should be allowed to shine because of their talents and skills, not because they were born into a specific family or social title, and anyone can have an opportunity if they are in alignment to their authentic selves. That's what I'd like to see. Our societies all over the world are into judgment of individuals, and these limits must be opened in order for all to be in balance.
**Yes we do live in a judgmental society and it is amazing how sometimes a simple kind, helpful comment to someone who is struggling, or just taking a bit of time to listen to someone's problems will change their lives. Because we live in a judgmental environment we tend to judge ourselves and others. It is very important to remind ourselves that we all have talent and skills, and as a great Indian Master Baba J taught, until you do not discover them you will not be happy. Many times I see people unhappy because they do not have that confidence to understand what they really want and where they want to go with their life. Discovering who you really are, irrespective of where you came from or what they told you, is one of the most difficult things to do. Yet at the same time it's an amazing process. There are no magic tools in life. I personally also believe that even the luck you may have is something you earned doing good actions. If you want to succeed, do not look outside of yourself but really try to search within for your talents. Your skills are different than anybody else's. As someone once said "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
If you could go back in time and ask one question from anyone from history, whom would you want to meet and what question would you ask?
I think I would like to meet Gandhi. He stood for integrity, and passion and his cause was so inspiring because he never gave up. He had this sense of knowing a higher justice was taking place even when everything was going wrong. He trusted the universe and knew he must be the change in action.
I would like to ask him: where do we really all come from, where we going, and why are we really here? I think that would give us a whole energy shift of being able to ask these questions and also to be able to take upon some of his energy. If he was sitting in front of me today. I would ask him what was the energy or faith that really kept him in alignment to his intent, passion and drive? Was there ever a moment of doubt in himself? Would he have done things a bit differently if he had to repeat that journey?
**I know a little story a man once taught me when I was in India, which I find particularly special. Once in a little village in India there was a man, a man small in stature. He dreamed of becoming a great lawyer; he had dreams of making a better world. He was a very assiduous and diligent student, and became a lawyer. But once he had the degree in his hands, self-doubt started to assail him. He did not know whether he really possessed the courage to accomplish his dreams, and thought maybe it was better to be a normal, everyday lawyer and at least ensure a steady income for the family. That little man had a big brother who confronted him about his dreams and pushed him to go beyond his fears and fight for what he believed in. Without that big brother he would have never had the possibility to become the man everyone in the world knows today as Mahatma Gandhi, the "Great Soul". We need to believe in ourselves, but without sincere help, without someone who believes in us, life can at times get very difficult. A big shout-out to all of those who help others find their real talent and passion. Yes, I know for a fact that Gandhi doubted himself and thanks to brotherly love he found the strength to fight for his people. I just think how amazing life is in its simplicity, and how, when love is authentic, it can move everything.
Please tell me what influences your unique sense of style?
I think the person who really influences my sense of style would be someone who is not over the top, and I feel there are many celebrities who have a great sense of style. I believe it's more about bringing a look, finding your unique look that matches your energy.
**Gary talks a lot about energy and I had never thought about style as a way to match your energy, but it does, on reflection, strike me as absolutely appropriate. If you think about it, depending on whether you tend more towards being an introvert or an extrovert, will have a great bearing on your style. Understanding better what kind of energy we possess, can also benefit our style because it will be unique for sure. It's always worth experimenting too, with styles that reflect other energies, in a sense being an actor. Style has to be fun, and, as I am often fond of quoting, "life is a party and you should be dressed for the occasion"!
Who is your favorite fashion designer or brand right now and why?
My favorite fashion designer is Giorgio Armani. His styles are classic and yet up to date. There's another great designer I love from Spain, Adolfo Dominguez, and he really brings in a style that's classic but cutting-edge hip. I have many of his pieces from his newest collections.
**Whenever I think about Giorgio I always feel a sense of pride; in his pieces I see the beauty of my country which also embraces both the classic and the contemporary. I had the pleasure of working as a model for the Italian photographer Bruno Oliviero. His camera has captured some of the most famous people in the world and indeed he took one of the most famous shots of Giorgio Armani, in black and white, where he is simply seated, holding his head with his right arm and looking at you. I felt so lucky to see the original photograph on the wall in Bruno's home, near to one that perfectly encapsulated the timeless beauty of Sophia Loren.
What is your fashion mantra?
My fashion mantra is about feeling comfortable and extraordinary in what you're wearing, and really wearing things that make you feel authentic and feel confident.
** I remember a song whose lyrics went: "What's cooler than being cool?" At least once in their lifetime almost everyone has had that feeling for real when they look at the mirror and want to scream, "I look so good!", - that particular day that makes you feel like a rock star. The "Be Confident" mantra is one of the most useful we can always carry with us.
What is your final message for our readers?
My message to your readers is that we come from so many different backgrounds, and I believe we must create our own creativity within ourselves. In the world today there are people living in countries and cities who come from different traditions and different backgrounds. I think it's really finding the foundation of where you are in your life and allowing that structure to fill in the details with your dreaming and your confidence. I think it's time to really be authentic and feel real and happy. Anything in life that that makes you happy you need to accept and radiate that energy. I believe any inspiration comes from the trust and inner belief of oneself and the universal divine energy.
We are all brought into this world to experience life and to set examples and results. We must take stock within and find the faith in action. Each individual has the opportunity to help move mankind forward through educating others, or giving back in service. That can be within their communities or on a bigger scale of helping a cause or charity. I think the world could heal its fear of all, becoming the frequency of love and peace. Many people find that to be a bit out of reality and thinking that it is a dream world in living such thoughts. But the reality is that we will not take with us all the material things we own when we depart this world. We will take the experience, lessons, changes, healing and emotions with us.
**We must create our creativity within ourselves. Again it is all about discovering our true talents - and pushing ourselves a bit. To those who are scared to do something new, those who fear being judged, remember that there are other people exactly like you out there. The only difference between those who make it and those who don't, is the effort to "just do it".
Thank you so much Gary Quinn for this very inspiring interview. If by any chance you see my grandmother as an angel give her a big kiss from me and tell her she is always in my prayers.
As always, make your wishes come true.
From Philadelphia, Simonetta Lein The Wishmaker .
Credits: William Russell-Edu Collaborator. Giovanni Gastel Photographer
To my grandmother.