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 Marina Verenikina, singer (Russia, USA), 05/05/2010
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Russian-born Los Angeles-residing Marina Verenikina, aka Marina V, is a singer, pianist and songwriter. At 15, Marina won a competition for a scholarship to study in the United States. After living in Springfield, Illinois for a year, she returned to Russia, determined to return to the US, where she felt a greater freedom for individual creativity. Shortly after she turned 19, Marina met guitarist Nick Baker, who inspired her to take her musical talents seriously. |
When you cried last time and, if no secret, for what reason? Having grown up with my mom who is a psychologist, I have always been told that it's okay to cry. My mom always said that it's best to cry, to "let it all out", rather than "bottling up" all of the emotions. Lately, I have cried three times. The first time, about 3 weeks ago, my best friend's mom passed away suddenly, and I felt such sadness for her and her family, I couldn't hold back the tears. The second time was when I watched the movie "The Cove", about dolphin slaughtering, which is heart-wrenching. And the third time I cried recently was last week, when I received an incredibly sweet email from a fan who was saying how much my music helped her get through the rough times. It moved me so deeply that I cried.
There are some events during our life, when it seems as there is no way out. That could be tragic circumstances or such assessment of them. At that time, what's the thing to do? I certainly don't have a universal solution. But what helps me get through really difficult times, are the words of Dalai Lama, who says that we all go through hopelessness and extremely difficult times, every person in the world does at some point. And realizing that it is your turn, and that it is a natural part of life, does seem to help a little bit, in terms of coping with a difficult state of mind and unbearable situation. It also makes me take my happy times with more appreciation.
Could you please choose any event of last days, weeks or months, that has distressed you? It can be any happening on a local or international scale. How could you comment on it? A little over a month ago, I woke up to the news that subway in Moscow, Russia (my hometown) had been blown up by terrorists. When I learned the names of the two stations, I was in shock - both my grandpa and my dad pass through those stations on their way to work every day at about the same hour! I immediately called them, and thankfully, they were okay. But for a moment there, I realized that I could have lost them so easily. I am now trying to call them even more often, and keep reminding myself never to take a day for granted.
There's always a new danger watching for humanity in its way, always a new temptation we're ready succumb to. What's the danger of our days? And what's the way to avoid this trap? I think we, humans in general, are getting too arrogant in the way we treat our planet and our environment. From pollution of air, water and soil, there is over-production of just "stuff" and too much garbage powered by the over-consumption. Having grown up in the last moments of the Soviet Union, which was rather crazy in many ways, I had known what it's like not to have a lot of things, which actually is kind of liberating! I am a minimalist by nature, but I still love shopping (being that I'm a girl, haha). I often have to stop myself and ask: do I really need this? And most of the time, I don't.
What are the main obstructions to apply humanities principles at our today's life? Could they be solved? So... I think maybe if all of us were a little less materialistic and closer to nature, it would be of great benefit to all of us. To our souls, and to our bodies - being that the more we pollute our environment, the greater are the health risks! If we were less arrogant and more respectful towards mother earth, we would have a better world!
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| Comments: 2, would be great to get one of yours... |
Jan, 08 May 2010 05:59 pm |
| Great Pictures! Great Story! Great to be a part of it!!! |
Jay, 07 May 2010 10:20 pm |
| great interview and points of view! |
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