Hello my friend Niko!

I do hope that you are going well.

I just finished to upload a new video in YouTube and your song "The Exodus" was my choice to complete it. I do hope that you like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af9_XJGhxjI&feature=youtu.be

Best wishes

Isabel

No one has ever drawn me in a portrait before. It’s very interesting to see another artist’s interpretation of me and interpretation of The Exodus.

I am so deeply moved by the drawings that I would like to share them openly.

“…this is my way of supporting your beautiful initiative. It was just a quick sketch coming out while I was watching The Exodus…..it touched my heart very deeply….the music and the atmosphere felt like a deja vu….which I often feel by seeing the pyramids…and also the acropolis makes something move in me. Together with the beautiful music, I started drawing and I could almost feel the heartache and the passion you showed by performing this in the lands of your forefathers. So, I decided to just keep it very natural and only colored the sketch with pastels so I did not change to much of the first impression I got, it was done in about 2 hours I think but it was strange because I totally lost track of time and was just lost in the drawing….it was a nice experience…” – Crystal of Zeist, Holland

Niko

Tickets are 20E. For more information, contact…

Address of venue:

Hope you can make it to the concert, it's gonna be great!

Niko 

Click here to learn more…

http://www.indiegogo.com/the-special-one

Thank you for your support!

Niko

P.S. Here's what the cover is going to look like…

What’s is your full name?

Nicholas Ulysses Papasideris. Niko is simply the Greek nickname for Nicholas.

Where were you born?

Houston Texas! I came out with cowboy boots on and a rope in my hands. Just kidding! Actually, the typical “Texan” stereotype is not so accurate. Not everyone has boots and a cowboy hat. : ) But I will say this, I think there are more pickup trucks in Texas than there are in the whole world combined!!! Texans love their trucks!

What are some important childhood events?

Family. I was very loved by both of my parents and I am so grateful to have grown up in that kind of environment. I was protected, provided for and nurtured. And as an adult, I can see the fruit of all of this in my life.

Playing. My brother and I played outside all the time! I also used to play outside alone. I would sometimes go and have a picnic alone in our chicken coop with the chickens! : )

Responsibilities. I did many chores around the house and outside of the house and I also working at my parents restaurant.

Travel. My family went on summer vacations most every year. It really helps you see the world with a much broader view, especially travelling to other countries. My travels to Greece at 3 and 5 affected me in a very deep way, in ways that I would not come to understand until I was in my latter 20′s.

Spirituality. I was raised with a great spiritual awareness, with far more emphasis on spiritual things than earthly things. Faith hope and love were at the foundation of my upbringing and are the solid ground I stand on today.

What are some interesting facts about your life?

MUSIC

In September of 1989 at the age of fourteen, in a single afternoon everything changed! I was at a friend’s house and he was playing a popular love song on his keyboard, I asked if he could teach it to me. Within a couple of minutes I had it down and in that moment something unexplainable happened inside the depths of me – I immediately said "I can play! I can play!! I can play the piano!!!" From then on, I began practicing six and eight hours a day! All I wanted to do was play the keyboard! If I couldn’t play at least 6 hours a day then I would become very sad. When I was headed somewhere with my family, I would take my little keyboard and sit in the back of the car and practice, practice, practice…all day and into the late hours of the night I would practice! It was all I wanted – my passion, my love, my desire, my future! I didn’t care so much about girls or dating or parties or most of the things that my peers were into, everything other than music just seemed like a distraction. As the years went by, I began to sing and then singing became as important to me as playing the keyboard. Eventually I tapped deeper into my gift and began composing full songs. It’s been an amazing journey and I am blessed to be able to share my gift with the world! I give thanks and honor to God for my gift of music.

TRAVEL

I have always loved to travel! I have travelled to Europe much over the last 10 years with a emphasis on Greece. My father is from Greece and in 1998 I decided to get much more in touch with my roots. I am glad I did. It has opened up many more parts of myself and has helped me understand and see things about myself that I did not before. I have also lived on the Hawaiian island of Maui for 2 years and that too did change my life! It’s such a magical place, unlike any place I have ever been.

DIET

You are what you eat. Your body is the container of your soul and spirit so be sure to guard it well. Keep it healthy by getting good rest, by exercising and by eating healthy foods. When I was a teenager I said to myself "I will never be overweight!" and I have lived up to my promise. The key is just being conscious every day of what you put into your body. And drinking lots of water. 

Can you tell me one thing about yourself that others may not know?

In my lifetime, I want to live in many countries, maybe a dozen or more! I’d like to spend a year or two or three in each one. I love culture. I love seeing how other people think and live and eat and enjoy music and drive and communicate, etc. It helps me see everything with a much more open mind. It helps me think outside of boxes and certain cultural codes. Just when you thought there was only one way to do something, you go to another country and you realize that they do it totally different there. With so many things there is no wrong or right, it’s just personal preference.

What inspires your music?

Life!

Most of my songs are written out of experiences in life. It might be the laughter of a child, a friend in need, pleasant or painful memories, dreams, happiness, frustrations. Nature. I took a walk with my dog Magic and by the end of the road I had written a song for him, haha. Traveling, very much so. Being in other places far away stirs things up in me – the sights, the smells, the sounds of another culture and land. Sound inspires me. I will hear something like a car engine cranking up or the horn of a train or the wind blowing through the trees and it will actually inspire a melody or lyric or chord progression in me. Also, just sitting down at my piano inspires me. Most every time I sit to play, something fresh and new comes out. Sometimes it’s a song while other times it’s an idea or a melody that later becomes a song. Lastly, I must say that the hope of my music touching the world inspires me deeply. It is important that we as humans always have hope in our heart for through hope we find inspiration to fulfill our destinies.

What are some important adulthood events?

Having loved someone. It opened up so many parts of me that I had never seen!

Living in other places and spending time in other places that I was not familiar with. It has had immeasurable positive effects on my life.

Becoming friends with people in other countries. It has taught me much about love and patience and has also helped to broaden my perspective in so many ways.

Completing my album titled Love. It was a very long journey but I stayed committed and after 3 years it was finally complete.

Deciding to give my music away for free and then gaining fans around the world as a result of it.

Performing live in another country and having a group of people sing along with me because they knew my songs from the radio. A great feeling!

Owing my own business. It has been lots of hard work and many sleepless nights but it has taught me much about life and has brought a sense of accomplishment that is different than any other I’ve experienced.

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

I have overcome fear and doubt a thousand times! I have never let go of my hopes and dreams.

There have been several times when I have cried because things seemed to be too much to bear but after releasing those tears I whipped them from my face and carried on.

I have overcome the obstacle of having little resources (time and money) to accomplish great tasks. The key was persistence, dedication, coming up with creative solutions and having a willingness to sacrifice things I wanted in order to obtain things I needed (what you want and what you need are often times two different things).

I overcame the obstacle of not letting society and systems dictate to me who I am and why I am here. I dedicated years of my life to seeking and searching for those answers and I began to find them. They are inside of each and every one of us.

What is the greatest thing you have ever discovered in your life?

Love. If you have it then it doesn’t matter what you don’t have, if you don’t have it then it doesn’t matter what you do have.

Where can people learn more about you and your music?

www.nikoonline.com (Get 20 of my songs for free)

Niko

You know, we get so bogged down by little things and by owning things and trying to control things… but what does it really matter at the end of our short lives on this planet? If you step back and look at the bigger picture you will realize that so much of what often consumes much of our precious energy is just so petty. In life, seek to be happy, seek flow, love, give, BE. Don’t worry about this and that. Open up your heart and mind. Let go of all that weighs you down and holds you back and then take hold of that which lifts you up and propels you forward.
 
Niko

Some moving videos of Maria…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJIZGthwWLc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvrHxQ3qjAE (excerpt from her last performance)

She’s one of the only opera singers I have ever heard that I actually believed. She got me! It’s very rare that an artist has made me cry, Maria did.  

She died in 1977, at the early age of 57. I feel she died of a broken heart. I would liked to have known her. In many ways, I relate with her.

She is featured in the “Crazy Ones” video, she blows the kiss www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSEtwdAMdw4

Leave your thoughts here in my blog, I look forward to reading them.

Niko

"Niko’s Life Salad Especial"

Filled with all the good stuff including organic leafy greens, assortment of olives from around the world, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, red bell pepper, sun dried tomatoes, a clove of garlic and then doused with an ounce of Naked fruit juice……Yum yum good!

Niko

Health: 

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did the year before.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality: 

11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or be anxious about things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t overdo it. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner about his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. The best is yet to come.
37. When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.
38. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Leave your thoughts.

Niko 

Share your thoughts here in my blog.

Niko

Health isn’t merely the absence of disease or symptoms; it is a higher state of consciousness that allows well-being, creativity, and joy to flow into our experience. We are healthy when we’re able to fully digest everything we take in, extracting what is nourishing and eliminating whatever doesn’t serve us. This includes our food, our relationships, our jobs, and all our life experiences. Illness, in contrast, develops when there is a disruption ― a blockage in the flow of energy and information. Symptoms and sickness are the body’s signal that we need to restore balance, eliminate whatever is causing the blockages, and reestablish the healthy flow of intelligence.
 
One of most powerful ways we can influence our health is through our choices and interpretations . . . the food we choose, the relationships we engage in, the sensory input we expose ourselves to, and the daily patterns and rhythms of our life.

Timeless Healing Principles

By listening to our body and honoring its needs, we nurture our innate healing ability and move closer to experiencing a state of perfect health…

   1. Take time each day to quiet your mind and meditate.
   2. Each day eat a healthy diet that includes a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
   3. Engage in daily exercise that enhances flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness.
   4. Follow a restful sleep routine.
   5. Let go of whatever isn’t serving you, including stored emotional pain.
   6. Cultivate loving relationships.
   7. Find your unique gifts and talents and use them to serve others.

As you nurture yourself and practice the tools of spiritual awakening, you will open your heart to ever expanding levels of fulfillment. Even when you are surrounded by chaos, face a health challenge, or find yourself on a financial “detour,” you will discover that you can transcend outworn assumptions and create a life filled with wellbeing, happiness, and love.
 
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Leave your thoughts here in my blog.

Share this with others you feel it can benefit.
 
Niko

Safety Tips To Protect You Against Predators
 
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do.
 
2. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, do not hand it to him. Toss it away from you… Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and / or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. Run in the other direction.
 
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
 
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) Don’t do this. This can give a predator the perfect opportunity to get in on the passenger side of your car. As soon as you get into your car, leave. If someone is in the car, do not drive off. Instead, gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your air bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run.
 
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
 
Be aware: Look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.
 
If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most predator attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
 
Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side… If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. Be wise. Be safe.
 
6. Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are a common crime spot.
 
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, always run. The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely will not be a vital organ. Run, preferably in a zig -zag pattern.
 
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If you have some safety tips to share, leave them here in my blog.
 
Pass these tips on to others.
 
Niko

What Mother Teresa had to say…

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

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Share your thoughts here in my blog.  

Niko

If you see the lady turning clockwise you are using your right brain. If you see it the other way, you are using left brain.

Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way.

See if you can make her go one way and then the other by shifting the brain’s current.

BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN

Experimentation has shown that the two different sides, or hemispheres, of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking. The following table illustrates the differences between left-brain and right-brain thinking: 

Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of these styles of thinking. Some, however, are more whole-brained and equally adept at both modes. In general, schools tend to favor left-brain modes of thinking, while downplaying the right-brain ones. Left-brain scholastic subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy. Right-brained subjects, on the other hand, focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity.

Interesting stuff huh?

Leave a reply so I and others can read your thoughts!!

Niko