I get to travel around the world and meet all of these amazing

“I get to travel around the world and meet all of these amazing people, and they're singing my songs! And to me, that's crazy.” Thus spoke Kina Grannis, a singer whose humble wonder reveals the timeless bond between the artist and those who receive their art. Her words, though filled with amazement, carry the fragrance of ancient truth: that when one gives of the heart, that gift can travel farther than the giver, echoing in the lives of strangers, binding them together in song.

When she marvels that others are singing my songs, she is astonished not at fame alone, but at the mystery of connection. For every song begins in solitude—a melody hummed in the quiet, a lyric born in the hidden chamber of the heart. Yet once released, it ceases to belong only to its creator. It becomes a seed carried by the wind, taking root in distant soil, flowering in the hearts of people the artist may never meet. The wonder of Grannis’ words is not that she is heard, but that her inner life has become a chorus shared across nations.

This truth has echoed throughout history. Consider Homer, who perhaps never imagined that his verses of Achilles and Odysseus would be sung by countless tongues for thousands of years. Or think of Bob Marley, whose songs of freedom and love, born in the small island of Jamaica, spread to every corner of the earth, sung by people of every race and creed. These artists, like Grannis, show us that art is the universal language: it transcends barriers of geography, of politics, of culture, speaking directly to the spirit of humanity.

But Grannis’ awe at the “crazy” reality of her experience also speaks of humility. For she does not boast of conquest, but marvels like a child at the miracle of being heard. This humility is itself a lesson: that the true artist never loses wonder at the connection forged between giver and receiver. Just as a candle does not diminish when it lights another, the artist rejoices that her flame has spread, that others carry it as their own, singing it with voices that multiply its light.

The travel she describes deepens this truth. To journey across the world and see one’s art alive in the hearts of others is to realize that humanity, though diverse in form, is united in essence. The melodies may cross seas, but the emotions they stir—love, longing, joy, sorrow—are the same in every land. Thus, Grannis’ astonishment reflects a revelation: that the world is smaller than it seems, and that the song of one soul can become the hymn of many.

The lesson for us is this: whatever your gift—whether in music, in craft, in kindness—do not bury it in silence. Offer it to the world, for you cannot know how far it will travel, nor how deeply it may touch the lives of others. A word spoken in sincerity, a deed done in love, may one day return to you multiplied, alive in voices and hearts you never imagined. The act of creation is the act of sowing seeds in the vast field of humanity.

Practical wisdom flows from this reflection. Share your talents without fear, no matter how small they may seem. When you travel, whether across the world or simply across the street, be open to meeting others and allowing your life to resonate with theirs. Celebrate the connections that arise, for they are the proof that what you give does not vanish but endures. And above all, remain humble, like Grannis, marveling not at your own greatness, but at the mysterious generosity of life, which takes what you have offered and transforms it into a gift for the many.

Thus let Kina Grannis’ words echo as a teaching: your voice, once shared, may become the song of the world. Rejoice in this miracle, stay humble in its unfolding, and never cease to offer the melody that is within you—for you do not know how many hearts may one day sing it back to you.