Always Choose Love and Kindness
Today my husband and I have been doing our quarterly and annual business taxation and there have been more than a few moments when we have both been a little over it and could willingly have given in to the anger and irritation that is inclined to rise to the surface at such times. To add to the pressure, in order to access some of the data required, I had to install some new computer software and I am never one to enjoy that. I have to read instructions, dig out passwords, carefully follow instructions and have few distractions to reduce possible mistakes. My husband, usually an immensely patient man, can get a little testy if the general flow of the work gets interrupted by small things like a software update that is very slow to load. All in all, a great test of how effective our personal development really is. Was choosing love and kindness a real option?
One of my aims, in pursuing extensive personal development, is to become a better and better person; to be able to have a stable and reasonable presentation no matter what and to keep a happy and positive mood. So you can see that today would be a great challenge for that. With the exception of a couple of moments when we were each and at times both, a little testy, I am pleased to say that we made it!! Now there is a point to this little ramble.
As the day went by, I was reminded of the writings of a friend of mine; Letizia De Rosa. In her book, Conversations With My Mother, Letizia devotes some time to coping with the angry moments and the advice is as follows:-
- Try to find the act of love and kindness in every circumstance. Do that because it is not easy.
- Seek opportunities to love and be grateful, especially when you least feel like it or want to.
- Always strive to be happy and see things from a positive perspective.
- It is not easy, but love is our only destination.
So, with great effort, I carefully sought love and kindness for my husband while we carried out this tiresome task. I did it because it was not easy – easy would have been to vent right there and then, but that was not in keeping with who I want to be. It is no longer an option. At the end of the day, we are both immensely grateful that it is done, and we look forward to a celebration this evening. We are also very happy to have completed the task and to have found a way to do it more easily next time. Simple message from Letizia and her mum and sometimes the simpler the better. As in this case. You can read more about Letizia on her website.
White Balloon Day
White Balloon Day is on Tuesday 8th September. White Balloon Day is a national event; it is a day we all get to be involved in protecting children against sexual assault.
Currently one in five children are sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday BUT – we can change this. Get involved in White Balloon Day and send all children and survivors everywhere a message of support, belief and respect.
Try these ideas:-
- Tie a white balloon to your letterbox, pot plant at work, counter or street sign.
- Hold a Wear White Day at your office or workplace or perhaps hold a White Tea.
- Visit your local Terry White Pharmacy and buy one our really lovely ‘enviro shopping bags for just $2. In fact, if you can use Terry White Pharmacies always as a preference that would be great – they are great supporters of child protection.
Visit your local Bendigo Bank and make a donation – every cent helps….
- $10 buys a child a personal safety education program
- $25 buys a crisis counselling/support session
- $50 buys a specialist therapy session
This is your chance to do something to help children AND publicly SAY NO to sexual assault. Channel 9 and the 4BC radio network are supporting this campaign as are Terry White Chemists, Bendigo Bank, Nutrimetics, Rotary and others. It is your choice – how will you support this day?
Visit the White Balloon Day website and find our more about how you can help. www.whiteballoonday.com.au
Remember, when it comes to CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT, IT’S ALL WHITE TO SAY NO!
Love and Kindness to Ethiopian Women
Here I am, home from Hawaii and knitting!! You see, I had this organised before I left and I am delighted to be involved with a group of women who are assisting women at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. We are knitting blankets that will be given to women when they arrive at the hospital seeking help. Women from all over Ethiopia make their way to these hospitals because they have suffered damage to their pelvic organs as a result of prolonged labour. Their long labours, sometimes lasting for over five days can result in stillbirth and a fistula from the bladder or bowel through to their vagina. This leaves the women incontinent, smelly and cast out from their family and society.
Dr Catherine Hamlin AC and her husband built and opened this Hospital in 1975 and Catherine continues her work to this day, recently opening a self help rural village for those women who cannot be completely cured. They now have a place to call home and real opportunities to earn and income. I am truly grateful that there are people like Catherine and her husband doing these things to help.
That is how I come to be knitting with a group of women, to create some of the lovely blankets that each woman receives when she arrives. You can help too. First, look at the website and get an idea about what is being done and how you can help. And then do some knitting yourself, organise a group of like minded people and just get on with it. Wrap a blanket, knitted with love and kindness around the shoulders of a young Ethiopian girl so that she knows that someone cares.
Aloha and Mahalo Hawaii
With one full and glorious day to enjoy Waikiki, I am, at this very moment enjoying a warm Hawaiian evening after a day of playing the tourist. And I do mean playing – just a lovely day of fun, happiness and enjoyment. Some of that around food as we continue to taste and be tempted by the amazing array of food that is available in this wonderful place. I am feeling a little contemplative which is hardly surprising since today we also visited Pearl Harbour and learned just a little more about the history of that world changing time. And I have to say that what stands out for me around that nightmare event is the way in which people here have moved on and it would seem, embraced a very forgiving and accepting attitude towards the other parties involved.
This 10 days in Hawaii has been a gift for me. Another opportunity to extend my personal learning as well as to meet and enjoy another culture. On the Big Island we had all of the pleasure of our personal development conference and the magic of the presenters and associating with highly successful and positive people. We also toured the volcanos and looked into the active crater of Kilauea Caldera, walked on Black Sands Beach and marvelled at the huge expanses of old lava. We luxuriated in all that the Hilton Waikoloa Resort had to offer (got a great massage), made new friends, watched hanu (turtles) frolic in the clear waters and watched amazing sunsets. All in all a good time was had by both of us.
Now, as we prepare to make the very most of every moment left here in Hawaii, in the contemplative mood of the moment, I have discovered the very sacred meaning of the two most popular words here; Aloha and Mahalo. In general terms Aloha is used as a greeting and Mahalo as a thank you. However they represent paramount Hawaiian values and should only be used when you a feeling genuine and they are said from that place inside you. So full of good grace and faith at this very moment, I feel fully qualified to say Aloha and Mahalo to this gorgeous place and to wish those greetings for all of you.
Masterminding in Hawaii
Granted this is a long way to travel to mastermind with the experts in personal development home business; the buzz is worth it and the thought energy is working overtime. No doubt there are those out there who have never met the concept of the mastermind. I take great pleasure in introducing you, in the words of the grandfather of personal development Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich”. And just in case you have decided right now that this is all about money I ask you to think more laterally. Richness, wealth, prosperity mean much much more. Being rich includes in love, friendship, faith and relationships, at least, as well as financially. And why not have it all?
Hill says that the mastermind is “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose”. So here in Hawaii, I am surrounded by people who are generous in their advice, counsel and personal cooperation so that every one of us has the very best opportunity to prosper in all ways. I always have this opportunity, however here it is laid on in exceptional amounts. Imagine if you will, at any moment being able to talk with like minded people and have access to the magic of collective wisdom – a mastermind. All of those very positive, lateral thinking people giving me assistance, sharing their mind power. Now seriously, that is some personal development program. And it is right here, in Hawaii, supporting me in my personal development home business.
And you can have it too!! Prosper your mind. Oh and Hawaii and all of the fun of the holiday and travel is ok too. Shoe shopping, dining out at a fabulous Chinese Restaurant, lounging by the pool – ahh it is hard to take!!
