The Meaning of Life
|
Hi Reader, It has been a very challenging couple of weeks. Watching the events of the world unfold. And escalate beyond comprehension. My energy has been directed elsewhere. As a result I find myself with little to say. Which is most unusual for me. I like to have several articles ready, or in progress pending further consideration. But this week, none seem to be appropriate. Instead I have chosen to share a brief interchange I had on social media. A journalist I follow created a post commenting on the increased animosity towards certain peoples, and the desensitisation to violence. He indicated that, in witnessing his own hostility towards others, he may be losing his humanity. But he posed the question, should he not feel relief at seeing a perpetrator become a victim? I understand his feelings. In the face of such appalling leadership and extreme violence we are all pushed to the limit. BUT People are not wholly represented by their leadership, and cannot be judged as such. AND Violence breeds violence. Whether conceived or actualised. We must resist. No matter how difficult the circumstances. The purpose of life is to love and be loved, that is all you need to live by. I leave you with a sincere wish for peace, and a quote that I believe to be undeniably true. It is something that, regardless of the difficulty, we all must accept.
“The people of one nation must consider the people of other nations to be like brothers and sisters. The only way to achieve lasting peace is through mutual trust, respect, love, and kindness. The only way.”
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Focus on the light, always, Natalie Attenborough |
Focus on the Light
Hi Reader, The Dalai Lama teaches that anger is a weakness, and counsels never to act or make a decision when in an angry state. While passionate feelings may inspire great deeds, no good comes from anger. I am generally an agreeable person. Though we all get angry at times. When angry, my natural response is to try and rationalise the situation. But my reasoning is flawed by the negative emotion, and I always, and I mean always, either make things worse or hurt others or myself. So now, when...
Hi Reader, I went home for a few days recently. My family home. My parents still live in the house I grew up in. It is a house filled with memories, and love. The same chair where I sat on my Mums knee as an infant, that I now sit in with my daughter when we visit. The dining room where my family shared Christmas meals after opening gifts. The bedroom I shared with my older sister. Every square inch of the house is crammed with memories. As is the village it is located in. And going there I...
Hi Reader, When I became a parent I was given one piece of advice that I found particularly useful. Never compare your child to others. As a first time parent it can be easy to question your own methods. And by comparing your child to others, conclude you are getting it wrong. But as we know, every child is different. So I chose not to compare mine to others, particularly for significant milestones such as crawling, walking and potty training. And I let my daughter proceed at her own pace....