Sunday, December 04, 2011

Christmas presents

What a wonderful privilege I had this week - staying over in the wonderful Nieu Bethesda. But one of the most wonderful opportunities was to witness the arrival of Santa (Father Christma) in the local township. The great moments of anticipation as the kids waited for the red-coated, grey bearded man to make his appearance.
The atmosphere was loaded with happiness, energy and the wonderful overexcitement of kids - waiting for someone to bring them something small, yet something beyond the ordinary. You won't believe the difference a packet of sweets can make!
Afterwards there were happy faces everywhere...
I realized once again that every day we've got something to look forward to, we choose the wonderful anticipation, be it for the sun to rise, colleagues to see, something to do...
We can look forward to something, or we can look up to it...
It's up to us.
Just remember, we are still children at heart! We have the right to look forward to every day with eager anticipation!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Welcome to Shangri-la

Time has stood still for a while. And therefore I am so privileged to be blogging again. Over the past week, I had one of the experiences of a lifetime, sharing in the knowledge of Bruce Copley & Associates. Bruce's website is at http://www.aahalearning.com/, and one of his associates, Michelle, has a website at: www.creativitygym.co.za.

Now this blog will suit as a memory to some of the lessons I have learnt, but also to share some of the pictures of the event with my fellow delegates. You see, like in the words of Henry David Thoreu, we "went to the woods because we wanted to live deliberately, we wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life..." all under the guidance of a wonderful teacher. And all at a wonderful place called Shangri-la.


Anyone who has ever experienced a session with Bruce will know to expect the unexpected...



You see, we all have to learn to look at life from a new perspective, a new point of view, a new self. Too often we look at our surroundings from an old paradigm, but a small change in angle can make such a tremendous difference...
 And very often we have to learn that we are not the only inhabitants of this wonderful planet. There are others who see things from a different point of view. As I looked at the wonderful trees, I wondered what it would look like if you were an ant. Just think, from a bit above an ant's point of few, grass looks like this:


As humans I think we often need to stand back in awe at the everyday miracles we tend to miss! You see, we often don't realize how small we are, until, - behold - what can you find in everyday places?
 The footprints of God:


And yes, on our way through life, with our fellow travellers, there are moments of fear...(the photo below does not show how steep the downhill is, but it is all reflected in Marsha's eyes:


But once you go through the barriers of fear, there is always the gift of wonder!




 Is it not true that once we appreciate the wonders out there, we really appreciate our own presence and power in the web of life?


Is it not then that we know that we are all composers of and dancers through a gift we often forget to unwrap, a gift we all have, a gift called life?


So next time that someone brings you something seemingly meaningless,


Just go on your knees, be grateful, and see how meaning presents itself:

Now, I do hope that this blog will give you something to reflect on...and yes, the story will continue...

Until we talk again, remember to have a grateful heart, a conscious mind and a loving soul.





Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Scenes, routes and memories.

It's a great time for all kinds of resolutions. But sometimes we forget that although looking forward is wonderful, the same can be said of looking back.
It all depends, I assume, what you focus on.
While on Christmas holidays, I asked my brother's son to play in the same river we played in when we were kids.
Suddenly it was there: The same muddy smell, the same grassy patches, the same sense of nature that I experienced while I was a kid. They all enveloped me once again while standing on the side with the camera.

And is it not these quiet  scenes we remember from our journey through life that often means the most?

Take time today to enjoy the wonderful wealth of memories, turning into experience, becoming the lunchbox we share in the school of life.


Wishing you a fabulous new year!