One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well.  The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him.  They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. 

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly..

Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.  

He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.  He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries – Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.

Enjoy Life & Stay Happy

It shocked me today to hear out of an eight year olds mouth that he didn’t believe in charity.  At first I thought he was joking and made the comment that it couldn’t be true only to hear him confirm that he doesn’t believe in charity.  He went on to say that he has never seen it, the only charity he has ever seen is one beggar with his mother and they didn’t give anything to him.

I was in a state of shock and then intense sadness at the truth of this world we live in.  On one side there is money, more than needed fully stocked cupboards and food a plentiful.  On the other side are millions of children who don’t even have safe water to drink, a slice of bread a day without butter and jam if they’re lucky.  They don’t know about each other either and if the richer kids find out about the poorer ones they don’t believe it until they see it… in person.

If we were in Africa I’d take this unaware kid that has a big heart to an Orphanage, allow him to hold a baby that is so marked by the ravishes of living that it’s bones stick out.  I’d get him to help dish up soup for the lunch lines at the shelter, let him watch the peoples faces change at the prospect of having a full belly.  This kid’s had a good life compared to millions of other kids but he can’t comprehend it, he’s never seen it or felt it in his life.

Polar bear differences in one world, the indifference by those that have towards those that have never had a chance is ridiculous, beyond ridiculous.  I don’t fault that little boy I fault society, I fault society for not creating awareness or caring.  With this recession progressing as it is I don’t think it will be long before “one” beggar becomes thousands worldwide like it is everyday in Africa.

Soon the world won’t be able to ignore Africa because Africa will be the world. The world will not be able to run anymore from the truths and the harsh reality. 

Those that had will find themselves without and standing right next to the man they spat at on the side of the road last week when he asked for a few coins to by some bread for his 3 barely clothed children standing on the other side waiting for him.

Those that laughed at the images of family upon family living in shacks in Africa will find themselves encased in a tent on the side of the road in a run down once upon a time happy suburbia.

For many newly homeless, those that used to make statements that the drunk lying in the street should sober up and just get a job will find themselves sharing more than one bottle with the same guy just to drown away his sorrows.

It doesn’t make me happy at all to make these statements but it is the truth and reality of the present day in this world. 

It’s happening as we speak.

Sometimes this world makes me sick to my stomach. 

Sometimes it makes me sit on the floor in a ball and just cry.

Compassion is free.

Caring is free.

Someone that stands up and says let me help priceless.

This song is possibly one of the most well known to come out of Africa, it is one that follows me where ever I go and always brings peace to my soul in times of unrest.

Listen and read the lyrics… Africa will run through my blood no matter where I am in the world, my heart beats to the drums of its soul…

Sometimes alone in the evening,I look outside my window,
At the shadow in the night.
I hear the sound of distant crying, the darkness multiplying,
The weary hearts denied.
All I feel is my heartbeat,
Beating like a drum,
Beating with confusion.
All I hear are the voices,
Telling me to go,
But I could never run.
(Chorus)
Cos’ in my African Dream
There’s a new tommorow
Cos’ in my african Dream
Theres a dream that we can follow
Now when the night begins to fall, I listen for your call,
I listen for your heartbeat.
Although my dream is just a dream, another false illusion,
A shadow in the night.
All I want is for our heartbeats,
The beat just as one,
To silence that confusion.
And the pain and the illusion,
Will dissapear again,
And we would never run
(Chorus)
Cos’ in my African Dream
Theres a new tommorow
Cos’ in my african Dream
Theres a dream that we can follow

Both in need of a laugh and can’t get the song out of my head – woke up with it, what can you do!

A song that not many have perhaps heard just yet by Sheryl Crow off her new album Detours (ltd edition of course why who knows).  This song has gotten me through some turbulent days recently, I sit and close my eyes and allow her voice, the music and the meaning to flow through my body and feel at peace.  For me it is beautiful, perhaps you will feel the same way.

We take one step

One tiny step and we’re on our way

To where we are from where we were

Just yesterday

Well the sun’s gonna rise

When it’s everything or nothing

And everything seems dark

The sun’s gonna rise up with you

You’ll be allright

I’m on your side

And we’ll make it through

When you can’t go on

I will be strong

Enough to carry you

Well the sun’s gonna rise

When it’s everything or nothing

And nothing seems allright

The sun’s gonna rise up with you

Well the sun’s gonna rise

When it’s everything or nothing

And everything seems dark

The sun’s gonna rise up with you

Words are slim pickings so a view of my trip to the States via pictures… how I see things in my world, what keeps me breathing when breath is hard to come by…

Copyright belongs to me, should you wish to have a copy or to see the rest of my portfolio please leave a response below.

Let me just state that this Swine Flu is a valid and so far more than 1516 people have been confirmed to have the virus worldwide.  Nope not pretty, I have been really impressed with the speed the world has taken up cautions, how easy it is now to buy Swine Flu masks on sale and all the notices to the public.

Just last week I got a notice from the school the kids go to warning all parents to take precautions and to inform authorities if we have returned from a vacation to Mexico.  It went on to explain that they have emergency plans in place and according to the NHS guidelines they are doing everything they can to prevent the pandemic from reaching them.

I was impressed…

Impressed by the sense of panic they were instilling in everyone.  Faster than anything else the panic virus has spread through the world.  News is full of the washed hog bug and new victims are shown on TV walking into hospitals, smiling at cameras and getting shots.

Just yesterday an email was received sent by the children’s mother in an absolute state of panic, while sipping her chocolate laced latte in the States. It stated that at the first sign of flu we must take the children to the doctor and if we (the children’s father or I) get the flu we MUST wear masks at ALL times so as not to infect the kids..

WHO has published the latest shocking statistics

Mexico has reported 822 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths. The United States has reported 403 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases of Swine Flu with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27).

Paranoia is spreading and I find myself contemplating stocking up my cupboards like Vicola (Swine Flu – Preparedness – Are YOU Ready?), one just never knows but sadly it seems Swine Flu masks are sold out.  The good news though is that normal regular masks are in stock.  Thank goodness because I’d hate to infect anyone with the flu or any other kind of passer-on-bug.

Now my biggest worry about all of this is, if this is how the public and governments react to the Swine Flu how will everyone act when they hear about HIV/AIDS?  I don’t know about you but I’m really worried about what will happen if this is the panic for Swine Flu, can you just imagine the panic with HIV/AIDS?

Regional/Global HIV/AIDS Statistics (Global Health Reporting)

Imagine how the world would react if it saw all these victims?

… Imagine …

Another song that follows me around, its lyrics call to be sung out loud, sung on the top of their voice… a song perhaps that we all need to hear at different points in our journey – hope you enjoy!

My mind is open
And my heart is full
I ain’t got any weight
That I can’t pull
And right now
I know that anything
Is possible
I’m gonna bang my drum
Blow my horn
I forget what these pills
Were ever for
I believe
I won’t need them anymore
I used to burn candles
At both ends
Now I just throw the whole damn thing
Right in
Now playing in traffic is easy
Once you learn
Where you get in
You wanna come with me
Then get on board
Get in or get out
Use either door
The future is calling
And it’s me
That it’s looking for
Cause’ it feels like summer again
I was thinking that it just might never begin
After winter and spring
It’s good to have the sun on my face again
I wear big boots
I know I do
I ain’t envious
Of anybodies shoes
I wear em’ loose
Now maybe that’s
Why it bothers you
I’m building my ship
Stick by stick
And where the waters get rough
I’m getting in
The motion of the waves
It does not
Make me sick
[chorus]
I buried my horse
In a shallow a grave
I said few things
I had champagne
That beast gave me everything
That nobody gave
I got high hopes
Tomorrow came
I won’t look back
On anything
I just found out
That my bird
Can really sing…

Have you ever sat outside just before a storm is about to hit, the light seems to dance off everything before you lighting up the landscape of nature.  Right before the storm hits is when I love to get my camera out and take photos, the clarity and contrast, the beauty and light just perfect.  Such as it is in life in so many ways. 

Optimistic versus pessimistic, a choice of how we view the last light before the storm hits.  We look up into the sky and see it dark with heavy water laden clouds and we choose how to brace it.

Do you enjoy the last light, the beauty in it or do you see the storm coming and shut all the windows, put all the things that could get wet out of the rains way and find shelter cursing the weather Gods?

Some storms don’t have that magical light preceding it but is it because our eyes are closed to it or because the storm started way before and we were just avoiding it?

Those who have experienced many storms in their life learn to enjoy that special moment before the storm hits.  Knowing that it will be a while before they see the sun again they enjoy every moment they have but sometimes even the weather torn people forget to enjoy the little moments of joy.

Life isn’t life if we run from the storms, life isn’t life if we don’t learn to enjoy the little moments of pure beauty and happiness…

Life isn’t life without living through each and every moment… sometimes harder than it seems but ultimately a choice each of us carries with us.

The river of life is the journey that we take from birth to death, forever evolving, forever meandering with seasons and droughts.  At birth we are put on the path with no road map or guides, we are told no warnings of what to expect or of the dangers that lie in wait for us.

As we travel along that river of life we will often find ourselves covering all sorts of terrain, we go over hills of all sizes, sometimes we find ourselves climbing over big rocks and at other times walking over pebbles.

Sometimes we pause to take in the beauty and at others we run from wasps and creatures that smell a delicious dinner.  We pick up flowers and bring them to our noses inhaling their sweet scent, we get sad seeing a creature fallen before us or skeletons of past travellers along the road.

If we’re lucky we will bump into fellow travellers along the way and they guide us over the really difficult parts while at other’s there’s not another soul in sight.

Through it all though there are those precipices, the times when we pause and take a look at both sides of the river and notice that the one we are walking on is not as colourful as the one on the other side, the river is mostly dry where as towards the other side it flows with a steady pace. 

The precipice is what separates you from the other side of the river.  There is no bridge to quickly cross to the other side so you find yourself sitting with a decision that could change your whole journey. 

Option one is that you continue walking on the same path with no guarantees that you will find that desired bridge.  The word “Maybe” keeps one foot in front of the other as you walk along the barren land. 

Option two is that you cross the rocky danger infested river bed that has demonic creatures and monsters from the past, obstacles and challenges that you must face in order to get to the other brighter side.  The river could claim your life, you could break a few bones, old wounds will scratch open and bleed.

We all swing between these two options in all instances we come across in life.  The decision to cross the river might be sometimes easier than others, sometimes it can be so scary that we opt to walk a little longer on the drought barren path building up courage to take the first step over the edge.

Ultimately we have to cross to the other side or we allow our souls to become barren and dry, colourless and dead.  All change is necessary, no matter how long we take, no matter how far we try to run from it. 

Cross the river and face the demons that lurk, bleed through old wounds and keep going over the obstacles, slay the monsters and get to the other side… For once on the other side you emerge stronger, your spirit is lifted and you once again can smell the true sweet scent from the flowers, the scent of life you had forgotten existed.