A Change is Gonna Come......

Well today's the day! Barack Obama is finally inaugurated as America's 44th president and, first black president. A truly historic day.

And despite the enormous challenges that lie ahead, today seems to be a day of real celebration, anticipation and expectation. Exceedingly high expectations infact, not just among Americans, but around the world too.

Mr Obama certainly appears to represent a new approach, a new tone and the promise of a new era. And in the current climate, people are only too ready to embrace an opportunity for positivity and optimism. Yet in his own words, "change will not come if we wait for some other person". The rest of us cannot sit back and expect one man to change the world. We each have our part to play.

So as well as being a day of celebration for Barack Obama and all that he stands for, what if today is also an opportunity for each of us to look at what we can do to make the world a better place? How can we live up to some of those high expectations too?

We all have greatness within us. We are far more capable than we think we are. We are all much more than we think we are. And if you're one of the many who admire and respect Barack Obama, then take a moment to consider the following;

• What specifically is it that he demonstrates?
• What exactly do you admire and respect about him?
• Where do you see those qualities in yourself?
• How can you be more of that now?

In the meantime, let's wish him well........and remember

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek" Barack Obama

Dx

PS Watch him again here http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4

A Poem for our times.......?

IF by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you, Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken, Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings, And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you, Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute, With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling--

See RED

This morning I was browsing the papers over breakfast, on the look out for some good news, and came across an article about Bill and Melinda Gates and what their Foundation is doing to support a number of causes both in the US and around the world.

Apparently Bill Gates has now donated so much that this year he ceased to be the world’s richest man, after 13 years in the top slot. And Warren Buffett, the US investment tycoon who stole his title, has already pledged the Gates Foundation most of his $62 billion fortune, which he is already handing over in annual instalments.

They also support the RED campaign launched by Bono, which I have to confess I don't think I'd heard of previously. This campaign is about fighting AIDS and has brought together a number of high street companies, to produce and sell special products, and most of the profit from the sale of those products goes to finance HIV health and community support programmes in Africa.

Apparently it costs just 20p to fund the two daily pills needed to keep alive someone with HIV, but 70 per cent of people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than £1 a day and cannot afford them.

It's World Aids Day on 1st December, and while many of us are wondering what to buy as Christmas presents this year, we could also be doing some good with our money. We don't have to be millionnaires...with a little we can do a lot ;-)

If you want to find out more go to http://www.joinred.com/Shop.aspx

Happy shopping!

Dx

For the article go to http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5205402.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

Humankind

Have you ever thought about the word 'humankind' and why we use it to describe the human race?

Me neither, until last night when I happened to be watching this inspiring short film on You Tube called 'If Everyone Cared' (see video clip on left). It really reminded me of the enormous capacity we have to be kind ;-) And then just at that very moment this wonderful advert appeared on TV for Oxfam, appealing to us all to be 'humankind' ;-)

See http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/globe.html

As well as our capacity to be kind, we also have an enormous capacity to bring about change, make a positive difference, cooperate and collaborate, overcome adversity and be a force for good. So whatever's going on in the world right now, and whatever we hear in the news these days, wouldn't it be refreshing to shift attention for a while and focus on all the good we can create, and all the kindness we can share?

As Albert Einstein said, "It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it". And in Winston Churchill's words "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give"

Dx

True Wealth

One day a very affluent father decided that he needed to expose his son to how less prosperous people lived. So, he took his son on a trip to the countryside where he had arranged for them to stay on a farm for a few days with what would be considered a poor family. Upon returning home, the father asked his son what he had learned on their trip to the country.

The son replied, “I saw that we have one dog, but they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, but they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, but they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, but they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, but they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they get to serve one another and others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have ‘friends’ to protect them.”

The father was speechless. Then, the son added, “It showed me how ‘poor’ we are!”

This little boy was wiser than his father. He understood what is the “true wealth” for which to give thanks. Real gratitude has little to do with the material, but much to do with the spiritual; little to do with “things”, but much to do with relationships.....Anon

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have?

"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life" Henry David Thoreau

A funny old business

I came across this quote recently and it seemed quite apt.

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business" Henry Ford

This story taken from "Creating Money - Keys to Abundance" by Sanaya Roman & Duane Packer is also quite a topical reminder too ;-)

There once was a salesman whose sales had begun to drop off and he couldn’t understand why. He still loved what he was doing; he believed in the product he was selling and he felt he was accomplishing his higher purpose. One day though, whilst talking to a friend, he realized that he was no longer focusing on serving people and satisfying what they wanted, but had begun to think of them in terms of what they could give him and how they could help him grow his business. Instead of seeing them as people he served, he had been thinking of them as people who helped him put money in his pocket. He had become so focused on making money that he had forgotten he was in the business of serving people.

From that moment on he changed his ways and began putting his energy and attention into how he could best serve his customers. He spent time getting to know them, learning about their wants and genuinely trying to help them.
His sales increased dramatically!

Turbulent Times

Gordon Brown this week spoke of the government's desire to provide a 'rock of stability' and protect British people from being buffeted about by recent events.

In these turbulent times it's not only the financial markets that are experiencing volatile fluctuations. Individuals too have been experiencing dramatic emotional swings and crises of confidence.

Yet, when we rely upon external factors to bring us a sense of confidence, security, happiness and well being this is precisely what happens; we leave ourselves totally exposed to the elements. While things are going well that might seem ok but when they're not going so well it does us no good at all.

Instead, by reconnecting with our inner sense of peace, and with what really matters most, we can begin to create a sense of stability and balance from within. And from this position of greater calm and clarity we are more able to navigate our way through stormy seas ;-)

Now I appreciate that taking a philosophical view from the sidelines is one thing, but retaining a philosophical perspective when you're in the eye of the storm is another matter altogether. Many of us have certainly been tested in recent weeks, and I know that some people are facing greater challenges than others. So whilst I dont pretend to have all the answers I would just share a few strategies that have helped me.

1 Focus on what's MOST important. Re-evaluate what really matters to you and appreciate what you have.....health, friends, family, skills?

2 Bring yourself into balance. Connect with your inner self, get centred, grounded and present.

3 Stop looking for someone to blame. Take responsibilty for your own life, learn from your experience and use as a catalyst for change.

4 Beware of negative energy. Information is useful up to a point but don't fill your mind with too much gloom and doom. What you focus on affects how you feel. Focus on something good.

5 Get creative. What do you want instead? Where would you like to be? What else would you like to be doing? Look out for opportunities and explore ideas for making it happen.

6 Be kind to others. Not only does it feel good but they may be struggling too.

And remember, "It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones who are most responsive to change" Charles Darwin

Dx

Start with Yourself

After writing a few days ago about how we can all contribute to creating more peace in the world by 'being' more peaceful ourselves, I rediscovered this article. The words were apparently written on the tomb of a Bishop in the Crypts of Westminster Abbey and are a nice reminder.

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change so I shortened my sights and decided to change only my country. But it too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realise: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows I may have even changed the world".

Anon

How are you 'being' in the world? ;-)
Dx

Give Peace a Chance

Last week while having dinner with a friend we got talking about which of the world problems we would solve if we had the power! That's after we'd covered the new Sex in the City film of course ;-)

At first, we found ourselves thinking about major issues such as world hunger, lack of clean water and poverty. And then we both realised that, actually, if we could eradicate conflict and create more peace and harmony in the world then people and nations could genuinely collaborate, share resources and bring an end to all of these problems.

Now I know people have been talking about creating world peace for decades but to be honest, I've probably been guilty of thinking this was a bit of a pipe dream and had become something of a cliche. And certainly, on a macro level, it might still seem like a pretty insurmountable task. Yet last week I really gained a fuller realisation of just how vital this is.

Today, more than ever, we are living as a global community. We are all interdependent. We cannot survive in isolation. And so not only do we each have a responsibility to take care of where we are living (the planet), we also have a responsibility for how we are living too.

For instance..........

• Think of a time recently when you were in the company of someone who appeared angry or stressed. What were they doing? What were they saying? How did you feel?
• Now think of a time when you were with someone who seemed content and relaxed. What were they doing? What were they saying? How did you feel?

There's really no denying that the state we're in is the state we create, and that our feelings and emotions are highly contagious. The question is, are we radiating peace and happiness or are we spreading a virus of fear and negativity?

As humans, our natural state of being is a sense of inner peace and presence. Yet we spend so much time and energy regretting the past, worrying about the future, feeling anxious about how we measure up or frustrated by other people's behaviour that we forget how to be in our natural state. And the more we forget, the greater the risk that we are contaminating our environment and affecting those around us.

As Eckhart Tolle puts it "Are you polluting the world or cleaning up the mess? You are responsible for your inner space; If humans clear inner pollution, then they will also cease to create outer pollution"

So, as world peace is such a huge challenge, perhaps we can contribute on a more local level by reconnecting with our own inner peace and, as Ghandi says, "BE the change we want to see in the world". And from this place of inner peace we can generate a little more outer peace too ;-)

A gift

Last week I had the privilege of spending a few days in France with an amazing group of people. I didn't really know what to expect when I set off on my journey and was certainly surprised on more than one occasion ;-). It proved to be a very rich and rewarding experience though and I received many gifts from many people.....some of which, came in disguise, and didn't always feel like gifts at the time :-o

One particular gift was this lovely poem which I thought I'd share ;-)

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some genuine enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world your best anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

(Kent M. Keith)

Tomorrow I'm off to Nottingham to see the Dalai Lama so who knows what will happen there. I'm sure there'll be much learning and more blog posts to follow ;-)

Have a wonderful week
And remember "He knows not where he's going, for the ocean will decide. It's not the destination, it's the glory of the ride" Edward Monkton