Victory

One Day it will be You !

One Day it will be You !

“Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in aisle ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go.”

“Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air con worked in his car so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air con kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day.”

“When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grandparents and your parents and how upset you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you.”

“Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, and they were able. Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people cared more about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence and jeez I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me.”

Thanks to the author, Adele Renee.

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                              WHAT YOU THOUGHT

You thought you were happily smiling at your child from a hard stadium seat or a hot packed auditorium, but your child looked at your face and saw approval of him and joy in what he was doing.

You thought that you were just patting him on the back or on the head, or just ruffling his hair, but your child cherished the warm loving touch and his heart was brightened.

You thought you were reading a bedtime story with all the funny and scary voices, but your child enjoyed the fact you read every word even though he had heard them a hundred times before.

You thought you were letting your child help paint the house even though the paint got kind of runny and drippy in places, but your child knew that you were working together as a family and felt a sense of accomplishment as a family.

You thought you were singing silly songs or counting the cows on a long boring trip, but your child learned that it was fun being together no matter where you were.

You thought you were spending a few minutes of your time by throwing a ball in the backyard or baking some cookies, but your child, who realized that your time is precious, knew you were investing it in him.

You thought that you asked your child's opinion about something that wasn't too important, but your child thought you asked because his opinions and thoughts were important.

You thought you were being a good host by inviting your child's friends in for a cool snack on a warm summer day, but your child knew that his friends were important to you and always welcome in your home.

You thought the tears in your eyes went unnoticed when your child accomplished an important goal in his life, but your child knew that he was deeply imbedded in your heart and you sensed his accomplishment.

You thought that the refrigerator was as good of a place as any for hanging all the art work and "well done" papers that came home from school, But your child felt important when he came home from school each day with something to show you and tack up in his personal hall of fame.

You thought you gave your child some simple chore or job to do and told him, "Well done", with a smile when he did it, but your child learned responsibility and began to realize he could tackle even tougher things.

You thought you were helping a troubled restless child get some sleep by fixing a cup of warm milk, but your child felt that you were opening your heart around a kitchen table and making all the problems a lot smaller.

You thought the vacation wasn't much of a success because the fish didn't bite and the sun didn't shine, but your child still remembers everything that happened and still laughs at all of the funny parts.

You thought you were just pointing out the words in the church hymn book with your child's finger as he tried to sing along, but your child learned that singing praises to God in worship was important.

You thought you were just giving him a quick hug at a special moment or "just because", but your child carried it with him for a long time, because what you really said was, "I'm proud of you", or "I love you."

You thought you were just giving him a little kiss on the cheek to tell him good bye as he left for school, but your child felt warm and loved because he knew there would be another one waiting for him when he got home.

Come to think of it, there are a lot of times when parents really are misunderstood!

Author Unknown --

Build a life around you that suits you

Build a place around you that suits you.

In a little town, far away, there was a little old woman whose years were beyond counting. This old woman was famed as a wise storyteller, and many would make the trip to this little secluded place, just to ask for her advice.

One day, a young woman, her beautiful faced twisted by sadness and tears, approached the old storyteller. 

"May I ask a question?" She asked her, as they sat in the market square. It was quiet, early morning, and only they were there.

"Of course, child." said the storyteller as she carefully marked her place in her book. "Tell me what brings such hurt to your eyes."

"My problem," said the young woman painfully, "is that I am good-for-nothing, I just don't... fit in with anything. I've tried so many careers, and wasn't suitable for any of them."

The wise old woman slowly nods and strokes her pipe.

"I've lived in many places and never did I feel I belonged."

The old woman smiles.

"I've dated many men but have never found my true love."

"I've-" 

"Let me stop you there..." Said the storyteller, lifting a hand to halt the onslaught of worried words.

The woman quieted, breathing heavily.

"... and tell you a story. Isn't that why you came here?" She smiled and took a puff on her pipe.

"It may surprise you, perhaps hard to even imagine looking at this old face, but a long time ago, I was in a similar situation as yours. I too felt different to everyone else, and nowhere did I seem to belong. But I did not have a wise old storyteller to ask for advice, and so I went on a long journey to find the answer my soul sought.

long indeed was the journey. I crossed streams and rivers, hiked up hills and mountains, found forgotten places and wondrous creatures and men, but never did an answer I found. Until one day.

On that day, while walking through a field next to a village I cannot recall the name of anymore, there was a little brick wall, perhaps 5 foot tall, next to a little house. But that was not what caught my eye, no. What caught my eye were three archery practicing targets on the wall, and in the exact bullseye of each of them was an arrow, stuck as firmly as it could be."
 

The old lady stopped for a little puff on her pipe while the young lady did a little jig of impatience with her feet.

"In all my journeys, I have seen many great archers, so I know it to be a hard discipline. I was amazed to find such talent at such a humble place. Then I noticed a little girl peeking at me from the cottage door. Come I called to her and she did. And I asked her: "Dear child, do you know who is the archer who put these arrows in those targets?" She blushed and answered that she was that archer.

I was even more amazed and asked her how she became such an extraordinary shot at such a young age. She blushed further and, in a whispering voice, admitted that she had stuck the arrows in the wall and then painted the targets around them..."

The old woman chuckled softly while the young woman made a puzzled face. 

"I don't understand..."

"That was the moment I learned about the essence of things, my child.You cannot find a place to own you before you own yourself. You must recognize who YOU are, and build a place around you that suits you. In other words, find what you truly wish for and build a life around it. Make life work itself around you, instead of trying to find where you belong. Perhaps the place you belong to is a place you are yet to create."

The young woman thanked her for her wisdom, dried her tears, straightened her back and walked purposefully away.

We can all learn a lot from that old woman's tale.

What to tell the children

What to tell the children  by Rachel Kann

Tell them that this is the great awakening.
Tell them that we humans have made some huge mistakes
And that’s how we now find ourselves in this tenuous place.

Teach them that hate is the poison.
Teach them that love is the remedy,
That it is better to be readied for what comes next,
Even if the revelation is painful.

Tell them that this is the paradigm shift,
That the old is collapsing in on itself,
That this death rattle is simply a temper tantrum;
The last gasp of a dying goliath.
Remind them of how they get wild
When they are most tired,
And then pass out,
That this is what it’s about,
That this is what is happening to a decrepit and ineffective empire.

Tell them that everything is not ok,
And knowing that is ok.
Tell them that pretending
That what is unacceptable is fine
Is what got us to this sick and dysfunctional spot on the timeline.

Apologize for any prior attempts to teach them denial.
Tell them you were blinded by desire for comfortable numbness.
Express that you had the best of intentions,
That you were working within a broken system,
Where few benefitted at the expense of many,
That you laid low,
Kept to the status quo,
Obediently played your role,
But those days are over, because
Now you know better.

Tell them that they have no responsibility
To follow someone blindly based solely on a title.
Teach them to practice discernment.

Tell them authority and respect
Must be earned and are not inherently deserved.

Teach them that there are good people and bad people
From every background, ethnicity and belief system,
That they must align themselves with kindness,
That there is no more time for divisiveness.

You tell
Them that just because something is legal,
That doesn’t mean it’s right.

You tell them
To stand up and fight.

Remind them of all the lawful atrocities
Committed in the sick and twisted history
Of this violent country,
That Rosa Parks righteously broke a law and the world took notice,
That Harriet Tubman is our modern-day Moses,

That women would not be allowed to vote,
And no one would have proposed another notion
If the blessed rebels hadn’t taken a stand.

Tell them love will win this war,
But only if we remember
That love is not just one unending cuddle puddle,
But fierce as a mother bear protecting her cubs.

Tell them that although this existence is damaged beyond repair,
They must not despair,
There is possibility,
And we will willingly and willfully open ourselves
To new ways of being because
The old way is not working,
Has never worked,
And the world deserves better,
And we’re worth it.

Tell them they are not free
While another suffers under enslavement.

Teach them that we are all limbs on one body
And we cannot chop off our own arm without deep suffering.

Teach them humility,
But also to re-learn to trust their intuition and
Beg their forgiveness for unintentionally misleading them previously.

Tell them their gifts are useful.
Tell them they are beautiful.
Tell them they are the truth.

Graduation : Posters Song and Reflection.

I Believe

I believe - that our background and circumstances may have
influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe - that no matter how good a friend is, they're
going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe - that just because someone doesn't love you the
way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe - that true friendship continues to grow, even
over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. 

I believe - that it's taking me a long time to become the
person I want to be.

I believe - that you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe - that you can keep going, long after you can't.

I believe - that we are responsible for what we do, no
matter how we feel. 

I believe - that either you control your attitude or it
controls you.

I believe - that heroes are the people who do what has to be
done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe - that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe - that my best friend and I can do anything or
nothing and have the best time.

I believe - that sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe - that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right
to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe - that maturity has more to do with what types of
experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with
how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe - that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by
others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive your self.

I believe - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the
world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe - that just because two people argue, it doesn't
mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't
mean they do.

I believe - that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a
secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe - that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I believe - that your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe - that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help.

I believe - that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe - that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

- Author unknown

Broken Things

Juliet Turner

You can have my heart
But it isn't new
It's been used and broken
And only comes in blue
It's been down a long road
And it got dirty on the way
If I give it to you will you make it clean
And wash the pain away

You can have my heart
If you don't mind broken things
You can have my heart if you don't mind these tears
Well I heard that you make old things new
So I give these pieces all to you
If you want it you can have my heart

So beyond repair
Nothing I could do
I tried to fix it myself
But it was only worse when I got through
Then you walked right into my darkness
And you speak words so sweet
And you…

Love -Respect - Integrity - Compassion ... and more

10 Most Important Things...

·         LOVE:
The Special Feeling That Makes You Feel
All Warm And Wonderful.

·         RESPECT:
Treating Others As Well As You Would Like To Be Treated.

·         APPRECIATION:
To Be Grateful For All The Good Things Life Has To Offer.

·         HAPPINESS:
The Full Enjoyment Of Each Moment. A Smiling Face.

·         FORGIVENESS:
The Ability To Let Things Be Without Anger.

·         SHARING:
The Joy Of Giving Without Thought Of Receiving.

·         HONESTY:
The Quality Of Always Telling The Truth.

·         INTEGRITY:
The Purity Of Doing What's Right, No Matter What.

·         COMPASSION:
The Essence Of Feeling Another's Pain, While Easing Their Hurt.

·         PEACE:
The Reward For Living The 10 Most Important Things.

Author Unknown