ubuntu

God bless the whole world, no exceptions.

'A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.''

Archbishop Desmond Tutu further explained Ubuntu in 2008:

 'One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity.  

We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.

This is the truth taught to us in an old South African principle, ubuntu, or ‘A person is a person through other persons.’ As Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes this perspective, ubuntu ‘is not, “I think therefore I am.” It says rather: “I am a human because I belong. I participate. I share.”’ In essence, I am because you are.

“Africans have this thing called UBUNTU. It is about the essence of being human, it is

part of the gift that Africa will give the world. It embraces hospitality, caring about others,
being able to go the extra mile for the sake of others. We believe that a person is a

person through another person, that my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably,

with yours. When I dehumanise you, I inexorably dehumanise myself. The solitary human

being is a contradiction in terms and therefore you seek to work for the common good

because your humanity comes into its own in belonging”.

God Bless the World,  No Exceptions!

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It's amazing what a conversation, especially a conversation with one of your own, and one that starts out horrifying you, can reveal about yourself. We are sometimes in such denial, clinging to pseudo truths for lack of an escape route, that we actually lie to ourselves. Me being the kind of person that believes I am here on a journey to aspire to become a better person feel tarnished when I am not true to myself.

Since this is a public blog and partially a personal journal, this might seem written in code and it must remain so; no, I will not reveal what has been bothering me about myself (that is between me, God and my inner conscience) although many of you know from years of hints that I have been living a double standard. I find this a safe place, a sort of room of my own where I can humanly spill the beans as I ponder over my next step.

So my conversation with Tatiana, my twenty-one year old daughter whose soul has taken quantum leaps in the last year through experiences of her own, was a treasure waiting.

It is time, I must seize the moment and confront the truth. She mentioned I had always been a hustler in the past and that I had slowly become complacent, leaning too much on those around me to maintain a status quo when there were so many more mountains to climb and so many more surprises outside my door. I see now that she really liked that part of me in spite of having seen me struggle financially as a single mother for over 9 years. The truth is I liked it too, the survivor instinct, the never-giving-up attitude, the stiff upper lip English heritage.

If only I had the strength and courage to open that door again. I am not as strong as I used to be, mentally or physically so this will be a challenge indeed. But the first step has been taken, I have made up my mind, no more living in a blur, no more playing it safe, no more giving in nor giving up my dreams.

Even if this means remaining by myself for a good sabbatical year, it will feel better than compromising out of guilt and duty. How can I possibly become my true self otherwise? How can I be an example to my children if I don't live by the principles I have so much striven to teach them? It cannot all boil down to money all the time; I have been the happiest when I have had the least and I can do it again.

So today, I begin by opening a window, my bedroom window and feeling the air in my nostrils.

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THOU SHALT NOT WHINE

courtesy of http://www.kristinemays.etsy.com/

So here they are, my New Years Resolutions. Number one on the list and probably the hardest to make public is
1 THOU SHALT NOT WHINE. It will be a hard one since I am quite a perfectionist and a doer so really get pissed off when people don't have initiative to make things happen and just show up for the show.

2 I SHALL LOVE MYSELF AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MYSELF as in go and get that foot massage I've always wanted, get my toe nails done, get a facial once in a while, go to the hairdresser to dye my hair rather than do it myself, eat well, exercise more and think of caring for myself first. I tend to do everything for my children and significant other and then feel sorry for myself because I'm not reaping any of the benefits.

3 I SHALL NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT number 2.

4 Focus on the Chile plan, draw lots of pictures of how I want my loft to be and make lists of possible restaurant/store area at the front including my best recipes for cooking.

5 GO TO CHILE this year no matter what

6 Continue ridding myself of clutter, craft supplies I will probably never get around to using and selling lots of the knick knacks I have that really serve me no purpose but to gather dust. Easier said than done.

ABOVE all to LOVE and Respect my CREATOR and all the wonder he has created, especially all my worldwide friends on FLICKR, ETSY and ZNE.

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