so this well-travelled guru has been to over 80 countries, obscure islands, and ALL 7 continents, and just came across an excellent article written by Ilana Brown, a fellow solo traveller. i whole-heartedly agree with what she has to say, and thought i'd pass along her experience and wisdom to ya'll.
safe & happy travels!
http://www.spgweekends.com/explore/heath-wellness/travel-alone?EM=2016_MEDIA_WEEKENDS_MT_OTBR_TRAVELALONE&SWAQ=AGN
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Sunday, March 20, 2016
finding depth in the dark continent...
i wrote the following whilst in Uganda on january 31st, 2016
it took some time to get into the beat of Africa(esp. with a substantial injury, a fractured big toe, at the onset).
this is not a land for the weak and/or fragile of constitution.
adults as well as children start working hard physically from the time they are ready to walk. it is not uncommon to see a 5 year old carrying a younger child on their back whilst balancing 15 pounds of bananas & water on their head; this whilst walking miles in the hot sun to get back to their village.
i now have garnered a much deeper understanding of the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child". there is an intense bond in community here that is not readily apparent in the West. no matter how difficult life gets, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. malaria is as common as the flu, dying is a part of life, & mortality rates are high. if you live to 50, life has been very good, & you are blessed; quite sobering.
of the paltry resources people have, they are SO happy to share or even abstain if it brings joy to another. after being fortunate enough to have visited over 90 countries and obscure islands, i find the pure, unadulterated Love exuded from the people here(esp. the most indigent of children in the slums & their families), impacting my Soul unlike anywhere else i have been before. many i have met, having almost nothing, exude an infectious Joy in their step, laugh, and smile.
more than humbling, it is Awakening.
i have pondered how we still have such philosophical questions of "lack" in the West, when our wells runneth over with the luxuries(clean water,
electricity, WIFI, lol) of excess in every arena? as kahlil gibran aptly stated, "the dread of thirst when the well is full is the thirst that is unquenchable". i feel a strong sense of conviction. there is a HUGE world out here that has SO little, whilst we bask in our excessive over-abundance and still desire more.
though I am very cognizant & grateful for all i have, it no longer feels like enough. "we see the world as we are, not as it is". so, as my World expands working with orphans and the abjectly poor, how do i convey the message of resounding overwhelming need to all at "home" without it sounding like I'm pontificating?
if any human's suffering in some way does not affect us all, how concerned are we really? i am a part of all i have met, so what is my responsibility to the rest of God's Creation living with far less than i?
if "the "I" is illusion and only God is real"(as rumi notes), then how does that play out in my own personal life? just how much of the "I" follows me throughout my every day, and how much of God pervades ALL my actions?
ghandi preached, "YOU must be the change you wish to see in the world"; i am finding it is a tall but essential order. i do not believe ghandi meant it to be an adage to mentally ascent to, but an edict of which to live by.
coming back to the West will be much tougher than landing in Africa.
here, where there is so much less distraction, it is physically tougher but spiritually so much easier. back home, i fear i will lose touch with "Reality", and begin to yet again doze off, hitting the snooze alarm of life in predictable intervals.
if our time on planet Earth is truly not about "me", then what is it really all about? i think it's time to start living Life into that answer, & not idle away any more precious time in the question.
kwagala & emerembe (love and peace in lugandan)
it took some time to get into the beat of Africa(esp. with a substantial injury, a fractured big toe, at the onset).
this is not a land for the weak and/or fragile of constitution.
adults as well as children start working hard physically from the time they are ready to walk. it is not uncommon to see a 5 year old carrying a younger child on their back whilst balancing 15 pounds of bananas & water on their head; this whilst walking miles in the hot sun to get back to their village.
i now have garnered a much deeper understanding of the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child". there is an intense bond in community here that is not readily apparent in the West. no matter how difficult life gets, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. malaria is as common as the flu, dying is a part of life, & mortality rates are high. if you live to 50, life has been very good, & you are blessed; quite sobering.
of the paltry resources people have, they are SO happy to share or even abstain if it brings joy to another. after being fortunate enough to have visited over 90 countries and obscure islands, i find the pure, unadulterated Love exuded from the people here(esp. the most indigent of children in the slums & their families), impacting my Soul unlike anywhere else i have been before. many i have met, having almost nothing, exude an infectious Joy in their step, laugh, and smile.
more than humbling, it is Awakening.
i have pondered how we still have such philosophical questions of "lack" in the West, when our wells runneth over with the luxuries(clean water,
electricity, WIFI, lol) of excess in every arena? as kahlil gibran aptly stated, "the dread of thirst when the well is full is the thirst that is unquenchable". i feel a strong sense of conviction. there is a HUGE world out here that has SO little, whilst we bask in our excessive over-abundance and still desire more.
though I am very cognizant & grateful for all i have, it no longer feels like enough. "we see the world as we are, not as it is". so, as my World expands working with orphans and the abjectly poor, how do i convey the message of resounding overwhelming need to all at "home" without it sounding like I'm pontificating?
if any human's suffering in some way does not affect us all, how concerned are we really? i am a part of all i have met, so what is my responsibility to the rest of God's Creation living with far less than i?
if "the "I" is illusion and only God is real"(as rumi notes), then how does that play out in my own personal life? just how much of the "I" follows me throughout my every day, and how much of God pervades ALL my actions?
ghandi preached, "YOU must be the change you wish to see in the world"; i am finding it is a tall but essential order. i do not believe ghandi meant it to be an adage to mentally ascent to, but an edict of which to live by.
coming back to the West will be much tougher than landing in Africa.
here, where there is so much less distraction, it is physically tougher but spiritually so much easier. back home, i fear i will lose touch with "Reality", and begin to yet again doze off, hitting the snooze alarm of life in predictable intervals.
if our time on planet Earth is truly not about "me", then what is it really all about? i think it's time to start living Life into that answer, & not idle away any more precious time in the question.
kwagala & emerembe (love and peace in lugandan)
Thursday, December 17, 2015
be the change you want to see in the world...
before it's too late.
in this season of hectic, frenetic busyness, let us not forget that THIS MOMENT is really all we have.
we go along thinking that we are assured tomorrow, but we're not; it is illusion to think that way.
how do YOU show up in the world?
http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/12/02/grocery-good-deed-die-crash-woman-dnt.kusi
in this season of hectic, frenetic busyness, let us not forget that THIS MOMENT is really all we have.
we go along thinking that we are assured tomorrow, but we're not; it is illusion to think that way.
how do YOU show up in the world?
http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/12/02/grocery-good-deed-die-crash-woman-dnt.kusi
shoot photos, not guns!
well, i may be a little biased because i'm a photographer.
however, c'mon people; it's time to stop the violence and work for Peace!
"you may say i'm a dreamer, but i'm not the only one" - john lennon...and me! :-)
thank you New York Times for this cogent article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/opinion/end-the-gun-epidemic-in-america.html
however, c'mon people; it's time to stop the violence and work for Peace!
"you may say i'm a dreamer, but i'm not the only one" - john lennon...and me! :-)
thank you New York Times for this cogent article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/opinion/end-the-gun-epidemic-in-america.html
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Plus-size? More Like My Size | Ashley Graham | TEDxBerkleeValencia
excellent TED talk for ALL to view:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAgawjzimjc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAgawjzimjc
mr. g and jellybean
thank you "Animal Place" for reminding us how ALL living things share emotional bonds...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv2OGph5Kec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv2OGph5Kec
Monday, August 24, 2015
gratitude
having an attitude of gratitude not only changes YOU, but in turn changes the world.
do you want to be happy? be grateful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtBsl3j0YRQ&feature=youtu.be
do you want to be happy? be grateful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtBsl3j0YRQ&feature=youtu.be
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