When navigating, it is obviously important to know where you are to start with. This seal has climbed out of the sea for a rest – its navigational skills are not in question but it looks as if it is asking the question, ‘Who am I?’. Likely, it was probably asking, ‘Who are you taking […]
The world-famous Kew Gardens holds many wonders from the natural world which are easily missed because there are so many of them in one place. It also has beautiful and thought-provoking internal exhibitions within the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. This photo shows one of them – thousands of tiny metal intricately shaped trees are placed in sand. On one side they are black. As you walk alongside, they become invisible, but when you pass them and look back you see each one is painted in colours.
Forgiveness Freedom Family Forever. ONLY EVER … Reflections (connect4life.org.uk) OUTSIDE OF YOU … Reflections (connect4life.org.uk)
There are many who will tell you how to live your life but who’s right? The ‘global wellness market’ is said to be valued at over $4.75 trillion and growing at more than 6% a year. It is a big business with therapists and ‘experts’ galore waiting to take people’s money and time to deal with their insecurities, hopes and dreams. Entertainment channels massage our desires and advertisers prey on our egos as we fall victim to the exploitation of others. Often the young want to be older whilst the old want to be younger; the employed want to retire, the retired wish they still had purpose in work; those in the shade want sun, those in the sun want shade. What about you now? Do you long to be beside the sea for a long relaxing holiday that drifts into retirement or are you already living the life you dream of?
‘If I knew yesterday what I know today, where would I be tomorrow?
I won't let my soul slide away, I'd do whatever it takes
'Cause this time's only borrowed
I got one life, one life, one life and I'm gonna live it
I got one life, one life, one life and I'm gonna live it right’ – James Morrison
History tells the stories of when human civilisation has come under great threat through war, disaster or disease. Around 1350, an infectious fever killed up to 200 million people. Rats carrying infected fleas from China and India brought The Black Death resulting in populations being reduced by up to 50% around the world. It is still around in some parts of the world but using the broad-based antibiotic streptomycin has proven to be dramatically successful against the bubonic plague within 12 hours of infection. What is the time on the clock for humanity and who might step forward ‘for such a time as this?’
What do John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs and Eleanor Roosevelt have in common? They were all orphans and yet they went on to achieve many things. Living with the knowledge of being an orphan has deep effects on a person’s psyche – to have feelings of rejection, insecurity, abandonment and poor self worth would be typical.
‘I’m trying to find myself. Sometimes that’s not easy’ – Marilyn Monroe
