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Dear World


Orange warm sunset in a cloudy winter sky

31/12/23 Sunday
Last day of the week, last day of the year.
A time to assess, to question.
Are we where we want to be? How far off? How does this happen, and why?
Is this end of year or end of all days? And what on earth do we do about it?
Much as I adore the glitz of festive days, a glimpse at current events brings heavy awareness. So, now what?
Four quotes (all by old white guys, but useful nevertheless) sift into view as I flinch from the destruction of people and planet.

‘Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul, just be another human soul.’  CG Jung
People can be hard to bear at times, but if you find a connecting point this is a powerful force, something beyond knowledge. Understanding and change can flow from it. A unity of souls.

‘Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.’ Nietzsche
One of the common things done to justify terrible actions is to create ‘them and us’ narratives. A disunity of souls. Disrupt this!

‘Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.’ Victor Frankl
Easier to read and think about than it is to do. Practice helps. We learn to keep our own calm, we learn to recognise when something or someone is trying to manipulate us. 


‘The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.’ Socrates (probably)

It is good to fight sometimes, I am not entirely a pacifist. I’d rather not be bullied. Equally, it is good to turn your back on what is distracting and energy-draining and get on with creating, with putting your marvellous creative energy into motion, into something.


My something is writing, which seeks to bring comfort and connection without sacrificing truth; is the work we do on our piece of land, making a place for comfort and connection; is me being an active member of my family; is me teaching Tae Kwon-Do as a healthy empowering way of life.
Is me standing up and holding safe space for hope, for acceptance, for improvement.

This year ahead may your journey be enlightening, encouraging, helpful, kind, and strong.

Dear world, cease your fire; light a flame for hope.

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