We are in unprecedented times for a number of reasons … we
think we are in global warming mode (human climate change), but perhaps it’s a precursor to the ice
age …
 |
| The frozen River Thames in England 1677 (Abraham Hondius) |
… desperate peoples have to move, want to move anywhere to be
safe, to find food and shelter … to have a future …
I have often commented … we must thank our forebears as we are
so fortunate – we have shelter, food, fresh water and there is security in our
lives …
 |
| Courtesy of the BBC |
… centuries ago, or perhaps more recently, we all have
migrants in our genealogies … remember others, now we are as safe as we can be
in a developed country …
Let’s not complain … just ask will it help? Don’t procrastinate … motivate yourself to
move on … in doing so it is likely you will help others.
We are at the edge of a New Year … a year of possibilities and
opportunities – let’s utilise this wonderful position we hold and embrace our
fortune – in doing so reach out and help others …
… don’t judge or exclude, include and share ideas and
friendships – in doing so reach out and help others … jump the barriers, work
round the negativity …
The only way we will bring peace on earth is to set examples, to
lead, not criticise, get on with things … and spread our love with generosity
to others …
Here’s to 2016 – may you all have a lovely year ahead … let’s be positive to ourselves, which will feed on to others … and spread hope to all across the globe.
 |
| Our beautiful world ... |
Freedoms are such a human fundamental – as I started this post
… think about the other side of the coin … people, are people, and are
essentially kind and thoughtful – I would hate to be in so many people’s lives
at the moment.
My thoughts to one and all … let’s remain and support
freedoms, not a closed society of any type, and in doing so we need to be open …
 |
| Malala Yousafzai |
This is an interview I heard on our Channel 4 TV between the presenter Jon Snow and Malala (1 min 17 sec) - she cannot be anything but inspirational.
Please listen
and read – gosh I’d love to have this outlook on life and Malala’s maturity of
thought … fascinating … enjoy, inwardly digest, and let’s follow together …
The last two paragraphs are the important ones: essential
reading.
Happy New Year everyone
all the very best for 2016 …
 |
| Remember this: Quoitidie Morior (1695) on sundial St Ive Church, Liskeard "I die daily" so let's get on with helping others and bringing peace to the world |
Some of my ideas came from Seth Godin’s recent posts:
The Joy of Whining - Dec 7th
The Next - Dec 19th
The Edges - Dec 20th
on YouTube ... (5 minutes)
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
41 comments:
Am I actually first to comment? Well said Hillary. Beautiful post, and thanks for including the Malala interview. She is so inspiring. And I thought global warming as the precursor to the ice age was the common thinking.
So excited to be first, I forgot the most important part: Happy New Year my friend!
Hi Rhonda - thanks for these ... I've changed that first sentence to really mean we're blaming it all on human intervention ... not sure that it's not the nature of things anyway - yes no doubt we're exasperating it ... but the climate will warm and cool. We need to do something about taking care of our earth ... yet nature will adjust - with probably disastrous consequences to ourselves if we don't get ourselves into gear thinking about how we can cope with these planet changes.
The Malala interviews are very good - she is one wise woman ..
Happy New Year to you too ... and thank you for being first twice!!!
cheers Hilary
Happy New Year to you, and lets hope for changes to make all around us better
It somehow seems easier to notice/remember the negatives than the positives, but I suspect that most of us who're in a position to be reading and commenting on blogs actually have lots of things to be thankful for. I know I do.
Sending you very best wishes for 2016, Hilary.
What a lovely post! And I so agree...we are so fortunate! Malala is indeed an inspiration. She has risen above everything! Happy 2016, Hilary! May it be peceful, fulfilling and exciting too!
Beautiful blog !
Happy new year 1
That Malala is amazing...every interview I've seen of her proves it. So young and mature.....she is destined to leave a positive mark on this world!
I agree with you that we all need to strive to be more positive, more helpful and more proactive in making the world a better place. Every little bit helps, just like each drop of water together makes the oceans.
Your advice and wishes for the New Year are excellent Hilary. Unfortunately, in certain parts of the world, this attitude is non existent. I personally am very concerned about groups like ISIS who certainly wouldn't wish anyone a happy new year. We are very lucky in our part of the world and long may it continue to be safe and secure for us and for those who need our help.
Oops, I forgot to say Happy New Year too. I hope 2016 brings you peace and happiness.
What a lovely post...I'm glad I found it. Nice to see something positive right now especially.
@ Steve - yes we need to help others and up the ante ourselves to help 2016 be happier for more people.
@ Patsy - we do remember the negatives way too often ... and I agree with what you say re us lot in our blogosphere ... appreciate life around us. I certainly do.
@ Val - aren't we fortunate to be born where we are ... and Malala shines through and has risen above the terrors of this world.
@ Rajiv - thank you and happy new year to you too
@ Betsy - isn't Malala amazing and yes I will watch as often as I can - because she is wise beyond her years ... I'm sure her mark will get stronger as she is a tower of strength.
Striving to help others, share things, include people .. and generally do what we can to make the world a better place ... as you say - each drop helps build the oceans ... each hug for life gives warming ripples along to others ...
@ Jo - thanks ... yes I was implying that everywhere there are people who want to help, even those held down and almost closed down ... people will rise above - they escape, if they can ... proven from terrorist groups, and from closed countries such as North Korea, China ... people are resilient, there will be suffering too - it's not easy ...
@ Rebecca - many thanks and lovely to see you here. I like to keep positive and spread some cheer ...
All the best to one and all - and thank you for coming by today - Happy New Year tomorrow .. and let's have some peace and happiness to share .. cheers Hilary
What a lovely post I love your positive spirit and outlook.
I look forward to checking out the interview with Malala. She is so inspirational!
Wishing you a positive, peaceful, and healthy 2016. Hoping we can all do our part to spread happiness and kindness to others in the new year.
~Jess
Thank you for reminding us of the fundamentals-love, compassion and thankfulness-in life. Wishing you and all your blog friends a healthy and peaceful 2016. Salut, Beste
I am truly thankful for what I have Hilary, but sometimes we all lose sight of the important things.
That picture with the lady holding up the placard saying 'I used to be someone' is poignant of the times we live in, and as you say, we must jump the barriers and take notice, and then action.
Thank you for sharing.
Happy New Year
Cold is coming -- at some point -- and I hope it doesn't go so cold as pictured in your first image, Abraham Hondius's, "The Frozen Thames, 1677, ( http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/frost-fair-of-london )
Cold times are bad times for migrants, not that any times are good for most of them. I just fear that if the cold really comes hard, there will be terrible consequences this winter.
Best wishes for the new year.
Hi Hilary! I'm a great fan of Malala. Where did that young girl come by all that wisdom? And thanks for the other philosophical comments on our world. We'd love some cold in Australia, but it looks like it's just going to get hotter and hotter down here. Bushfires are raging in Victoria and have been on-going for weeks. :-/
Happy New Year!
Denise
@ Jess - I try and keep positive and am glad it comes through. That's great the two interviews are very inspiring - enjoy listening and watching them.
@ Beste - I'm sure we remember, but just don't give of them as much as we can so here's to some extra love, compassion and thankfulness in and for life.
@ Maria - lovely to see you and we all are I'm sure grateful for what we have ... but forget others at times - as you point out. I had to put the picture of the girl up (shows my age! - the use of 'girl'!) ... it is very poignant isn't it.
@ Mike - good to see you ... yes we are colder today, and will be more so tomorrow. Thanks for telling me who the artist was - I usually put those details in ... but I'd never known - I'll add it to the blog.
Many people may feel there's hope ahead as they've moved out of the Middle East and into Europe ... but without shelter and food, life is going to be very difficult - I certainly hope it doesn't lead to more unrest or worse ...
@ Denise - I think many of us are fans of Malala. I was thinking the same about her - where did her wisdom come from ... she lived in tribal northern Pakistan, the Swat district of the Khyber province ... where her family ran and still run a chain of schools ... and she was writing a blog for the BBC ... so she's always been aware, even as a young girl ... she seems to be imbued with a great deal of wisdom, with the ability to convey her meaning clearly and succinctly.
I've seen your fires in Victoria - they're not reported on now ... as our floods have taken over, along with the American weather ... and all the other New Year stuff ...
Jess of DMS' words ring out for us all to hear and remember the wise words that we quote and read about as we blog and then let us all have a positive, peaceful and healthy year ahead - Happy New Year and a peaceful 2016 - cheers Hilary
I listened to the clip. She does seem mature for her age, definitely. And I like your note to break barriers and accept others. I think we don't do that enough. I had two nudgings to buy iced coffee for a homeless man, but he was young and looked disturbed. I was scared. So silly of me. I'm still mad at myself. I guess I was just frightened he would hurt me? but I could have found a way. Ignoring him and not stopping was the easy thing to do. :(
Hi Rosey - wonderful comment - so pertinent and I'm happy you took the time to listen to Malala.
I understand your feelings for the homeless young man you encountered ... I was 'nudged' for some small change for a homeless man - he's always polite, though I don't stop or give - there's always a follow-up thank you. I think I just don't want to get into a discussion and then where does it lead - like you ... an anxiety worry about the 'what next' scenario.
Exactly - let's find a way ... we can help ourselves, as we help others ... let's not take the easy way out.
Thanks so much for your comment ...
Cheers and Happy New Year - Hilary
What a wonderful interview from an inspirational young woman. Happy New Year, Hilary.
Very nice post and so true ! I also wish you a very happy and healthy New Year and we will certainly meet each other again this summer ! At least I hope so !
I'm calling in the new year alone, by choice, sort of. My family decided to join me in Mexico in January. So, for my new year resolution, I will continue to appreciate my family for who they are. I will accept them for who they are. And, I will accept their choices.
Malala is very mature and wise for her young years. But she's been through a lot, too.
Happy New Year's, Hilary.
you are so eloquent. I think this post should be the state of the union speech for the world. If we could all agree and work toward goodness and peace, less judgement, more openness, etc - surely the world could be better. But - one step at a time. Your blog brings me joy. Thanks.
Happy New Year!
@ Liza - isn't Malala just awe inspiring ... so glad you think so too.
@ Gattina - many thanks .. and I'm sure we'll meet again in the summer.
@ Joylene - that's the way things work sometimes .. but you'll be fine and give yourself a break before keeping up with your new year's resolution re your family!
Malala has been through an incredible amount in her few years ... I mentioned a little in a comment to Denise ... it's difficult to imagine ...
@ Joanne - that's incredibly kind of you - amazing ... what a complement. I'm so glad my blog brings you joy ...
Thanks so much to you all - really kind words ... and as a lovely rainstorm sets in here on the south coast - I'll wish you all a very happy new year's Eve - enjoy watching 2016 pop in!
Happy New Year when it arrives tomorrow ... cheers Hilary
Yes - love is all we need... And I have so much respect for Malala - what an amazing young woman.
I hope your Christmas has been lovely. Happy New Year, my friend!
Happy New Year Hillary, Live long and Prosper!
I enjoyed your post, thank you.
Malala is a wise young woman.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year
All the best Jan
Very profound words spoken by such a young woman! I wish that it was true that if we quit speaking badly of the Muslims things would change!! I pray for that! Happy New Year Hilary
That is one young lady with some strong (and correct) views. Brava!
I also really like this line from your post, Hilary: "Let’s not complain … just ask will it help?"
Well said, and here's to dozens and dozens more of your always wonderful posts in 2016 :)
Happy New Year!!
You're so right. We all have to be more positive every day. I try to do that myself and encourage those around me to do it as well!
An inspirational post Malala is a great example for us. Great to start the New Year with this. I wish you happiness and good health in 2016
Happy New Year, Hilary! May the new year be filled with joy and peace.
you are a good soul.
@ Lynn - 'love is all' was my uncle's maxim. Malala is extraordinary ...
@ Spacer guy - thanks for your thoughts ... Star Trek is on mental hold right now!
@ Jan and Graham - good to see you and thanks for coming by ...
@ Paula - Malala has some wonderful words for us to think about. I think we all need to treat all people as people and respect their ways etc staying positive.
@ Mark - yes, very true .. Malala has thought things through.
Thanks re the "Let's not complain ... just ask will it help?" ...
Gosh Mark - thanks so much for that comment ...
@ Becca - thank you: being positive is such a great way of thinking ... and our approach will rub off on others ...
@ Marja - glad you enjoyed the post, and Malala is definitely inspirational.
@ Linda - many thanks ...
@ Theresa - I sincerely hope the good soul is in here ...
Thanks to you all - may you all have very happy, healthy and successful 2016s ... cheers Hilary
Well-written Hilary, love your positivity always. 'We all have migrants somewhere in our genealogies' - so true and so resonates!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Hilary!! :)
Enjoyed reading this post, lots of wisdom and the interview is useful and Malala is definitely an inspiration to all of us.
Also visited your last year's post and read it too, was really good :)
Thank you for sharing such wonderful posts!!
Take care,
Sai :)
Happy New Year to you as well - I'm glad you put in the interview with Malala. She's such an inspiration.
@ Nila - thanks so much ... it was interesting to think that we do all have migrants at some stage in our genealogies and were all part of a migration period at some era in our history.
@ Sai - glad you enjoyed the post and 2014's one - that's great you went over to read. The Malala interviews give us an excellent viewpoint on life .. thanks for visiting.
@ Sarah - yes I imagine you'd resonate really well with Malala and her thoughts and ideas ... she is an inspiration.
Thanks so much for being here - to you all - Happy New Year .. cheers Hilary
As positive and motivating as you can be. Thanks for that. We need more of that. :)
Thanks Jeffrey - I try and stay positive and it's good to add in some motivating snippets for us all ... cheers Hilary
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