Happy New Year everyone … a new date, but we carry on …
the rhythm of life … as Sammy Davis Jr sang in 1969 …
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| 1905 chasing out ancient 1904 Cartoon by John T McCutcheon |
To feel the powerful beat,
To feel the tingle in your fingers,
To feel the tingle in your feet.
While these powerful feelings engulf us … remember
there are others around …
and as Simon and Garfunkel in 1970 reminded us in ‘TheBoxer’ from 1970 – the words ring so true today … as the first verse tells us:
I am just a poor boy
Though my story’s seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jests
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest …
 |
| Diversity of Plants |
The rhythm of life goes on – the seasons will come and
go, disasters will happen, love will come, one hopes war won’t come and that leaders
can be judicious and thoughtful in their proclamations …
 |
| Animal diversity |
Yet the truism from Orwell should make us think … we
are very much part of nature; so what we do to nature we do to ourselves …
George Orwell – ‘The only creature that consumes
without producing = the human”
 |
| A Libyan, a Nubian, a Syrian and an Egyptian, drawing by an unknown artist after a mural on the tomb of Seti 1 |
Let’s embrace diversity, becoming pilgrims on earth,
not tourists … to bring about change, we must be the change we wish to see …
Happy New Year to one and all … take care and enjoy
the life we are lucky enough to live …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
36 comments:
Happy New Year, Hilary. We are just waking up to 2020 - late to the party as always this far west :) Let's hope 2020 brings about some of the change we so dearly wish to see in the world.
Happy New Year Hilary, may it be a healthy and prosperous one. All the very best from us both. Diane
Happy New Year, Hilary! John T. McCutcheon (you have a cartoon by him in this post) worked for the Chicago Tribune for years.
Have a wonderful 2020!
Have a wonderful 2020
As we travel, Hilary, it is imperative that we become ambassadors for all of humankind, where we exemplify the spirit of being together on this fragile earth, with far, far more in common than anything that divides us. We are all brothers and sisters, whether black, white, brown or yellow, whether man or woman, whether we wear a turban, a head square, a yarmulke or a baseball cap. Love will always transcend hate, but to wish for sane rational leaders seems to be a vain hope indeed. As we start 2020 war is going on around the world as it always has and I fear always will. I hope that 2020 will be the kind of year that fulfills your personal dreams and that your passionate, considerate regard for others will touch the lives of many.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, Hilary. Some very good thought-provoking words. The times are a changin.
Happy New Year to you.
Here's to less disregarding of the rest for us all.
Idk my cat doesn't produce much of anything.
I loved David's comment - and would echo it.
The Boxer has always been one of my favourite songs too.
Here's to a decade filled with kindness and compassion. For all.
A timely reminder that the new year is more than just the first page of a calendar. Happy New Year Hilary.
@ Ian – many thanks I remember waking up way after everyone else, when I was living over there … I’m happy being back in the middle of blogging life! Gosh I do hope 2020 is kinder for all the world …
@ Diane – great to see you … and thanks for your healthy and prosperous wishes for 2020 …
@ John – thank you and lovely seeing you here. The cartoon by John T McCutcheon –is courtesy Wikipedia; I didn’t know who he was … sort of had a quick check – but it was an image I felt I could use …get rid of last year, let’s hope the younger year will do us better; Interesting to know you recognised his name …
@ Sandie – thank you … you too
@ Jo-Anne – all the best for your family …
@ David – a very considered comment … appreciated by EC, me and no doubt other readers. My uncle always said ‘love is all’. We may be diverse but we are all human.
Thank you – I will try and live up to your expectations … and hope that leaders will be tempered in their outpourings …
@ Liz – thank you …
@ Rhonda – many thanks … the times are a-changin – that’s for sure …
@ Pam – thank you … and less to ‘ignoring’ others … helping where we can …
@ PTMan – thank you …
@ EC – yes I agree a very considered comment. The words used in the Boxer are so apposite for today – a sad indictment – but as you say let’s have a decade and more filled with kindness and compassion … for all.
@ Keith – a day in the life of a decade, but it sets the tone for the year ahead …
Thanks so much to you all – here’s to a happy New Year and lots of joy in 2020 – cheers Hilary
excellent quotes and messages. You are off to a good start for 2020. Take care my friend and we'll make this a grand year of caring
Love this post Hilary and the tone it sets as we open 2020. Wishing you a very happy year filled with kindness, compassion and a whole lot of joy.
Wonderful new year post, Hilary. Thought-provoking quotes. I'm still ruminating over the George Orwell one!
Absolutely spot on post Hilary! Change has to come on many fronts or it may well be an Orwellian world for many of us. May we all open our eyes and hearts and make this a better year! <3
So very true, every word. Happy New Year Hilary!
Happy New Year, Hilary. Let's hope it's a great one.
How I loved Simon and Garfunkel back in the late 60s - handsome, young and right on point!
"I am just a poor boy
Though my story’s seldom told...... :)
@ Joanne – thanks so much … really appreciate the thoughts …
@ Deborah – I hope so … we’re on rocky paths at the moment – so just hope we can get back on the peace path …
@ Jacqui – yes I heard the George Orwell quote somewhere and thought that makes sense for inclusion in a New Year post …
@ Debbie – I sincerely hope we’re not dragged into the deep … we can create enough struggles without our leaders not helping … as they so-called ‘guide’ us …
@ Lisa – many thanks … I do hope life can gently carry on …
@ Dan – thanks … and yes I’d love the New Year to be happy and joyful …
@ Hels – they were the aspirational … with beautiful music to accompany their thought provoking words … and love these lyrics …
Thanks so much for visiting and being here supporting the blogging fraternity and me! Here’s to a very happy year ahead for us all – cheers Hilary
I hope this posts - it was giving me a fit about Flash for some unknown reason...
That Orwell quote is powerful and so true. Then again, he's known for packing a punch with his writing, isn't he? Happy New Year, Hiliary!
Elsie
Happy new year to you, Hilary!
Happy new year, Hilary. So good to see you here regularly again. I think Orwell's quote is not really true...we produce a lot....of rubbish!! No, that's not all true either. Man does produce a lot, but often at the expense and exploitation of others in the world, so we are indeed a mixed blessing. Have a lovely 2020!
Very philosophical Hilary. I do hope everyone takes note, trouble is people tend to resolve to do better with many things when the calendar changes, but with the pressures of life, they tend to forget.
I Wish you a Happy New Year and hope for the world.
Happy New Year, Hilary!
The Boxer is one of Gary's songs and I reckon I've heard it often enough that I know the lyrics to ALL the verses. I like you though, so I'm not going to sing.
Hilary, a beautiful New Year's post! Filled with reflection through these wonderful songs and their verses. May it be a creative year filled with joy and peace ... yet remembering many are not so lucky, helping where we can. hugs xx
Ah the song is in my head now. I don't mind. It's always been one of my mom's favorites. Wishing you a wonderful new year!
Hi Hilary,
What an evocative post to hearld 2020!
Wish you and everyone at home a peaceful and happy new year.
Take care, and best wishes,
Pradeep
@ Elsie - the only thing I can think of - is that our two blog hosts don't like talking to one another ... because this is the most simple of set ups ... I've always kept mine free of Flash etc etc ... I struggle sometime to comment on yours ... but get to work it out eventually!!
I thought the Orwell quote was powerful ... we need to pay attention to where we come from ... the same as everything else on this planet - the earth and soil - and yes Orwell certainly packs a punch with his writing ...
@ Lynda - many thanks ... the same to you ...
@ Val - yes I'm back and around - thanks for the 'thumbs up'!! I agree with your thoughts on the Orwell quote I set out - I probably missed the larger part of it! But this phrase made me stop and think ... we aren't protecting the earth or giving back and we need to ... and as you say we don't need to exploit quite so much at the expenses of other humans, or life on earth ...
@ Jo - well I keep trying to put over the positive aspects of life ... and where we could possibly help ourselves ... I'm sure it sinks in for some people! Especially if I keep 'flogging' things ... actually I try not to do that - but keep posting positive ideas ...
@ Patsy .. oh great - great minds think alike ... I'm sure I'd be the same - obviously something sticks in my brain re music ... but, as you know, not singing ...
@ Unknown - thank you for your thoughts here - I'm afraid I'm not guessing who you are - but obviously a friend!
@ Rosey - I know ear-worms hit us don't they ... at least it's a good one ...
@ Pradeep - thank you ... it sort of came to me ... so I'm glad the post and the sentiments are being taken to heart - by you and others ...
Thanks so much to you all for your comments and for the New Year wishes ... looks like we're going to need a lot of luck this year ... cheers Hilary
You have quoted from two of my favourite songs Hilary! I wish you everything you would wish for your self this year AND MORE!
If I can refer back to your previous post: A few days I went to the tombstone consecration (a big thing in Judaism) for a friend's son. The boy was in his late thirties and had severe learning difficulties all of his too-short life.
However, he would always have a smile and a joke and was the most caring person you could wish to know. Once met never forgotten. How many of us will be able to say that?
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s sometimes sad Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Happy New Year, Hilary! Yes, life goes on and we can only hope the "powers that be" don't blow up the world. Thank you for sharing those lyrics from The Boxer; a lovely song that is now happily stuck in my head. Wishing you all the best for 2020!
I hope this is the Roaring 20's ... but in a good way for all of us. Music tells eternal hopes and dreams and hurts. May your New Year be filled with hopes and dreams and very few hurts! :-)
Happy new year 2020 Hilary. Pilgrims, not tourists is the takeaway I like the most, and will try to act upon in my own small sphere.
And another helping of war is certainly a no-no, hopefully better sense and selves will prevail. Fed-up of the violence everywhere and don't want any of it from the previous decade carried over into this new one.
@ Bazza - thank you ... pure 'luck' ... I'm just not musical - but obviously some things stick.
Thank you for the comment re my previous post 'You Raise Me Up' - about a charity supporting people who have lost a young adult ...
I understand your thoughts re your friends' son ... and their challenges - but how wonderful he was always smiling and joking and was so caring - really good to hear at this time. People are extraordinary ... and yes so many surprise us with their positive outlooks ...
@ Debbie - thank you ... and yes I hope we can get our countries back to being more peaceful in their approach to life and the world in the whole ...
The brief snippets of the songs resonated for me - glad they did for you ...
@ Roland - yes good point about the Roaring Twenties - as long as we can keep that prosperity going - music resonates in so many ways ... doesn't it.
Thanks to the three of you - lovely thoughtful comments - and here's to a very happy 2020 to you all ... cheers Hilary
Hi Nila - sorry hadn't realised you'd commented ... sometimes the notifications don't come through.
Pilgrims for the 2020s is the way to go - no touristy ideas - you are so right there. And yes I'm fed up with all the bullying and violence that seems to be endemic to the world and some of our leaders at present.
I hope sense and positivity prevail ... take care and thanks for coming by - happy new year - cheers Hilary
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