the people have the power!

People Have the Power by Patti Smith

I was very touched by The Angels Of Death Metal performing this song in Paris with U2. The words are true, we have the power and life is what we make it.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35035025

I was dreaming in my dreaming 
of an aspect bright and fair 
and my sleeping it was broken 
but my dream it lingered near 
in the form of shining valleys 
where the pure air recognized 
and my senses newly opened 
I awakened to the cry 
that the people / have the power 
to redeem / the work of fools 
upon the meek / the graces shower 
it's decreed / the people rule 

The people have the power 
The people have the power 
The people have the power 
The people have the power 

Vengeful aspects became suspect 
and bending low as if to hear 
and the armies ceased advancing 
because the people had their ear 
and the shepherds and the soldiers 
lay beneath the stars 
exchanging visions 
and laying arms 
to waste / in the dust 
in the form of / shining valleys 
where the pure air / recognized 
and my senses / newly opened 
I awakened / to the cry 

Refrain 

Where there were deserts 
I saw fountains 
like cream the waters rise 
and we strolled there together 
with none to laugh or criticize 
and the leopard 
and the lamb 
lay together truly bound 
I was hoping in my hoping 
to recall what I had found 
I was dreaming in my dreaming 
god knows / a purer view 
as I surrender to my sleeping 
I commit my dream to you 

Refrain 

The power to dream / to rule 
to wrestle the world from fools 
it's decreed the people rule 
it's decreed the people rule 
LISTEN 
I believe everything we dream 
can come to pass through our union 
we can turn the world around 
we can turn the earth's revolution 
we have the power 
People have the power ... 

My homing instinct and Ollie's antics!

This morning at silly o'clock I took Ollie out for a walk. He pulled and I let go of his lead accidentally and he dashed off full of glee.
The only thing to do when Ollie performs this particular stunt is to start the car.
Ollie loves going for a drive so he usually runs over and jumps into the car.
Sure enough he did. Phew!
I had visions of phoning work with some crazy sounding story of not being able to go in as I was chasing my dog around the country lanes.
I was very relived to be attached to the other end of his lead and we continued with our walk.
On the way home from  work I was diverted off the main road due to an accident and found myself in dark country lanes without a clue where I was. I took the decision to keep driving straight on whenever I came to a junction and fortunately found myself in a village I recognised and was able to get safely home.
My homing instinct is pretty strong.
I am so glad to be home!

Ben Fogle

I love watching the Ben Fogle programmes with people living in wild places all over the world. The current series is about people choosing to leave the 'rat-race' to live dream lives in the world. The episode I am currently watching a programme where a couple live with their eight children and Ben is being asked to sleep in a nearby shepherds hut. The countryside is beautiful and the family are sitting together eating Shepherds Pie. They drink water from a stream and the fire heats the water, provides the heating and dries the clothes. The mother gave birth to her eighth child beside the fire.
It always makes me happy to learn of people who question the norm and decide to live a life that makes them happy. We all have different dreams so each dream-life will vary but it is so important that people are happy in their lives doing things that give them purpose.
Ollie is sleeping beside me as I watch and I realise that things don't get much better than this.

Day 3 Lemon and Ginger!

I woke up early this morning excited to see what the quote was on my advent string for today. It says
'Oh thou who enters this world crying while those around you are laughing, live your life in such a way that when you leave this world and those around you are crying then you will do the laughing.' This quote was given to my sister by my Gran who was born in India and was brought up a Parsi. Her Persian teacher gave her this important lesson.
I take it to mean that if you live a good productive life people may miss you and be sad when it is your time to leave this world but you will be happy and ready for the next stage.
I am looking forward to drinking my tea tomorrow and reading the quote!

Understanding and tolerance

Now more than ever it is time to reach out to other people to listen to them, understand them and share things with them. The more we attempt to understand one another the more unity we will see in the world.
Communicating with others and making time to understand differing viewpoints is time well spent.
If we are to make a better world for our children we must realise that while we may look different on the surface underneath we are the same.
People experiencing challenges and loneliness can find their lives much brighter when people take the time to talk to them, smile at them even.
Humans are basically social creatures. We are designed to work cooperatively with one another.
Just imagine what could be achieved if all our resources were spent on providing people with what they need rather than committing money to destruction and war.
There is far more good than bad in the world and what we focus on we receive.

December 2nd is Licorice and Cinnamon.

https://theultimatevirallaunchpad.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/strive-not-to-be-a-success-but-rather-to-be-of-value-albert-einstein.jpg
Today's quote is 'Strive not to be a success but rather to be of vale.' Albert Einstein.
I am sipping my licorice and cinnamon tea which was in the day 2 pocket of the advent string my sister gave me and am thinking about how powerful this message is.
If we all focus on how we can assist people in living their best lives the result multiplied accross the world would be remarkable!

Thoughtful gifts.

I wrote a section in my book about thoughtful gifts. Gifts do not need to be expensive, it truly is the thought that counts. If you take your time to choose or make something that you believe someone will love you will find that they really appreciate your gesture.
My sister sent me a parcel recently and rather mysteriously said I could open it on 1st December.
It was exciting opening the package and trying to work out what it was.
I received a beautiful teapot and teacup along with an advent string with 24 felt pockets attached. In each pocket was a fruit teabag and attached to each one is a gift tags which has an inspirational quote written on it.
Today's quote is 'Happiness is a warm puppy.' Charles M Shultz.
I am incredibly touched by this gift.
This time of year provides us with a great opportunity to give to others and express our gratitude for the wonderful people we know.