"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Winston Churchill.
I thought it quite fitting with the upcoming election, to highlight this quote from Sir Winston Churchill, British politician and Prime Minister through some of the worst
of times. I hope that all those gearing up for this election might also take heed of the opening quote.
My Angels remind me that although we are all different - genders, race, orientation to partners, social standing or religion, that every part of us would not be able to progress on our journeys of life without others. Others (as we have seen this year) who are very different, some who create havoc and distrust. In the midst of this going on, I believe it challenges our own insecurities. It is so much easier to place blame away from ourselves than to take responsibility for the way we feel within and make changes to get ourselves in tune with this planet we live on. If we all could get it together, imagine that. Like the collective awe, when the sun and moon were one. We are not separate, we are one. Be true to the big picture, where we all come together in strength, love and understanding, regardless of difference.
The courage to sit down and listen was paramount for me as I travelled away. I left with a challenge from my Angels to "sit and be loved". I'm good at racing around caring for others and wanting to help, but I don't sit still very much, and I find it hard to be loved. As Sir Winston Churchill knew it takes both when he said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give".
It was nice to be away with family and friends, feeling loved, sleeping in, eating lovely food prepared by others, a few drinks over a great game of rugby on a big screen (what else could I want?) and taking time to heal. Now it is nice to be home where the heart is.
So for this week my friends, choose life. There is always a choice - joy, happiness, negativity, pain. Smile and feel the love gently rising within you. Feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices. Choose life, don't deny humanity, but embrace it. Arohanui.
Shirley-Joy
