Today
I decided on a follow up on my last topic 'I Love you More'. I got a
heap of emails and messages thanking me for what I wrote, and to those people, I thank
you and I am grateful you took the time to read. The
majority felt as I do and that we don't tell our loved one we love them
enough. And like me they will try to change our quite selfish little
ways.
So to carry on with the
extended topic - I was thinking how many of us, (me included), forget to
give thanks, and be grateful for where we are today? Give thanks for the help we
are given along the way. To give thanks and truly mean it! It is so
easy to just say thanks as we speed out the door and, not make others
around us feel as special as they are to us.
In
this world, we forget we came in naked and, we will probably go
out wearing an ill-fitting, tasteless
outfit, chosen by someone else. An outfit that has probably been cut down the back to fit our mortal remains before they turn to dust. A
terrible thought I know, but that's life really. When I leave here, I
would like to be respected for caring and giving thanks to those who
helped me. Thanks to those who helped me on my journey, not just those who happened to be around before I finally close my eyes. My journey has not been just me. My journey thus far, has been
scattered with great people. People who made me feel important! People
who gave me strength. People who helped, encouraged and lifted me in my
low times and, people with whom I have laughed and who made me laugh in those
highs.
There are very few indeed, that need
not be grateful for someone, along their journey. Everyone has needed, and needs,
other people in their lives. There would be no kingdoms, no religions,
no businesses, no existence, and dare I say, celebrity without people.
This
thought brought me to running my fingers through the blue ticks in our
Twitter accounts. You look at the great magazines, the businesses, the
successful entrepreneurs - the majority of these have vast numbers of followers, and
barring a few, follow others. They probably believe that these
people keep them in the life to which they have become accustomed. Or
maybe, they are simply grateful for those people that have enabled their
careers, their magazines, their sites and businesses to be successful.
I
try to avoid following celebrities, so it was a new experience to see
their figures. This made me stop and think. Over the last few years I watched a guy forging a new career in singing and songwriting. I saw him ask (begging
maybe harsh) for people to download his You Tube clip so that he could afford a
follow up single for his loyal and faithful fans. This song made us excited
and proud that we too could be out, and we all be, whatever boy he was.
Yes, even Australians. So I looked him up - he has thousands and thousands of
followers, and he is following about 300! I then randomly searched for
names of 'stars' or, are they 'divas', of song and screen. Combined they
have millions and millions of followers and yet they follow very few.
The leader of one of the major churches has 4.5 million followers and
yet follows 8. Strangely the followers appear to be in the same
building and a majority of them carry his name in one form or the other.
This just made me think. Where
would these people be without the followers. Without the followers,
would they be walking the red carpets of the world. Would they be
demanding a King's ransom for their next movie or recording deal? Would
they be able to holiday in their summer palaces without the followers
pouring their hard earned money into the collection plates? Not
for one minute am I envious of these people nor, do I doubt the great
works that some do. Nor do I doubt, the day in day out struggle, of selling
their talents to the public in their formative years. I am simply
asking the question, do these people give thanks, and follow their
followers, giving them thanks for establishing their chosen journey?
Looking at those figures, I wonder!
I
just realize, though my life is filled and I have experienced plenty,
I still must give thanks, and meaningful gratitude, to those who have
helped me on my journey, past and in the future.
You
probably realize by now that I am truly into music. I reflect on it.
It gives me joy. It lifts and makes me mellow. Therefore, the song
Grateful that I found on You Tube. I had never heard before, I don't even
know if it is affiliated with a church. All I know is that in the credits it states that it is a love song for the world. After hearing I
truly felt like one of the world. Listen and let me know.
Today,
I conclude with I believe that we should strive to give thanks, and be
grateful, to those who follow us on our journey. For when I close my
eyes, and face my maker, I want to be welcomed in to party. I don't want
to be asked did I give thanks and follow others. The day I close my
eyes, I don't want my maker to say your faithful followers are inside, but
unfortunately, there is no room in the Inn for you.
Cheers!
Bitchescoz
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com
Today's topic is care or caring! A topic to my way of thinking that, is not as simple as
it sounds. How easy is it for us to say we care? But do we really? We like to think that we do care, but it is not that simple. Caring
is not just a temporary state - it is as constant as time. And therein
lies the problem!
How many times do you/we say 'Take Care!' and really mean it? How
many times do we actually follow through with the caring that we offer?
Or is it simply a statement - I offered it - now you're on your own, care
for yourself!
Sometimes, I think that is exactly what we mean, we don't have time
to care for anyone but ourselves. Is it simply a throw away line like,
'How are you?' or worse, 'Have a nice day!' Do we take time for someone to
reply to those one liners? Or, do we merely throw them in to sound as
though we are sweet and sincere? Deep down, we don't want them to
reply we just want them to let you keep on moving. Do we throw them in at the end of
text messages because we really mean them or is it just a sign
off without true meaning to make the text sound warm and fuzzy. How many of you have had the shopkeeper say to you have a nice day
and wanted to shoot them coz you know that they really don't mean it.
It's just a fill in line while they move to the next customer. Quite
often, by the time you go to reply, they have already started serving the
next customer and asked for their frequent shopper card. I for one am tired of the expressions - take care or, have a nice day.
They roll off the tongue too easily without 'thought and sincerity'
accompanying them.
This appearing to care is not restricted to individuals. How many times have you seen a news item of someone taking their own life? To their credit, the news bulletins broadcast such news in a dignified and respectful way only to finish the item with the throw away line of 'If anyone you know needs help, contact Beyond Blue.' Ok, that is that messy problem dealt with, lets move on! Maybe this is not their intention, but to me it says Ring1800don'tgiveashit! The other problem I have is with days like RUOK Day. I do not wish to
denigrate this idea in any way, as it has been created with the best of
intentions however,who does it really benefit? In my workplace there
are people who struggle with the 'Black Dog' every day and they hate the
platitude of people, who basically don't give a shit, coming up to them
and saying "Are you ok?' No, they are not ok, but no-one hangs around
long enough to find out. The task has been completed, the general
populace feels all warm and fuzzy cos they apparently care, and those
that need the care are more marginalized than ever. I for one refuse to participate. I believe it is what you do every day that makes a difference - how you treat people. How you value them and love them.
These initiatives are well meaning but what can we do to become a truly caring society? What can we
do to make others realize that your 'Take Care!' or 'Are you ok?' is sincere and
meaningful? How can we say we
care about a cause, simply pay it lip service, and not actually assign
emotions and actions to substantiate our involvement? How do we get the ball rolling so others may genuinely
take up the challenge of caring and paying it forward?
Grass Roots! Start at home, start caring for your family and
friends, put yourself out there - with simple baby steps! (As a friend so often
says about anything). Humble beginnings lead to great achievements!
Take time to listen, to help out, to show true concern! No matter how
simple your help is, it shows true generosity of the heart and time.
How many people do you reflect on and say when they have gone, 'I wish I
could have done more!' 'I wish I had got to know them more!'
Don't let this happen to you. Assign yourself with emotion, a
generosity of spirit, giving a little time and God knows it will pay
off. Not only for yourself but to make that person or cause feel worthy. They in turn will pay it forward to benefit others, and follow your
example. A little time well spent brings benefits beyond belief.
So start small, baby steps - when someone needs some caring, offer
it. Get your hands a little dirty, let them tag your ear a bit, let
them cry on your shoulder. And humble beginnings will lead to great
achievements.
Care for someone today, share some compassion and time and who
knows you might not read of their obituary and say, I wish I had got to
know them more.
Happy caring,
Bitchescoz
