On one of my many out-and-abouts doing aura readings, my path crossed that of a group of friends who work together at Foreign Affairs. Being intrigued about what it is like to live in places like Poland, Turkey and Russia, I kept asking them to share more of the encounters they have had. Apart from crawling on the floor laughing at some of the experiences, the following stirred a previously unstruck note and I integrated it into my way of living.
Ria (not her real name) worked at The South African embassy in Russia during the 1990's, a time of transformation for both the Russians and the South Africans. Many of us are unaware of the challenges that the ordinary Russian on the street has had to face. My friend shared that she, along with many others, had to stand in long queues, seeing time ticking away for hours before getting to the front to be handed whatever was available at that moment in time. She demonstrated with her hands: "You get a lump of meat. You then fold it into a piece of brown paper and at home you make do with it."
Two things that stayed with her about the ordinary Russian is how they care for each another and how they can cooperate for the best of the whole.
For example, shoes were apparently very rare. One could go many times to stand in that queue, only to get to the front to be told: "No, we don't have that size today." Not today, not tomorrow and also not next week. Among themselves, the people came up with a soulution. One person in a street would take a day off to go and stand in the queue. That person would have all the sizes of the shoes needed in their street on a piece of paper. Should they get to the front of the line and hear that there is only a pair of size 2 shoes, the message would be sent back down the queue and the one with size 2 shoes on their list would go to the front and collect them. The person at the front of the line may not have had anyone at home needing that shoe size, but they stood in line for their fellow man.
How do you stand in the line of life for another ?
I took this to heart, or it may just have stirred the networker in me to life.
If I read a newspaper and see a vacancy for a job and I know a friend is looking, I let her know straight away. When I get a pamphlet on my car's window and have no need for that service, I take it anyway and at my next stop I place it on the car next to me.
Another way of standing in line for others is to tell your friends what you have and no longer need so that it can find its way to the right person somewhere down the line.
I was once given a set of tarot cards. I didn't have a need or an affinity for tarot cards, but my inner voice said "Keep this", even though I did have not the space to allow clutter. A month later a friend visited. Although I know very well that tarot cards are not her cup of tea either, that same voice prompted me to ask her if she knew anyone who would enjoy a set of tarot cards. When I showed her the cards, she was stunned. She revealed to me that two weeks previously a colleague had voiced that she wanted a set.
Christmas 2009 has been and gone, but have some fun with other gifts in 2010.
Rather than queuing at the shops for expensive merchandise, and perhaps even ending up with something that a loved one does not even want, take some time to truly personalise your gifts. We all appreciate the thought behind the gift more than just the gift itself. So if you show that you really put your heart (perhaps rather than your purse) into it, it warms hearts all around.
Think of the other person, open your heart to him or her.
Standing in line for another means that you think of that person ~ and care.
Ria (not her real name) worked at The South African embassy in Russia during the 1990's, a time of transformation for both the Russians and the South Africans. Many of us are unaware of the challenges that the ordinary Russian on the street has had to face. My friend shared that she, along with many others, had to stand in long queues, seeing time ticking away for hours before getting to the front to be handed whatever was available at that moment in time. She demonstrated with her hands: "You get a lump of meat. You then fold it into a piece of brown paper and at home you make do with it."
Two things that stayed with her about the ordinary Russian is how they care for each another and how they can cooperate for the best of the whole.
For example, shoes were apparently very rare. One could go many times to stand in that queue, only to get to the front to be told: "No, we don't have that size today." Not today, not tomorrow and also not next week. Among themselves, the people came up with a soulution. One person in a street would take a day off to go and stand in the queue. That person would have all the sizes of the shoes needed in their street on a piece of paper. Should they get to the front of the line and hear that there is only a pair of size 2 shoes, the message would be sent back down the queue and the one with size 2 shoes on their list would go to the front and collect them. The person at the front of the line may not have had anyone at home needing that shoe size, but they stood in line for their fellow man.
How do you stand in the line of life for another ?
I took this to heart, or it may just have stirred the networker in me to life.
If I read a newspaper and see a vacancy for a job and I know a friend is looking, I let her know straight away. When I get a pamphlet on my car's window and have no need for that service, I take it anyway and at my next stop I place it on the car next to me.
Another way of standing in line for others is to tell your friends what you have and no longer need so that it can find its way to the right person somewhere down the line.
I was once given a set of tarot cards. I didn't have a need or an affinity for tarot cards, but my inner voice said "Keep this", even though I did have not the space to allow clutter. A month later a friend visited. Although I know very well that tarot cards are not her cup of tea either, that same voice prompted me to ask her if she knew anyone who would enjoy a set of tarot cards. When I showed her the cards, she was stunned. She revealed to me that two weeks previously a colleague had voiced that she wanted a set.
Christmas 2009 has been and gone, but have some fun with other gifts in 2010.
Rather than queuing at the shops for expensive merchandise, and perhaps even ending up with something that a loved one does not even want, take some time to truly personalise your gifts. We all appreciate the thought behind the gift more than just the gift itself. So if you show that you really put your heart (perhaps rather than your purse) into it, it warms hearts all around.
Think of the other person, open your heart to him or her.
Standing in line for another means that you think of that person ~ and care.
A THOUGHT TO PONDER
(Charmain White Face)
Every step you take on earth should be a prayer.
The power of pure and good soul is in every person's heart and if every step you take is a prayer, then you will always be walking in a sacred manor.
(Charmain White Face)
Every step you take on earth should be a prayer.
The power of pure and good soul is in every person's heart and if every step you take is a prayer, then you will always be walking in a sacred manor.
Standing in line for one another
Dec 2009
Time is
of no importance ~ only life is.
(from the movie "The Fifth Element)
of no importance ~ only life is.
(from the movie "The Fifth Element)
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