The Times are a-Changing...

Bob Dylan sang it true...

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'...

Courage

I was watching an episode of 'Oprah' today (yes I know what your thinking!) but I am strongly inspired to write a post about an incredible courageous individual...

This is just as a small reminder to us all that no matter how much of a 'bad day' we have... There is someone out there going through something much, much worse...

Corey Brest is a soldier who served in Iraq for the American Military and tragically was hit by a roadside bomb in 2005.... This injury left him almost blind and unable to move or speak as before... On the show, his wife sat by his side and 'translated' his mumbled speech for the viewers... What an incredibly strong bond they have! As much as I feel for Corey, not being able to see his own two children grow up - his wife is an incredible woman too... She has such passion and dedication to her brave husband... She is not just his wife, but his caregiver... What a pure love these two share !

I saw this picture online on a blog and felt inspired to share it... What a beautiful moment captured...

Stubbed out. For good.

I am proud to say, cigarettes are no longer a part of my life... I've dabbled with smoking on and off but can finally say they I'm done with those 'cancer sticks'... It's been about a month now that I have been smoke-free and am very happy to say I'm going strong.


Honestly, quitting smoking was not something I felt I would be able to undertake easily as it really is a killer to achieve... ironic huh? I put this milestone in my life down to simply being the 'complete' person I have longed to be for a while... This year has *touch wood* been perfect so far and I can only keep positive that it will remain to be an amazing year full of surprises and beautiful moments...


For those of you who need motivation to quit, there are hundreds of reasons why you should... the obvious one being - LIVING BETTER AND LIVING LONGER :-)


On another note, Lent has recently started and is known as 'a season of reflection, soul-searching and repentance'... This major achievement in my life I am going to consider 'my permanent Lent accomplishment'... as traditionally, Lent is meant to be a time of 'sacrificing something for 40 days...' According to some quick research, by observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days...

Goodbye

Exploring beautiful Sri Lanka

I cannot believe it has been over a month since returning from Sri Lanka... What a beautiful and memorable vacation, I will definitely not forget!

MY Role Model

Recently a special person in my life asked me quite simply ''Luce, why did you not write who your role model was in your last post?'' ...

On that note - I simply consider my mother to be my 'Role Model' - she is a strong, incredible, smart and wonderful woman who never gives up...  One way to describe her is how 'she manages to light up any room', she simply touches lives in her own little way...

Therefore, if ever their is anyone who deserves a miracle in their lives right now - it is her, and thankfully her prayers were answered.

Re-enforcing one of my strong beliefs, that miracles do happen. By thinking positive - you create positive.

Who's your Role Model ?

Today I taught a lesson about 'Role Models' and discussed this with the children - who inspires them? Who do they look up to? ... Now, I myself was inspired by their responses ! Obviously I received the expected role models - various football players, actors ... Michael Jackson, Mahatma Ghandi, Oprah etc...

But I felt so blessed to learn that a group of them chose 'me' as their role model... I felt very honored and proud that I have been able to inspire them in that way - as that's what I've always hoped to achieve by being a 'teacher' to these beautiful children :-) What an incredible feeling I feel today!

Hoping to inspire

Feels good to be a 'rabbit'...

I was happy to learn that 2011 is the 'Chinese Lunar New Year' of my birthsign - the 'Rabbit'... This only happens once every ten years or so and continuing on with the positive happenings of this great year, I felt this fitted my aura quite perfectly! Also, I was lucky enough to meet a very special rabbit recently :-)

Anyways - back to our special sign of the year...  People born considered 'rabbits' - 1915, 1927, 1937, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, and 2011... The Year of the Rabbit also is said to be a peaceful time in world events - I can only hope that will be true...

According to some quick online research, a 'rabbit' has grace, culture and beautiful manners... Although rabbit people get on well with everyone, at heart they are basically reserved creatures, and are only really happy when they are engrossed in some sort of scholarly or intellectual activity... They are just too sensitive to the world around them... (hmmmmm!)... They are just not able to thrive in a competitive or aggressive environment, and it makes them anxious if someone forces them to take risks... Their inner world is simply too delicate for unsettled or unpredictable situations, and they tend to create a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere on a hunch... This character trait makes them very hospitable and attentive people, who take care of those around... The average rabbit person emphasizes the importance of small details... They pay attention to everything from colour, design and furniture to food and conversation (I feel my self-observation skills being jusitifed here !)... And only when they are sure that everything has been arranged as they wished, these people can relax and have fun... Person born in the year of rabbit often leads a conservative lifestyle, where one of the most important things is their security... This quality has a negative side also - opting for safety over risk they may miss good opportunities - like deciding spontanesely to skydive ;) ?! This does not imply that these people are frivolous or irresponsible, for when they truly believe in some thing they are serious, perseverant and capable...

Calm as they are, it is not easy to provoke rabbit people... They are sentimental and compassionate... Yes, and they cry easily too :-S They can be moved by personal problems you share with them... (Lucy the Agony Aunt in school)...

Love life - rabbits can be great partners in relationships... Romantic and sweet, faithful too, rabbit people never lack of suitors... They are in extreme need of trust, security and tenderness in a relationship and are really happy when they manage to create an intimate and relaxed atmosphere... When the rabbit person does the planning, he/she is happy calling the shots and will expect his beloved automatically be on the same wavelength... In case the partner's behaviour becomes erratic or hurtful he/she withdraws into your shell... Sometimes this person really believes that everything is fine and these relationships are strong and solid, but careless remark or impudent behaviour can suddenly place serious doubts in his/her mind. It is important to solve such problems appropriately. Partners may discuss these fears and express their points of view openly to avoid repetition of these problems in the future. Otherwise these relationships won't last too long... In spite of his/her devotion to the loved one, it is important to remember that the rabbit person wants to have a secret side to his/her life, too. It is natural for him/her to demand solitude in order to get in touch with his/her inner self...Sometimes it takes time for a rabbit person to find a partner, a real soul-mate, and he/she may seem to be fickle and insecure along the way, but when he/she has found that person his/her attachment is boundless...

My lucky number is 3 and this is strangley a 'rabbit number'... and their gemstone is apparently 'aqua marine' which fits me perfectly...

Ok enough analysing, am off to curl up like a bunny in my bed...