Joining The Ultimate Blog Challenge forum is one of the best things to happen to me. It not only gave my writing a new platform, but also some wonderful people as friends. One of them is Elly Stornebrink.
Our friendship clicked almost instantly and on a spur, yet she is so special to me, like warm sunshine on a cold winter day. She's so full of life, energy, ideas, and love for everyone.
A resident of North Vancouver, British Columbia; a social activist , and a blogger by choice, Elly is also a visionary of a co-creative children choir. You will be amazed by her interest on various topics such as world traditions, sufism, vedic chants, music, dance forms, human psychology, philosophy, life, celebrations, nature, and so on.
Here are some of her amazing posts I have read in her own blog page, www.xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca:
• World Suicide Prevention Day and Suicide Prevention Week (which has one of her most favourite photos that she took).
• In Honour of National Tree Day (where she hugs a tree with a heart shape in it. She considers herself to be a tree lover and treehugger!)
She's been so wonderful as to agree to guest blog for me here today, to make our first new year together more memorable. I welcome my dear friend to my humble blog page and thank her for the honour.
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The guest blog by Elly Stornebrink on what New Year means to her:
2015: A Brand Spanking New Year
Image courtesy: www.gettyimages.com, photo by Julie Fairman
Imagine a picture of a newborn baby being spanked as initially happens when a child is born (to ensure they are breathing of course, denoted by their crying).
2015 is a brand new year, a clean slate, a time for fresh beginnings.
What would you make of it? Rather, what would you like to make of it, this year, this coming year? How would you like it to be? What do you foresee or like to foresee?
As I write this, this comes to mind: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” This is how Charles Dickens starts his classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities.
From (t)his most famous passage and first lines (paragraph) of this book, we read:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …”
There are always “best” and “worst” or “good” and “bad” times, though all are man-named adjectives.
Considering the passage above however, we can contemplate and imagine what we envision for ourselves, if not for the world. For after all, aren’t we like the domino effect: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_effect - affecting each other with our thoughts, words, and actions? The penguins in the movie, Penguins of Madagascar – what can I say, I love animated children’s movies! – illustrate this well near the beginning of the movie. Sometimes, perhaps many times, we may tend to forget this.
Not the exact scene I am thinking of in this movie trailer, though at the :13 time mark you will see a mini-version of what I am speaking about with three of the penguins: https://www.youtube.com/watch? feature=player_embedded&v=BjfID263ViI. Now imagine this with all the penguins (which does occur in the movie by the way)! That is what I am referring to, on a larger, grander scale.
About five to 10 years ago, I came to realize that resolutions do not make sense as they don’t generally work. See my post regarding this and similar words that we commonly associate with and utilize near the beginning of a new year: http://xpressyouressence. blogspot.ca/2014/12/out-with-old-in-with-new_31.html
I have come to learn that possibilities, like a vision, hold a lot of weight. That is, in having a sense of hope, for example, as a possibility is powerful.
As you may know, words do matter. What we think and say have a profound and deep impact upon not only our lives, but also on others.
What do you (fore)see as possibilities for 2015? What would you hope for yourself and mankind in a heartfelt, compassionate way?
Thank you once again, dear Elly, for treating us to such a wonderful Blog. Yes indeed, it was the best and worst of times... and I foresee this new year as a whole new chance to make few things right, venture on few stranger routes, work for better, and maintain the good things from the past. Fingers crossed! I love animated movies too! And that video from "Penguins of Madagascar" is simply amazing. I agree if we can make that effect in our interactions as we move along in life, we can make this world such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteP.s: Dickens is my favourite among the classic authors, and it feels great to find him quoted in here :)
I should thank YOU dear Asma for having me as a guest blogger on your site! ;) I think very year has its best and worst of times; however, last December seemed to be pretty horrific (which is probably why I detest the news). Hopefully, 2015 will be a much more positive year. Re. the penguin movie, I wish you would have seen the domino effect with ALL the penguins! ;) And I didn't know that Charles Dickens was your favourite classic author: cool! ;) <3
DeleteWow! Your second guest blog post Elly! And such an optimistic post. I love the quote from Dickens here. Indeed, a new year starts on a clean slate with hopes and promises to oneself in the form of resolutions. Let's make it the best we can!
ReplyDeleteAsiya, thanks for getting Elly to write this beautiful post here. Her first guest post on my blog was a wonderful surprise too! You're right, Elly indeed is a versatile lady who brings so much love, happiness and enthusiasm to our lives :)
Thanks Vinodini: I am tickled pink by your comment! ;) And your last remark makes me blush as pink as the beautifully coloured background of this home blog page! ;) ...and actually, a touch tear-eyed (reading it again and a bit slower). <3
DeleteCongrats Ell on the second guest post.... I don't know what I actually want for 2015 .. Happiness and contentment come to my mind and also that we become more tolerant as a society...
ReplyDeleteThanks Naba! :) Happiness and contentment are an excellent choice! And yes indeed, more tolerance would be so welcomed by many, i.e., peace-keeping people! <3
DeleteCongrats Elly on your guest post. Serendipity is my word for 2015. Like you I no longer make resolutions as the Universe has a mind of it's own. But setting an intention with a word or phrase works really well for me. And I hope for some peace in the world. Blessings. Have an awesome 2015.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love the word serendipity! A wonderful choice for a word you chose there Suzy! :) Peace would be so nice right now with all that's going on lately...and peace begins with each one of us. Wishing you a serendipitous year! :) <3
DeleteCongrats on your 2nd guest post! Wishing you a beautiful 2015! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheethal! :) And likewise, a wonderfully beautiful year to you too! :) <3
DeleteThank you, Vinodini, Nabanita, Suzy, and Sheethal, for your love and wishes. I heartily welcome to my blog, and it has indeed been great pleasure to have dear Elly as my guest :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats Elly for this beautiful post!
ReplyDelete