THE WALK OF HOPE

Tonight I am participating in a 12 hour Cancer walking relay. The aim is to raise funds for cancer research. The idea of participating in such an event appealed to me since so many people have been affected by this dreaded disease. My husband's mom died in 1997 after a brave fight against breast cancer. The good news is that there is increased awareness of this disease since then, extensive research and an environment where we talk about it and encourage survivors in their own personal fight. Indeed there are so many people who need our support.

There are 11 people in our team who will be walking in relay through the night. The event starts at 6pm this evening, at WestRidge High School (Gauteng) with a "Survivor's Lap of Honour". I will be placing my own personal tribute to mom on the field this evening; its a brown packet with a candle inside and highlights her photo, our love and admiratin of her. As the various teams walk around the track we will remember those who have passed on and those who are survivors. It seems that it will be quite a solemn ceremony, but each team will do its best to raise funds for Cancer Research.

I have invited my friends to join me on my own walk - a two hour time slot - and then to make a donation for their participation. Hopefully we will be able to make our own further contribution.

So tonight as I walk my own walk, I will be thankful for my own blessings - my friends, my health, my abilities, my life. I will enjoy the night around me, the stars (hopefully), the breeze and the awesome goodwill of the various participants.

Good luck to all who will take part!

"BIG OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW"

I had the real honour of attending my youngest daughter's valediction ceremony last night. This is a formal celebration, held by the school, which marks the end of the Matriculants' schooling career. It was a particular honour for me, since many of these young adults have been around in my life for the past 12 years. They are finally emerging from their chrysalises and it was an opportunity to witness the extent to which this has happened.

It made me think of the quotation; "BIG OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW" (A primary school motto) and highlighted to me, yet again, the responsibilities we have as parents towards our children. Children will grow up in spite of us, but with care and the right environment, they truly will become amazing adults.

Let me explain the analogy: When a child is born we, as parents, are truly presented with an "ACORN" which is equipped with all the genetics and possibilites to thrive. As parents we water the seed with our knowledge, guidance and understanding. As parents we put that seed into our environment and have the responsibility to nurture the"SOIL" with unconditional acceptance. We provide regular "FEEDING" by giving our children the opportunities to achieve their full potential. We also know that if we put this "LITTLE SAPLING" with others, they might thrive and learn, together, to grow towards the sunlight.

One certainty along the road of growth is the inevitable rough times; figurative "DROUGHTS", "ILLNESS" and "FLOODS". Crises only serve to strengthen all of us and allow us to appreciate everything we are presented. It is how we, as parents, deal with the crises, that we teach our children how to deal with their own. Values such as integrity, tenacity, caring, sharing, patience, self-control and keeping focus emerge during these tough times.

My point really is that our children are presented, in raw form, to us to shape and mould to reach their full potential. It is the biggest responsibility that we are presented in this life, since what we do with our children will shape the society that we will grow old in. So take this time with them seriously and enjoy every moment of their lives.

It would be remiss of me if I didn't congratulate my amazing daughter:

WELL DONE, ROBZ! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! HOLD ONTO YOUR DREAMS AND BE THAT AMAZING OAK TREE - STRONG AND PURPOSEFUL, GIVING SHADE TO ALL THOSE WHO WANDER BENEATH YOUR BRANCHES. I LOVE YOU AND GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE. MOM

DREAMS AND OPPORTUNITY

Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be."

Karen Ravn"

In April this year, I never dreamed that I would be running 10km races. Instead I was focussing on the symptoms of my body not being able to do what it use to do. I was immersed in the past and allowing all that knowledge to dictate who I was.

Whilst it is important to reflect and look back on our growth, our successes, our failures and our life's walk, it is equally important to use this knowledge and to focus it in some kind of direction. Without a vision of some kind of dream, we tend to wallow in the past and focus on what "is", and not what "could be!" So how did this change for me?? What was the catalyst and how did the change happen?

Well, by joining Run/Walk for life, I was introduced into the realm of possibility. My first session there gave me access to the knowedge that it was indeed possible for my body to walk systematically and purposefully for 5 minutes. Whilst this is small, it was the start. Indeed, most people can do this! After I had affirmed this twice, I was shown that my body could indeed accomplish 7 and a half minutes. Every third session, the possibility of a further two and a half minutes emerged and was accomplished. Those small steps of affirmation have led me to where I am today - a full 10km in 76 minutes. I am marvelled and amazed!

I have always held the view that "SOLID FOUNDATIONS MAKE STEADFAST BUILDINGS!" but have now come to realise that "EVERY SMALL BRICK COUNTS!". Once a brick has been laid firmly and cemented in place, it is very hard to remove. This is such a true analogy for life in general.

So today, I celebrate my third 10km race. These accomplishments I regard as the bricks of further dreams and opportunity. They are special and cherished achievements and rightly so. I would like to ask; What are your special bricks? What possibilities do they represent? They are waiting to be solidly placed into the plan for your dreams. Go for it! Take courage and embrace the opportunity which presents itself. I wish you the best. CAM

"People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains,
at the huge waves of the seas,
at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean,
at the circular motion of the stars,
and yet they pass by themselves without wondering."

St. Augustine, 354 430

INSTINCTIVE ME

What makes me, ME and what makes you, YOU?

The debate in psychological circles continues to rage on; what is instinctive behaviour and what is learned behaviour? How much of our personalities are genetic and how much is learned? It seems that most modern psychologists hold the view that much of our behaviour is learned; that we have been moulded from childhood into the characters which we are. Although I share this view, I also believe that the 'instinct' in us should not be discounted.

We know, for example, that there are certain emotions which are universal and observable in the facial expressions of all human beings across the world - such as anger, happiness, fear, surprise, sadness etc etc. - but how much of our instinctive behaviour is unique to ourselves as individuals? I would like to suggest that there are indeed some uniquely individualised INSTINCTIVE behaviours which are not common to all individuals. Whilst my view is not backed up by research, I continue to experience profoundness of this view on a daily basis.

In the very early hours of this morning we had our first hint of a rainstorm. Although there was quite a bit of wind, a solid soaking did not materialise. The wind and the rain brought a visitor to my bedroom. As I opened my eyes to the dawn, a tiny movement on my carpet caught my eye. A fledgling dove had found its way through my open window and had sought refuge (it seems) in the folds of my bedroom curtain. Even the dogs who share our room hadn't noticed. It was then that my own instinct gripped me - the ever pervailing compassion for people and all creatures in distress.

I gathered up the little bird in the palms of my hands and whilst still in my pyjamas padded barefoot down the passage, onto the patio and into the garden. I deposited the frightened litte creature close to a small shrub, knowing that if its mother was around, she would surely find it. I was delighted to see that within a short while the little bird embraced its own spirit, stretched its wings and flew up onto the wall.

My own instinct of releaving a creature in distress speaks so loudly to me. Indeed I believe it to be part of my soul. I remember, as a small child, sitting for hours in quiet sanctitude on our farm, just taking in God's creation and knowing how intricately involved I was in it. This kind of feeling/emotion cannot be learned. I believe it to be purposefully created in me and my experience of it - again unique to me! Its essence is raw, pure and and links directly (I believe) into my own creation.

The little dove this morning allowed me again to receive this peaceful message, "Embrace who you are, understand and listen to the instinct of your soul and honour it!" So, I would encourage you, too, to take some time aside today and ponder what it is that makes you, YOU. You are unique and indeed God's perfectly created creature. Gather your own spirit and spread your own wings to even greater heights!

ANTLIONS

I first learned to write in a palette of soft sand on my parents' farm in the Northern Province of South Africa. The narrow farm road leading up to our old house was littered in places with fine sand; worn down by the tyres of many farm vehicles. The sand was my domain and allowed me the opportunity of experimenting with varieties of patterns created by my small hand. So you can imagine when one day, to my horror, MY sand was patterned with small conical depressions (which I had not made!). But I was a farm child and I honored my learning by simply sitting down in the sand and watching.

As the sun rose that morning, so too did the ants start their day. These ants were known to me - small and brown in type, with no bite - and I let them go happily about their business. I watched too, in facination, as one of them fell into one of the conical holes in the sand. The ant started to struggle to get out of the hole but these holes were obviously carefully crafted. Soon a spray of fine granules was thrown up from the small pit. This added to the ant's plight and it was gradually dragged down into the apex of the hole. In a split second something caught it; two small pinchers had taken a firm grip and the ant was dragged underneath the sand.

I was 6 years old at the time and sat there - riveted in facination. This was my early introduction to the fascinating world of the ANTLION.

I decided to catch and collect some of the antlions. The trick, I eventually learned, was to get a small piece of grass and then quietly tickle the sides of their conicle holes. This would prompt the ANTLION to action and once it was frantically throwing sand up from it's pit, I would reach in with my hand and, as gently as possible, grab the sand in its general area. If I was lucky, I would eventually find the little creature once I had carefully sifted through the sand. My tiny little captive was then placed in a shoe box filled with sand. I would watch, delightedly, as it dug its way underneath the soil. Those days in my childhood were filled with catching ants and delivering them into the small death pits.

My glee however didn't last long. After a few weeks the ANTLIONS and their beautifully crafted holes simply disappeared and left me mortified. It was only years later that I discovered the secret of the ANTLION...

The ANTLION, often known as the 'Doodlebug' is resident to temperate climates all around the world. They are a creature in transition since they are, in fact, the pupa of the 'lacewing' (a form of dragonfly). During their 'ANTLION' stage, they feed primarily on ants, drawing these insects into their deathtraps, pulling them underground, and feeding off their juices. Despite their 'violent' existence, they are quite beautiful with tiny furry bodies and small, neat pinchers. Candidly, I would say that they look like a giant sperm cell.

So next time you see these tiny depressions in the soil, tread carefully! There might be resident antlions in those holes who are slowly transforming themselves into beautiful dragonflies.

Short and Sweet

What a happy day it has been, for me, today! We have the best weather in the world and I got to spend a morning baking muffins (many of them) with a good friend. Kitchen creations are always special, since I know they bring comfort to their devourers.

This evening, as I watered my garden and pottered around the pool, I saw the first signs in the sky of the promise of rain and felt a shared upliftment with my thirsty plants.