faith in the goodness of people - do we reap what we sow?

Perhaps it is cynical of me ... but I never cease to be amazed in the goodness of people in the world. 

In a recent event, a family member left her purse on a bus ... with a lot of money in it.  And it was returned; intact. We had both thought it gone for good. 

Why were we surprised that it was returned?  Well, wouldn't you be skeptical? 

I told her that she now had to do something nice for a stranger today, to keep the good karma flowing. 

Do we reap what we sow? 

I had a different but positively humbling experience recently.  I was at the NGV for the Monet exhibition (glorious and gorgeous it was too).  I had gone there once before to try and get tickets; and the queue was miles long and the wait was hours.  

So, I went home and came another day - and the queue was even longer.  I must have looked so despondent because one of the attendants came to talk to me - and gave me a ticket - free - and let me in.  I was gobsmacked.  I also knew that I had to repay the good karma by doing something nice for someone. I hope I did enough.

I wonder, if we could start an avalanche of goodness ... if a small number of people decided to do something nice for a stranger ... and then the strangers repay it ... etc; whether we could get to the stage where, instead of being cynical about the goodness of people, we could generate trust. 

It would be nice - wouldn't it?

Do something nice for a stranger today.

Start the 'revolution'!

Truth, scariness and elections

Australia just had a general election; and there has been an (unsurprising) change of Government.

The main candidates were both very unappealing to anyone who wasn't a mainstream Australian.  

There were many jokes in the social media about one candidate in particular (the winner in this case too) that focused on his penchant for white anglo saxon ordinary people.

Apparently ...

If you are gay, female, refugee, recent immigrant, work in education or medical establishments (or don't work at all), wear religious items of clothing (such as a burqa) or possess one of a host of other non-mainstream un-typical, un-Australian traits ... beware.  You are most likely one of those most likely to suffer under the new government.

I am one of the many who swear 'I didn't vote for him'.  Well, I didn't; but I didn't vote for the other guy either. 

I wanted my vote to help another candidate get a position in government to  'keep the bastards honest'. 

Whatever does eventuate  - every Australian has to watch events over the next term of office with a clear and unbiased mind; and be strong enough to support those who will be suffering.

We tend to forget that Australian's are privileged  - we have the right to vote unmolested.  We won't be murdered for having an opinion. Women, gays, ladies wearing burqas, teachers and nurses all have the right to vote without fear of reprisal in Australia.   Isn't that what it is all about?  

Sure, not everyone is happy with the result.  But we all had the chance to make it happen.  

PS I bought some yummy home-made jam at the polling booth fete at the local school.  Win/win all round!

Grounding and belonging

I have been feeling very disconnected lately. I feel 'temporary' (it is the way I feel) in my new house, in my job/s and in my life, and for no apparent reason. And it  is unfounded too. 
  
It may be spring fever (every year I get the spring restlessness in a serious way, and it totally throws my life in turmoil) or just that I am doing too much and not taking enough care of myself) too much running around and eating rubbish; and not enough R and R.

Gala Darling wrote this in her blog recently (and interestingly Sarah Wilson has written similar).  Maybe it is spring fever! Perhaps this is a reason too ..... 

 'I believe that one of the major reasons people feel lost, sad and disconnected from reality is because we’ve replaced nature (getting outside, walking on the grass, enjoying a cool breeze or splashing in the ocean) with technology (sitting inside, in the air conditioning, staring at a screen for hours on end). In a lot of ways, I think we’re detached from the seasons, and I believe it has a much greater negative effect on us than we realise.'

I am still here, just having a blog break

Just to let you know, I am still alive and well, and not blogging because I am doing other things (not exciting things but time consuming things).

Will post again soon.

xxx