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'!

Mums and hugs

I was thinking about my mum today.  And yesterday. And everyday.  She is still alive at 87 years young, although not in great health.

This year I have literally run away to mums when things have gotten a bit tough.  I run to her for a cup of tea, some toast and a big nonjudgmental hug.  

After a few hours, I am ready to face the world again. 

I love my mum, and I don't want to think about life without her.

Gala Darling (one of the blogs I follow) wrote about Amma. 

Gala queued up for a hug from Amma, a complete stranger, because she is the 'saint' of hugs.  

Amma travels the world offering hugs to anyone; no cost, no expectations.  (Amma means mother.)  Gala said it was a warming and moving experience.  

I hope that my hugs mean that much to someone.  As a mother I love my child.  As a friend I love my friends. As a sister, daughter, aunt; I give hugs because I love. 

Hugs to you all.  

Spilling on my loved ones

My life in limbo is about to change.

I move into my new unit on Monday.  A place of my own again (if you don’t count sharing with daughter and dog!)   Lots of positives, such as close to work/lifestyle/beach etc.

In the last three months lots of long commutes, not having a grounded personal space (seachange being too far away for daily travel) or a steady routine lifestyle/hours has made me ...... hmmm, what is the phrase I am looking for????????

Sarah Wilson found it ... WOBBLY MINDED. 

This is what Sarah wrote on her blog (I have abridged it a bit).  I identify with what she wrote in almost every way.  (She is vata dosha too).

“...  living with a wobbly mind is akin to being charged with carrying around a large, shallow bowl filled to the brim with water. You have to tread carefully so as not to slosh it all out.

National Geographic

If you waiver and get unsteady, the water starts to slosh. And if you don’t bring yourself back quick enough, the sloshing gathers momentum and you lose it.

This means you have to return to the source and fill it back up again. Which is tiring. So tiring.

To carry the bowl steadily means walking a straight line. There will be scenarios and environments and people that simply are not conducive to your journey. They’re too bumpy or jarring or wobbly. Or crooked."

(My note: or just wrong at the time)

“(So I need to) build up more stability, bit by bit. So I can carry my bowl, full and unsloshy, so that I don’t spill on my loved ones too often. Yes, I’m tired of spilling on my loved ones”.

Big negative of moving? Leaving very, very dear and loved friend (who has housed me, daughter, dog and junk for three long months) who I have soaked from far too many sloshings.  

Today’s posting is for you.  Thank you.  And thank you to Sarah for the right words.