The Power of One

Recently on BBC TV, they have been looking back over the last year at notable events in sport, politics, entertainment, the environment and common interest stories.

2019 featured Eilud Kipchoge becoming the first man to run a marathon in under 2hrs, General elections, Brexit and Climate activist Greta Thunberg. Then there were three men who appeared on BBC Breakfast and brought us to tears winning the hearts of many viewers: Harry Billinge, Tony Foulds and Terrence.

These people and events got me thinking about the thing they all had in common – the Power of One.

Harry Billinge, from St. Austell Cornwall was 18 when he landed on Gold Beach in June of 1944. In June 2019, aged 94, he returned to Normandy to mark the 75^th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Harry has now raised over £25,000 to put towards the cost of a national memorial to honour his fallen comrades. He moved many to tears, including the BBC presenter who interviewed him, by saying “Don’t thank me and don’t say I’m a hero, all the heroes are dead and I will never forget them as long as I live”. Harry has been awarded the Legion d’Honneur and an MBE in the New Years honours for his charitable work. 22,442 service personnel were killed on D-Day and during the battle of Normandy but this one man worked hard to ensure that they were not forgotten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsffJD6-xe8

In February 1944, 8yr old Tony Foulds was playing in the park when a B-17 Flying Fortress, Mi Amigo, crashed and exploded in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield. Tony recalls how the aircraft had circled the field possibly trying to find a safe place to land. At one point the crew tried to wave the children out of the way, but the children merely waved back not understanding the severity of the situation. In an attempt to avoid the children, the pilot tried to land the other side of some trees but crashed and all of the crew died in the crash.

In 1969 a permanent memorial was set up in the park for the crew of the Mi Amigo and Tony immediately began looking after the area, tidying around it and planting flowers. He continues to do this even to this day, By chance, BBC breakfast presenter Dan Walker met Tony whilst he was out walking his dog and was so touched by Tony’s story that he shared it on Twitter. The post went viral and the presented headed up a campaign to help Tony get the flypast he wanted to commemorate the 75^th anniversary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcWjblVI2h0

One man spent his lifetime ensuring that the sacrifice of the ten US servicemen was not forgotten. Another man used his connections and media presence to head up the campaign. On 22^nd February 2019, Tony got his flypast and Endcliffe Park was filled with thousands of people who came to pay tribute to the ten men.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJs7_OkxhM

Just before Christmas, Dan Walker used his presenting role and Social Media presence to raise awareness again – this time for a man named Terrence.  Terrence appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the plight of many elderly people who suffer from loneliness. Terrence himself had spent the last 20yrs alone on Christmas day and made himself a sandwich as his Christmas dinner. He told the presenter he didn’t even have a Christmas tree. Dan put out an appeal to help get Terrence a tree. The response was phenomenal as he not only got a tree but had Carol Singers come to his house and hundreds of people donated to AgeUK or signed up to volunteer with them, Terrence himself volunteers with AgeUK and from his experience ensures that he can help others but will also will never be alone at Christmas again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2l0zC7LQwA

Of course, people may say that someone in the media can achieve these things because of their position but Dan used his position for good and encouraged others to do the same. He showed how effective the power of one can be.

I am only one person, I do not have the social media following of Dan Walker, I am not a celebrity but I can still do something to help others and raise awareness. I can do something good each day and although it may not be life changing, it can make a difference. Harry Billinge at 94 proves that age doesn’t stop you from doing charity work. Whether it is cleaning a memorial or volunteering and befriending an elderly person, there is something all of us can do.

Have I done any good in the world today, have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today, because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

(Will. L. Thompson)

Let’s start today.

This is Your Life!

Shakespeare once wrote “All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts.” (As You Like It)


Many years ago, there used to be a television show in England called This Is Your Life. The host  would surprise a celebrity; take them to a TV studio and in front of an audience read through the highlights of their life. Throughout the show, people who had played a part in this person’s life would be brought out to meet them, reminisce of the old times and provide interesting anecdotes about the person. The show always concluded with the host presenting the person with a big red book and uttering the immortal words “This is Your Life”.

My friend Jillian recently asked when her life became like a movie and this started me thinking. If our lives were to be compared with a movie, or indeed a play or a book, what would our story be? Would it be a comedy, a tragedy, a thriller, a romance or a story of inspiration, courage and triumph over adversity? In our lifetime we will get to play many different roles; child, sibling, parent, aunt or uncle, employee, grandparent, friend – the list is endless, but when the day comes that we look back on an account of our lives, what will the title of our story be?


As a fan of Shakespeare’s works, I amused myself by wondering which of his works would most accurately describe my own life. Would it be Much Ado about Nothing, which whilst once of my favourite plays, is not, I hope going to be the sum total of my life. Would it be A Comedy of Errors, which does seem to reflect a lot of how my life has been – although not always so comical. At the very least, I concluded I hoped it would be a case of All’s Well That Ends Well.....my own sort of happily ever after ending.


....”Aren’t those wonderful words to begin a story? “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”
Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?
For a moment, think back about your favourite fairy tale. In that story the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milkmaid, a ruler or a servant. You will find one thing all have in common: they must overcome adversity.
Cinderella has to endure her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She is compelled to suffer long hours of servitude and ridicule.
In “Beauty and the Beast,” Belle becomes a captive to a frightful-looking beast in order to save her father. She sacrifices her home and family, all she holds dear, to spend several months in the beast’s castle.
In the tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” a poor miller promises the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king immediately sends for her and locks her in a room with a mound of straw and a spinning wheel. Later in the story she faces the danger of losing her firstborn child unless she can guess the name of the magical creature who helped her in this impossible task.
In each of these stories, Cinderella, Belle, and the miller’s daughter have to experience sadness and trial before they can reach their “happily ever after.” Think about it. Has there ever been a person who did not have to go through his or her own dark valley of temptation, trial, and sorrow?
Sandwiched between their “once upon a time” and “happily ever after,” they all had to experience great adversity. Why must all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy, and love?
Without opposition in all things, we could not discern the sweet from the bitter. Would the marathon runner feel the triumph of finishing the race had she not felt the pain of the hours of pushing against her limits? Would the pianist feel the joy of mastering an intricate sonata without the painstaking hours of practice?
In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way.  (Dieter. F. Uchtdorf – Your Own Happily Ever After)


Dead Poets Society has to be one of my all time favourite films, it is full of wonderful quotes mainly from the teacher Mr Keating, who inspires his students in the spirit of Carpe Diem, to make the most of opportunities that come their way, to step out and discover things for themselves – to seize the day!

“To quote from Whitman; Oh me! Oh life! Of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” (Dead Poets Society)


Although we may not always have a say in what plots lie ahead in the story of our lives, we can do something about how we respond to them. We can decide what our verse, our book or our film will be and although we may not be able to choose our ending, we can decide on whether or not it is happy.


You are writing your life story now, choose your own adventure and seize the day!

One More Dawn , One Year On.........

A year ago, following the encouragement of a dear friend, I started writing a blog. It was to be a way of writing down my thoughts and musings on various themes and topics and also a way to share some of the experiences I had throughout the year. I wasn’t sure if anyone would read it, but I hoped it would help to improve my writing and give my thoughts a means to express themselves. Now approaching 8000 hits, it seems that my little blog has caught more than just the interest of a few close friends (even if the biggest search on it seems to be for pictures of Alfie Boe and his wife Sarah!) and I am thankful for the encouragement and support I’ve had to continue writing it.

As I look back over the past year I, like many others I know, can say it has truly been a rollercoaster of a ride. There have been many occasions of sadness and worry, both in my own life and in the lives of those dear to me. There have been some sad events experienced by members of my family this year; death, divorce, long term illness and redundancy being just some of them. I know of quite a few friends who will be starting the year facing difficult challenges in their lives and I’m sure we will all experience some difficulties in this New Year. However, hard as it may be, it is important to learn from these times and face the challenges head on, hoping that they will pass and leave us a stronger and better person. It’s also important to enjoy the happier times and enjoy each opportunity that comes our way. No day in our life will ever be the same and just as I said a year ago, each new dawn brings with it a new day and new opportunities and we should make the most of them. Come What May and Love It!

I have been very fortunate this past year to indulge in my passion for the arts and as I look back, I can count seeing six Shakespeare plays including Patrick Stewart in the Merchant of Venice, Dominic West in Othello, David Tennant in Much Ado About Nothing and my friend Dominic Tighe in Richard III and A Comedy of Errors.  I also attended the 447^th birthday celebrations of William Shakespeare in his home town of Stratford on Avon with my nephew Bradley & introduced him to some of the Bard’s work.

I was thrilled to see two light operas; Ruddigore and the Mikado and two operas; Carmen and Fidelio. Three of these productions were performed by the brilliant Opera North and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at both Carmen and Ruddigore through  social media networking events organised by Leeds based Emma Bearman and also to write an article for her own blog Culture Vultures. The insight I gained from these events gave me a deeper appreciation of all the work involved in putting on a production and the arts as a whole.  Seeing Fidelio, the only opera ever written by my favourite composer Beethoven was one of the hi-lights of my year and although I had been worried that the performance wouldn’t live up to my anticipation, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I was also fortunate to see Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony and Missa Solemnis performed by the wonderful Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra at the beautiful Lichfield Cathedral. My other musical highlights of the year were The Classic Brit Awards, 25^th Anniversary Concert for Phantom of the Opera, A Night with the Phantom (Ramin Karimloo) and also seeing old friends Blake and Thomas Spencer Wortley in concert.  When I see the events listed like this, I realise just how many great opportunities I have had and how lucky I am to have seen them all.

I met some wonderful people in 2011 including some of my favourite West End Stars such as John Owen-Jones, Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser and David Tennant. I have also made some great friends along the way through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook and as ever, my friends and family are my most treasured blessings. Their unwavering support throughout the year has been a great source of strength to me and I hope that in my own way I have helped them in their own times of difficulties.

I know that things won’t always be easy but I hope that we can all endure the trials we have to face and be there to support others as they face them. My new year’s resolution is to be a better friend and better person; to tell my friends how much I love them and look for ways to make new friends from strangers. One of the books I read this year was The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason F Wright. It talks about looking for opportunities in your daily life to serve and help others and by doing so change your life and the lives of those you serve in just a few seconds.

As I look ahead to this New Year, I have many hopes for my own future and for my friends. I don’t know if they will come to pass but I look with a renewed determination to do all that I can to make the most of every opportunity, to seize the day and make each day one to remember. A New Year brings with it, new beginnings, new hopes and new opportunities and it is up to us what we do with them.

Tonight’s the night, the world begins again

Tomorrow we’ll discover what our God in Heaven has in store; one more dawn, one more day, one day more!

Happy New Year!!

Be The Change

Whilst looking my friends’ status updates on facebook today, I came across one which gave me a lot to think about. A friend had simply written the words “Be The Change”. Now this particular friend is a singer and I suspect it may be the title of a song she is going to record, but these three simple words have made me reflect on their meaning a lot today.

There are a few ways that we can interpret these words; we can be the change in a difficult situation, the one that breaks a bad cycle of events and changes things for the better, we can be the one that starts a new trend or the one that sets a good example that others then copy. I didn’t realise until I sat to type this blog, but these three words form part of a quote by Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

In thinking of these words I was reminded of the Story of the Starfish, it’s serves as a great reminder that whilst we can’t change everything, every effort we make to make the slightest difference will help someone – or something.


... While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water. He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

So how can we make a difference or make a change, Edward Everett Hale, the American author and historian once said “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” Sometimes I think we are put off too easily by thoughts that what we can do will not make a difference at all and therefore it is futile to even try. Every day we see images on TV of war-torn countries, countries trying to recover after natural disasters and people facing their own private struggles with sickness, death, abuse, homelessness and unemployment. We look at these images and wonder how we can do anything that will make a difference to the lives of these people. It seems like the labours of Hercules and certainly I don’t think that in my lifetime these problems will be solved – but they can be helped, and we can be the difference.

This time of year in the UK, a national fundraising appeal is launched called Comic Relief. It aims to free the world from poverty by working on projects both in the UK and abroad to make a difference to peoples’ lives. Many comedians, actors, celebrities and general members of the public give of their time and talents to raise money to help fund these projects and help a great cause.

This is a noble thing to do and I support it wholeheartedly but there are so many simple things we can do on a daily basis to make a difference and be the changes....smile at someone who looks unhappy, hold a door open or give up your seat for someone. Send a thank you card or a “thinking of you” card to someone and show them you care – the possibilities are endless and may seem like such tiny insignificant acts but I can assure you, they will make a difference to someone. Sometimes, just like when we donate money to a charity, we may not see the results of our donation or our act of kindness but I do think they create a ripple effect that causes many other things to change as a result of that one act of kindness. And don’t ever be put off by the fact that you may not make a difference, Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

We cannot control all that happens in the world or indeed in our own lives, but we can do something about how we react to what happens. We can make a difference in our own lives, with our own problems and situations and also in the wider world. We can make a difference and even it is only a small change, there’s always the chance that it will grow – remember an oak tree didn’t grow overnight; it started off as an acorn!

So, take a look around you today and do one thing every day to make a difference – Be The Change!!

One great, strong, unselfish soul in every community could actually redeem the world. – Elbert Hubbard

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Learning through a Child's Eyes

Have you ever spent the day with a child and come away feeling like it’s you that learned a lot? That summed up my day yesterday as I spent it in the company of my 8yr old nephew Bradley.


It’s always fun to spend time with him as he has a very positive outlook on life. He can be a very serious, sensitive and concerned child but he also knows how to enjoy himself and make the most of every experience. His optimism is quite contagious at times and after spending any amount of time with him, you find yourself appreciating the little things in life.

Yesterday we went to our local theatre to see Roald Dahl’s The Witches. It isn’t a book we have read together but he is a fan of Dahl’s other works and even attended the premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox the opera last year. As usual he was excited for the show to start and when it did his facial expressions clearly reflected the enjoyment he was experiencing.

The story tells of a little girl whose parents die in a car crash and she is sent to live with her Grandmother in Norway. After a period of illness, it is recommended that the grandmother travels to the coast for a holiday to relax and recuperate. Whilst on holiday they encounter The Witches who are attending their AGM and discover plans to turn all little children into mice. The little girl manages to foil their plans but only after being transformed herself. It ends with the Grandmother and her mouse grandchild returning to Norway and spending their remaining days together. The final line in the show was “It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you look like, as long as you have someone to love you.” The play was well acted and aimed at a very young audience but enjoyable for children of all ages. When I asked Bradley what part he enjoyed I had expected many answers but was surprised to hear him quote word for word the ending of the show.

Later on we watched the Disney film, The Princess and The Frog, where sure enough, the same message is repeated in many different ways and we are encouraged to look past people’s wealth, looks or possessions and discover what’s inside. It was a great film to watch, full of lively and catchy songs but also contains a great moral to it too. Set in New Orleans, the story re-tells the classic fairy story but with a twist. Prince Naveen a wealthy and arrogant Prince is transformed to a frog by a voodoo magician. Tiana, a hardworking waitress with big dreams, fatefully kisses the frog but instead of transforming him back to a Prince is transformed to a frog herself. With the help of a firefly, a trumpet playing crocodile and an old blind lady, Tiana and Naveen must find a way to break the spell and fulfil their dreams. They do eventually fulfil their dreams but not before discovering along the way that what you want and what you need aren’t always the same thing.

Bradley declared the day to be “the best, most awesome day ever” and said that he had enjoyed the play and the film. Somehow, every day that Bradley spends with us is the best and most awesome day – but is that because of the things we do with him, or just the fact that we are doing something, together? Sometimes I think we focus too much on grand gestures and spending money but really when it comes down to it, all that matters is spending time with those you love and who are important to you

Solitude

Something About the Woods

There's something about the woods.
All alone surrounded by God's magic.
Peace and quiet in my solitaire moods.
No worries, people or events so tragic.

Crisp, cool air in my lungs.
The whisper of forest breeze.
A break from climbing life's rungs.
A special time on my memory to freeze.

A paradise of contentment,
to restore my soul’s energy.
No worry about advancement.
Basking in nature's sweet synergy.

No more of life's fast frame.
Back in control of my time.
Each day not more of the same.
Money no issue I don't need a dime.

There's something about the woods.
Only here can real peace be found.
Not a crowded neighbourhood,
where all is one busy loud sound.

Nothing can compare to star lit canopy.
A hot steaming cup of camper’s tea.
The preservation of my sanity.
I escape from life's endless sea.

by Luke

Sometimes you just want to be alone. Today was such a day for me and when I feel like that there is only one place to go – Nostell Priory. There is something very comforting about visiting this stately home and its gardens. Today was particularly blustery and it had threatened to rain all day but I was determined not to let that stop me. As I walked down the path to the house I tried to walk slowly to take in the sights and sounds of everything around me but I couldn’t. I felt an urgency to get to the gardens and even the wind seemed to be pushing me along.

I entered the gardens and immediately a sense of peace came over me. I walked the familiar paths that I have walked so many times and watched the branches of the tress bending in the wind as though greeting me like an old friend.

I love this place; there is something magical about this garden and the way that with each season it seems to reinvent itself to become more beautiful and more serene.  Today I marvelled at the snowdrops that littered the woodland areas between the trees. These tiny little flowers, so delicate and pure are yet so strong that they have been growing throughout the winter when the ground was cold and hard. Somehow despite the harsh weather, they have broken through the ground and were there dancing in the wind – a sign of triumph over adversity and the promise of better things to come.

Further into the gardens you reach a point when you can no longer hear the traffic from the roads and the only sounds are that of the ducks on the lake, the birds in the trees or the wind blowing the trees and the fallen leaves. It is impossible to describe the peacefulness and tranquillity that descends when you reach such a place and the only thing to do is to stop and savour every moment.

I stood under one of my favourite trees and just let the breeze blow across the lake and up onto the banks, into the tree and onto my face. It was such a refreshing, relaxing feeling – a facial from Mother Nature.

I walked around the gardens for nearly two hours, just marvelling at the beauty that was before me and how even though there was evidence of winter everywhere, there were also signs of spring. Crocuses were beginning to push through the ground to join the snowdrops and buds were beginning to appear on the magnolia trees. The fresh air itself seemed to carry with it an anticipation that touched each and every plant or tree as if giving it the kiss of life and waking it up after a winter’s sleep. I felt renewed and strengthened just by being there and sharing these quiet moments with nature.

“Solitude is such a potential thing. We hear voices in solitude, we never hear in the hurry and turmoil of life; we receive counsels and comforts, we get under no other condition . . .”
~Amelia E Barr.

Thought for the Day

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense".

Ralph Waldo Emerson