June 16, 2008 at 12:54 pm ·
The World Health Organisation has predicted that by the year 2020, Depression will be the second biggest health problem world wide (the number one being heart disease).
Depression isn’t discerning… it has visited famous writers, artists, composers, performers, sports people, politicians, inventors.
I have registered for the Sydney Blackmore’s Half-Marathon 2008, which is on Sunday 21st September, 2008.
This is a personal goal I set at the beginning of the year before I’d even started running, let alone become addicted as I have in the past few months.I would like my run to “stand for” something and have nominated The Black Dog Institute as my preferred charity.
I’d love your support… and invite you to visit this page to “cheer me on” – every little bit helps! In the last week, when I have been tempted to snuggle back into the doona on these cold and rainy early mornings, just knowing that friends and clients have already sponsored me has made me get up and get running.
Posting my intention on the blog will keep me honest, and encourage me to stick with my training program to achieve this goal! Thanks for your support, and I’m excited about helping to “tame the black dog”.
Filed under Musings/p
June 2, 2008 at 9:53 pm ·
Last Friday, I was in Macau. After eschewing the glitz and empty promises of the many casinos, I chose instead to explore the historic heart of the island, starting with a visit to the Protestant cemetry, housing the souls of the earliest settlers of Macau, with headstones dating back to the early 1700s.
Wandering the cobblestoned streets, open-mouthed and wide-eyed, I paused at the entrance to a little antique shop, “Jimmy’s Treasures”.
An elderly man came to the door, and gestured to the watches with the waving hands of Mao. I smiled a “no thanks” and he invited me into his shop. Surrounded by the ancient pottery horses, chickens and other significant figurines, along with the famous Ming vases and distinctive ceramics that China is famous for, I was captivated by Jimmy’s command of English and extensive knowledge of Australia. He even knew about the dingo fences!
An hour passed like ten minutes as he shared his stories of growing up in Macau. Now eighty years old, he has had his shop for forty of those years, proudly displaying photos of dignitaries and celebrities who have been to his shop and taken home their works of art. He lovingly spoke about his family, his work ethic, his shop, his love of learning and his self-education. His sense of humour was wonderful, and I knew I was in the presence of great wisdom.
We exchanged cards, with Jimmy laughingingly suggesting his last name, Ng, stood for “Jimmy No-Good!” I prefer to think of him as “Jimmy Noble-Gentleman.”
Jimmy spoke of the recent earthquakes in Burma and China, and said “we give to these people, not because we are Chinese, or Macau, or Australian, but because we are HUMAN!”
This precious hour reinforced the unity we have as humans on this magnificent planet. That no matter where we are born, or which language we speak, we share universal values of love, freedom, humour and belonging. Unexpected encounters such as this remind me of why I love to travel. I didn’t need a Ming dynasty vase, or a Tang dynasty horse to remind me of the timeless and priceless nature of connecting with another human heart.
“Jimmy’s Treasures” indeed.
Filed under Communication, Values/p
