Photo courtesy of COCOMARIPOSA and is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Like a thief at night, I entered your heart

I sampled your thoughts and broke them apart

I pulled up a veil to cover your joy

I enlisted The Negative Army to aid and employ

More negative entities to arrest your light

And make all days seem dark, although they are bright

My army of entities brought blind folds and rope

To bind all your joy and blind all your hope

Because you are not smart as you thought you were

You forgot your reality, thus I became your connoisseur

I simply awaited for that dark dismal, yet really bright day

When life was fine; thus you forgot to be thankful and pray

When all of a sudden in your mist of content

I snuck into your mind, Oh! not by sheer accident

For my purpose was to vanquish all optomist from your mind

To leave you deserted, lost, humbled and blind

What seemed happy and wonderful now seems so bleak

What you craved on yesterday, you don’t even seek

You can not foresee another sunshine tomorrow

For your forecast is shadowed by self sadness and sorrow

But if you really look at the blessings bestowed upon life

You would vanish me quickly; dismiss the false strife

Realize the reality of beauty and light

Know that nothing is more important than the love for your life

But the repetitive thoughts, and high walls of oppression

Sustain only a dismal past and no future possession.

Of the happines and love you once grasped so well

By the absense of love; this is your earthly hell

And melancholic memories have become an obsession

You ask who am I to be so evil, I am the deadly spirit of Depression.

_______________________________

The phenominal art displayed at the top of this post was created by a very talented artist, COCOMARIPOSA and is titled, “The Five Stages of Grief (Depression #4)” The series is very creative; The artist states that doing the series helped her to overcome some of her grief.

Symtoms of Depression are:

If you or a love one is experiencing symptoms of depression, I strongly suggest that you seek medical attention because usually by the time we realize our depressed state, we are in need of at least a temporary boost to get our brain chemicals back on track. If you believe you can handle this yourself, please try to talk to someone and of course remember to love yourself! You are Important! You are a Child of God! The world would be lesser without You! We at One World One Soul Love You! Leave us a comment if you need someone to talk to!

I have found spirituality to be a profound cure for depression; however, spirituality is a personal choice – and in states of severe depression, normally we are incapable of allowing the light to shine without help. But once back on track; I have found spirituality, as in embracing love, to be the best preventive measure known. The following are a few web sites that you may want to visit if you feel you are experiencing grief or depression:

http://www.depression.com/understanding_depression.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/depression/article.htm

http://www.depression.org.nz/

Every bit helps

How can you help?

Cape Town – How can you help the thousands of foreigners displaced by the violence?

Simply send us the name and contact information of organisations helping with the thousands of displaced foreigners around South Africa and we’ll post the information on News24.

Please include information on what is most-needed and in which city or town the organisation is based.

If you’re like me, you can’t stand to sit by and not “DO” something to help our human family in China in the aftermath of the quake that hit there yesterday morning. Unlike some that I’ve spoken to recently, I don’t give a rats ass about POLITICS at a time like this – all I know is that people are suffering and dieing and need HELP. And I’ll do whateverever I can…how about you?

GREATER GOOD is a wonderful organization: If you’ll donate something to them, they guarantee that 100% of your donation will go directly for assistance, rather than getting eaten up in “administrative costs” and all that nonsense. Check them out. They also partner with a plethera of other really wonderful humanitarian causes.

PLEASE JOIN ME TODAY IN WALKING OUR TALK.

Thanks.

Post written & contributed by The Wild Pomegranate

one soul,
one life,
one earth,
one mind,
one heart,
one kind,
one need,
one suffering,
one wish,
one LOVE.

we are in the same planet,
live on the same land,
if we unite,
and forget the various divides
thrown by time.
we can see peace,
which we always deemed
as the absolute life.
united if we live,
united we can be.

with love we can heal,
with our heart we can feel,
with our mind we know the deal,
with our need we know suffering,
with our wishes we know the need.
with unity we can give love to
those who snatched the world of ours,
we can do what we always wanted,
be in peace and live life.
one love.one life.

why a race,
why a caste,
why a colour,
why distinguish our brothers
and sisters,
why hurt and murder
our fellow creatures?
why destroy our nature,
why disrupt our innate
valour and proud honour?

one world,
one soul,
the power of love,
pushes life,
no one can hide,
for the world is too wide,
it is time to decide
and time to revive
and time to glorify
our need and our love.

love creates
fission and fusion,
with time’s assimilation
we are pushed towards
extinction,is it not
the right time,
to listen to the seas,
to see the sun and the moon,
and everything else in nature-
strewn and put together
the clues and renew
our strength to inoculate
ourselves against our
bad hand,against forces
which will beget the beginning-
the ending of human race.

with love we can heal,
with love we can steal,
we love we can strangle
the ropes which dangle
to draw an end.
unity we can fake
at least for our own sake,
at least to provoke
ourselves no more.
united- love is one.

not every drop is poison,
not every drop is honey,
life is funny,
some days are just sunny,
while others are damp and rainy.
we can change what we want,
we have altered the climate,
we together have generated
more killers and robbers
of our environment.

equality we preach,
inequality we never impeach,
it is time to impeach
it is time to beseech
ourselves and forgive
all that we committed.
it is no more about
someone in the skies,
it is about us-
we who live on this planet.

With one love
let us live,
with untiy
we can strife.
from one origin
we come,
to the same we return,
the fruit of living
lies between life
and death.

what we achieve
may not benefit
us after death,
but we can call it
the debt
we own to our land,
if not the people.
earth can save itself,
humans too should.
in the name of our race-

one soul,
one life,
one earth,
one mind,
one heart,
one kind,
one need,
one suffering,
one wish,
one LOVE.

originally posted here .

Is there anything that we can do to help these people?

Myanmar cyclone a ‘major, major disaster’

A few years later, I was fulfilling my practical experience requirement for my psych degree by working for CARE. Specifically, that office dealt with disabled immigrant workers and refugees seeking political asylum. My heart went out to my clients, who had to get by on extremely little. They were so grateful for our services, helping them deal with various authorities to handle health care, insurance, and applying for citizenship. Around that time, I decided to organize a small benefit concert. I’d only been doing music for a couple of years, but thought it would be a good idea. It went over well, and the audience was generous. I divided the money among 3 clients.

One was a young family with 2 small children. They were Kurds and had fled from Turkey. I had spent the past few months teaching the wife German once a week. She was illiterate, which made it quite a challenge, but she did well. Another client was no longer able to work, due to a severe accident that nearly cost him his life. He wasn’t able to get around well and spent a lot of time at home watching TV. At one point, his TV died. We had an old one in the cellar, so I brought it to him. He had tears in his eyes when I delivered it. Unfortunately, that one also went out a few months later. I picked it up and had it repaired for him, using some of my own money and some money that I’d collected at yet another concert. The third client was also ill. He was an immigrant who had worked in this country for 30 years, but never bothered to apply for citizenship. Thus he was denied certain benefits. We helped him through the procedure of attaining citizenship.

The music was a late gift. I didn’t realize I wanted to be a musician until I was 35 years old! I am so grateful to have found this hobby, which is also like a therapy for me. Early on I decided to use any money made at concerts for other people. I had received the music as a gift, and I wanted to pass this gift onto others.

When it was time for my next round number – the big 4-0, there was no doubt about what I wanted. My friends were getting used to it by now, and I was quite adept at writing the invitation. I wanted no presents, no books, no wine, not even flowers! I explained that I was doing it partially for selfish reasons. I hate to clean and dust, and many gifts end up as dust catchers. Plus, I explained, I live in abundance. I have a roof over my head, enough clothes to wear, I can buy the groceries I need, I have drinkable running water, and I have a bunch of books and CDs, a guitar and an amplifier. What more could I possibly want?

Since I was still in contact with my former clients, I used the birthday money again for them. We moved the following year. The only reason I mention that is because my 45^th birthday was in a new town with new friends, who didn’t know about the donation history. Since I had a good amount of practice, I wrote the best invitation yet – as a poem, with exact instructions about bringing money and no gifts! This was a challenge, because the people in this small town are very proper and I knew they would have a difficult time not bringing anything. I knew they would be afraid that if they really brought nothing, they might be the only ones.

This time I also sought a new recipient. Believe me, one doesn’t have to look far to find someone in need. I found a family with a handicapped child who needed expensive therapy. A friend had told me about the family, and brought me there to bring them the money. The parents were so grateful, and laughed when I told them that I was really doing it just to avoid dust catchers. The child’s mother and I really hit it off and ended up chatting away for a couple of hours.

In the spring I had been one of 12 finalists in a song competition. Our 12 songs were recorded onto a CD which was sold as a benefit for another family with a handicapped child. That, by the way, was how I met the friend who introduced me to the above family.

In the spring, I gave my first concert in this town. It was an official gig and I got paid! I used the money to purchase 15 CDs which were delivered to the winners of a raffle. (All of the money from the CD went to this family.)

After the tsunami I convinced my husband to use his Christmas bonus to buy a tent for those who had survived but had no home. A friend of ours and his wife have used their Christmas money as a donation for years, rather than give each other presents.

Why am I telling you this? I don’t want to brag, make myself look good, or pat myself on the back. By talking about it, I want to show how we can do little things to help in every day life. We are meant to help each other. Rather than simply say I donated the money, I like to tell the story of the personal interaction. When these people are not anonymous, they are more real. Besides money, they need interaction as well. Many of them are on the edge of society, feel ashamed, like outcasts, and they avoid people – or simply don’t have much opportunity to interact.

My actions won’t change the world or even make a dent in global need. But it’s a start, and the more of us who help, the more can be done. Imagine what one hundred, one thousand, one million or ten million people can do!

I would like to suggest a space where people could write in about their acts of generosity. My idea is to collect these, and see just how much was accomplished in a certain space of time – six months, a year, whatever. It’s not just about money, either. Spending an afternoon with someone who is ill or bedridden is also a kind gesture. Often there is a tendency to think: “Oh, my little bit won’t help.” This would prove that it does!

I know someone who has built a school in Nepal for the Tibetan children who survive their treacherous mountain escape. He wants to build another school. After watching the movie “Children of the Himalayas” I had tears in my eyes. If you haven’t seen it, it portrays a group of children during their flight. The youngest were between 6 and 8 years old. They are interviewed and some are crying as they explain that their mothers sent them away, knowing that it was their only chance to get a good education – so that they may come back to Tibet some day and help change it. Imagine how great a mother’s love is to be willing to entrust her child to someone else, knowing she may never see him again, in the hope that he will have a good life. It is heartbreaking. Collecting for the new school is my next project.

There are millions of AIDS orphans in Africa. I knew there were orphans because a series of concerts here is set up, from which the proceeds are given to help them. But it wasn’t until a friend told me about the book she is reading on this subject that I realized the proportion of the problem and what large numbers are involved.

However, one doesn’t need to look so far. On the local level, there are family tragedies, houses burn down, parents die, long-term unemployment, long-term illness, and there is so much hardship.

There is also a completely different approach. Those of us who live in abundance can cut back on consumerism. Avoid packaging when possible, live more simply, be more frugal with the planet’s resources. Just because many of us can afford more, doesn’t mean we have to consume and waste. Turn off the lights, combine errands if you need the car. Actually, my bad housekeeping becomes a virtue: I don’t use much liquid cleaner, don’t vacuum more than necessary, collect the dirty laundry to fill the machine, and make sure the dishwasher is also full before turning it on. You can take advantage of the oven or stove staying hot and turn it off a few minutes sooner.

These are just ideas off the top of my head. There is plenty to do – on a small scale, and on a large scale. A bit of creativity and awareness will show the way.

Written by Anonymous

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Leaving an abusive situation is difficult, and it is made harder when children are involved. Where can an abused woman go? And what if the abuser decides to come after her?

In America and abroad, many communities have stepped up to address the aftermath of domestic abuse, providing safe places for battered women and their children to stay while they recover from the abuse. I can testify that your local Women’s Shelter could use as much help as it can get.

And here’s how you can help:

What you can do

Monetary donations are always appreciated by organizations like these. Money would go to help pay administrative costs and provide living allowances for women or families in need.

Even more helpful are donations of goods: furniture, clothing, hygiene products, make-up, toys—they’re all appreciated. Infant products like disposable diapers, bottles, cribs and formula are also in great demand. And many shelters either operate food banks or are partnered with one, so donations of food can also be a blessing. Instant milk is always a good item to donate.

When making donations, it’s not uncommon for a shelter organization to either come to your home and pick up the items, or collect the items someplace other than at the actual shelter. This is because, for security reasons, the locations of actual living facilities are kept secret.

Another way to help is by volunteering time. One of the biggest needs is for mentors for the children of battered moms. Many shelters run their own mentoring programs, while others link up with mentoring organizations in the community. Boys in particular need positive male role models to counter the negative examples to which they may have been subjected, so this is a good area for men to get involved.

Of course, these are just suggestions. Call your local Women’s Shelter and find out what they need specifically (Google women’s shelter and your city or county name to get in touch). You can help provide a small sense of stability, safety and sanity to a fearful woman or family.

One more note

If you are in an abusive relationship, get out now. You are not obligated to be abused by anyone, especially not in your home. Locate your local shelter and let them help you. If you have children, do it for them.

Learn More

International statistics (PDF file)

Domestic violence plagues women worldwide, study says, Elizabeth Rosenthal, New York Times, October 6, 2006

Prevalence of Domestic Violence, www.stopvaw.org

One of the things we’d like to do, is set up a place where people can find direct giving sources. That is, sources who allow you to give directly to those in need without paying for huge administration costs. Maybe the gift is of time, maybe it is of money, maybe it is of unwanted items.

Many of us would like to direct give to those in need and don’t know how. So I would like to ask everyone to put on your thinking caps and come up with ways or charity sources that you might know of who accepts this.

One of the things I would like to give is my old medicines that are perfectly fine, that I am no longer using for one reason or another. Maybe there is a clinic somewhere who could use them for children with epilepsy. The drugs are very expensive. But how do we get them there?

Reading glasses, pencils, school supplies. Whatever. How many of us have drawers stuffed full of the things and get irritated with the clutter. Its needless hoarding on our parts, when there are children that could be putting them to good use.

If you know websites that you think will help us.. let us know. Id really like all of you to contribute your thoughts, your causes. After all, the point is one world, one soul… right?

Ebenezer Village situated just outside Cape Town, South Africa, in the small town of Atlantis just 40km up the west coast was started in 2006 with no help from government and a lack of funding. Originally it was intended that they take in abandoned and abused babies but it has since grown to accept kids up to the age of 12, due to the needs within the community.

I came into contact with them while working in Atlantis, did a tour of their facilities and met those wonderful kids who touched my heart beyond anything I can put into words. Their battle is no mean feat, they struggle but never give up hope. On top of feeding, clothing and parenting these children they have a feeding program for the community. Kids and adults alike line up outside their kitchen window at lunchtimes to get a plate of steaming hot food that they wouldn’t be able to get at home. The faces of those who they help I will never forget as long as I live.

How Ebenezer Village started

In 2003, Mathilda and Rebekka got involved with supporting a little orphaned AIDS baby in Atlantis, who was living with her granny in her neighbours garden in a shack. As the granny was aware of the condition of the baby she was not interested in taking care of the basic needs of the little girl. Mathilda took the little one in for a couple of hours a day to bath her and give her a few warm bottles. Formula or clothes given to the granny were given to her other daughter who also had a baby of the same age. Little Anneline had a tough life and suffered from a lot of related illnesses to the HIV Virus. Mathilda requested through Child Welfare to foster the baby as we felt for the little girl and her situation. The granny was worried to lose the government grant, which she had been using for herself to buy alcohol, and within hours after the Child Welfare had contacted her, she disappeared. Neither Anneline nor the Granny has been seen since.

After some research they decided to build a home for abused and abandoned babies like Anneline. The aim of the Ebenezer Village is therefore to provide a temporary or long-term safe place for orphaned, abandoned and abused babies. We are trying to optimise a holistic approach where the physical, spiritual, social, intellectual and emotional wellbeing of these children is incorporated. This also includes the care and comforting of terminally ill (AIDS) babies and provide hospice care.

We believe that every baby has the right to have a full stomach, a warm bed and some loving arms. None of these babies asked to be HIV infected, and therefore we want to give them the best loving care, no matter what their life expectancy is. The Ebenezer Village will continue to meet the nutritional needs of the street children and continue the soup kitchen for local children in need.

How can you help?

Due to the shear number of intakes they have on a weekly basis clothes, food, toys and educational materials are always slim pickings so those things are always needed. There are two ways that you could help this amazing foundation. Firstly, from experience, I found that creating awareness in the work place can be very effective, getting others involved and spurring on the movement of giving. While working at my old company we set up a box in our kitchens in which people can put the stuff they had no need for any more and inviting them to go along when we did the deliveries. By doing this we created a bond of giving to others and an awareness through out the company, our actions spurred others into action and it became a revolution of sorts . If you don’t want to get your company involved or would rather do it more personally then give them a call on the below contact details, they always welcome visitors, go meet these amazing kids that always have smiles on their faces or help out with the soup run.

If you want to help out but find it daunting going to Ebenezer Village and prefer someone else with you take a friend or let me know and I’ll join you. These kids taught me a lot in life, the hell that they have been through would make even the hardest person cry and yet they play on and their smiles are the biggest you have ever seen. My heart goes out to them and their new parents who give continually without complaining… Amazing people!

To contact Ebenezer Village

Ebenezer Village
Nottingham Road
Atlantis 7349
Tel./Fax 021 572 11 02

Website