Do onto others as you would have them do onto you

Do you practice religion?

Yes of course I practice religion, it is part of my very core beliefs.

I may not attend a particular church every week, but I think there is more to religion than being a church goer. It is how you practice your faith in your everyday life and my faith empowers me to treat everyone in my life as an equal. The bible makes it very clear that we must do onto others as you would have them do unto you. It is possible to be a wonderful Christian, who lives by their faith, but doesn’t attend church regularly. I have surrounded myself with wonderful people , some of whom I have met at church, and there are also friends that I have met in my life, who don’t go to church but still consider themselves to be Christian.

God teaches us 🙏 that we should love one another as he so loves us. My brother and I both agree that all religions talk of the practice of loving one another, just that the different religions express this one tenement in fact in different ways. Buddhism, Hindu and Christianity all express loving people equally as their core belief system.

I definitely believe in angels as part of my faith. There has just been too much happen in my life, that could not be coincidence. The only thing that makes sense is to accept that it was divine intervention. Angels exist in out lives, some in human form,and some come to us, as thoughts and intuition.

Our Souls are eternal and we all get to experience the Grace of God when our Souls enter heaven. Til then take care and God bless you all

Music for children

Writing my last post about my childhood, and my love of children’s literature, has made me think deeply about another love of mine, great music for children.

Every since I studied children’s literature at uni I also developed a love for great and fun music for children. When I left uni, I started to do a children’s program called Plenty For Kids, on Plenty Valley fm, here in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. I had a ball producing this program. It featured music, competitions, children talking, writing and performing. There were community promotions, to spread the word, that such a space existed for kids. I look back with fond memories of that time.

The children’s program had finished around the time that The Wiggles really started to become popular. Who could have predicted that a group of guys, joined by being at uni, studying early childhood and a love of music 🎶 combined, would become megastars. They are popular the world 🌎 over and have made millions and made children’s music so very popular . I went with my brother to take my nephew to see The Wiggles and was overcome by the brilliance of their performance. My nephew was so excited, he burst into tears and madly jumped up and down, he too was overcome by how wonderful they were.

I did not know until recently, that one of my favourite musicians here in Australia, has a rich involvement, in writing, producing and arranging children’s music 🎶 for the ABC. It is the well known Scott Aplin, and he has done some really wonderful and intelligent and fun music 🎶 for children. When he was on the ABC program The Recording Studio, viewers were given a very brief look at just how talented he is, when it comes to making music for kids. It is very brief, and to hear about what a multi talented musician he is, look him up online, he definitely has earned his stripes as music director for The Vcoce.

Needless to say I could drone on for hours about music for children. To me re immersing your children in good music is as important for their creativity and imagination, as immersing them in children’s literature.

THE DAYS BEFORE THE INTERNET AND PLAY.

Do you remember life before the internet?

Yes I do remember the days before the internet. I can even remember the days before we all had personal computers and mobile phones.

Childhood was very different then. We were not constantly plugged into devices. Children used to play in the back garden. Sometimes we played with toys 🧸 or creatively invented games with simple objects. The family dog 🐕 was always up for a play.

My brother tells me he can remember that as soon as I had learned to 📚 read, my head was never not in a book. I can remember the books of my childhood, and still have a few from that time. I loved a book about Helen Keller. I devoured Laura Ingalls Little House series..

My childhood was very different to that of my nephew and nieces, but I was determined to give them the experience of reading good children’s literature. I immersed them in everything from the works of Graeme Base to Charlotte’s Web etc. I now buy books for my great niece and can actually give her stories that I have written, that being my collection of dog stories God bless our dogs.

My greatest memory from my childhood was the ambition to be a writer when I grew up. I am definitely a writer now and feel a great pleasure 🙏 in having achieved my childhood dream.

Being a positive force

What are you good at?

What am I good at? I would like to say writing, but I don’t want to big note myself and that depends on the opinion of those who read what I write.

My friends tell me that I am a powerful force for positivity and goodwill. I like being told that as I do strive to be a positive influence on my loved ones. I would like to be remembered as a kind and decent person, who shared her faith and spread love.

What is better, having it all or sharing?

What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?

I am bemused by today’s topic because I believe in Karma and I think the greed in striving to “have it all” is a big part of the evil in our society This is my second response to today’s topic.

If you believe that you need to “have it all” and do so, by means that are greedy, vengeful or do damage to other people,  then karma will play a big part and you will be the ultimate loser.  You can’t generate good karma by questionable evil means. The universe doesn’t operate like that.   Remember we ultimately reap what we sow in the end.   What would you like to be remembered for, someone who was driven by greed and selfishness or someone who shared what they had regardless of the size of their bounty.

I have no doubt that God plays a role in karma and brings about bad karma for those who do wrong by his teachings.   I have no doubt that  God is appalled by some of the actions of some of his children.

If you believe in God, then you must also believe 🙏 in heaven.  To me heaven is a place where greed does not exist, as all of Gods children there will share in the bounty.  Greed and selfishness do not exist in heaven.

At times I wish heaven were a place on 🌎 earth, where we could solve the problems of poverty and greed during our lifetime.

A friend of mine, a fellow artist and dreamer used to say the problems of the world 🌎 would be solved if all the world would learn to share. That would be utopia, heaven on earth.

Such is life.

Karma and the notion of having it all.

What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?

I am bemused by today’s topic because I believe that the greed and selfishness of striving ” to have it all” is responsible for some of the evil in today’s society

There exists someone in my life who seeks to improve their standing and influence by means that are questionable and selfish. This person is greedy and jealous in some ways and seeks to bring about good karma for themselves, by bringing about bad karma for me. Unfortunately this person does have some influence on the circumstances I am in. I wish this person well, because I know you can’t bring about good karma for yourself by trying to bring about bad karma for another. The universe just doesn’t operate like that.

Such is life.

My Father and Susanna

Who would you like to talk to soon?

The 2 people I would most like to talk to are my father and Susanna. I feel they both watch over me. My father passed away in 1997 and I miss him and know he would be proud of my achievements 🙏 since he passed way

Of course I would love to see my beautiful angel lady Susanna again. Cancer claimed her too soon. Kathryn and I both believe that Susanna is running a tearooms up in heaven,and we both look forward to visiting it sometime in the future.

My most treasured belongings

What personal belongings do you hold most dear?

Just like everyone I have personal possessions that have great sentimental value, and I also have a couple of prized possessions that I have lost recently and lament losing them.

The possessions that I have lost recently are jewellery that was given to me by loved one’s 😍. Susanna had given me a strand of cultured pearls and I loved them very much,…… much to my horror they are missing….. and I have a fait idea who did that. Someone who was jealous of my friendship with Susanna and was acting towards me like she had an axe to grind. We live and learn and I lament losing something that meant so much to me.

I also this week lost a diamond 💎 stud earring that had been given to me by my nephew and his fiance. I wanted these earrings to be my forever earrings. I treasured them so much and feel sad I have lost one.

Another thing I treasure is an oil 🖼 painting that a good friend gave me. It is only a small painting but I love it so much, particularly now that friend had passed away several years ago.

I treasure my record collection and in particular the silver vinyl version of Crowded Houses latest record, which was a Christmas gift from a friend.

The possession I treasure most in the world 🌎 is…………. my little dog 🐕 Lily. She brings me love and joy by the bucket 🪣 loads.

Music and Crockery and Good Friends

Do you have any collections?

Yes I do have some collections. I own quite a collection of vinyl records and CDs. My vinyl collection is quite varied and includes some rare and valuable music by Split Enz, Crowded House, Hunters and Collectors and lots of other Australian music from the 80s.

I also have collection of tea cups and saucers, and also collect ornaments and books about angels. I also collect books by Cathy Kelly.

Probably the most treasured thing I have collected over the years would be my good friends. I am lucky to maintain several really good friends and don’t take that for granted.

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

The legacy I want to leave behind is more understanding and empathy for those whom experience mental health issues. I know I have helped a vast number of people on my journey and I hope I leave behind footprints 👣 of understanding and compassion. I hope I will be remembered as a role model.