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These past few weeks have been tough. Opposite emotions have emerged in my being. I have been sad, angry, and frightened. I have been amazed, grateful, and glad. How come? If you have been following the news, you will probably have heard of all kinds of natural and man-made disasters, from the latest earthquakes in Italy, wildfires in California to floods in Louisiana, tornadoes, and wars. If I was to make a list, I would probably not finish it in my lifetime. Each disaster, no matter where, no matter how big, has an impact. This strike of tragedy can affect a single person, a small family, a village, a metropolitan area, a country, a small group of people, or millions. No matter what size, each calamity evokes a story of sadness to be told to future generations. Each catastrophe leaves death, a trail of destruction, and shattered dreams behind. Each time I hear such news, I am devastated too.

Then I become grateful. As I take a walk at the beach collecting shells on a vacation, commute to work to earn a living, and return back to a safe home and warm bed to sleep in, I give thanks for my protection and all my blessings in my life. Next, I remember the child that got rescued after hours of uncertainty and fear for her life, I keep thinking of all the people who aren’t so lucky. I cannot imagine what life is like in an emergency shelter, a refugee station, a tent city. I cannot watch the news any longer. I cannot bear seeing the anguish in the faces of all the victims having lost everything in a matter of seconds. I don’t even try to understand why these catastrophes happen. All I know is that I feel for the people and animals. I might not know them personally, but that does not matter.

Each time I hear such news I feel for everyone because I am an empath. I can feel pain across the miles even if I am safe myself. Back in my comfortable bed, I feel helpless. If only I could help. If only I could help, I would pay for new homes, new things, and a new start. The shop owner could rebuild his business; the children would have a school again; the family would have a home to come home to; the churchgoers could rebuild their place of worship; the local hospital could perform miracles of recovery again. If only I could help where help is needed.

It is my dream to have a foundation one day so it can help many people. While my resources to do such might be too limited at this point in time, I use my inner strength as an empath in the meantime. I pray for recovery, new homes, and reunions of missing people. I pray so that one day I can pay for new homes, new things, and a new start. No questions asked. Nothing wanted in return. Just help where help is needed. For now, I pray for you, beautiful people and gorgeous places. Stay safe.

Love,

Barbara

Follow my Word press site for more inspirations here:
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Sunset in Venice, Italy, signifying the end of a day. A new beginning follows the next day.

This month, June, has turned out to be a very eventful month leaving me with two significant occurrences that will change my life forever. As I walked across the stage of the Petco Park Stadium in San Diego celebrating the achievement and conferral of my degree, I got emotional when I shook the dean’s hands. Certainly, it was an exciting day that I had looked forward to for months. Certainly, my accomplishment was worth being proud of. Certainly, I had all rights to shed a few happy tears. However, those cheerful tears were not only mine. As I walked off the stage and looked into the crowds of families and friends applauding the graduates, I thought of my dad. He had passed away a few days earlier. He was the kind of person, who would not always express his feelings directly. Rather, he did so in silent whispers and small gestures. He could not cheer me loudly on that day. Nevertheless, I could feel that he was proud of me. Perhaps it was him crying cheerful tears on that day.

Several speakers at the commencement pointed out that it is not necessarily the degree itself that will make a difference in the world but what we do with it. While a commencement ceremony signifies a celebration of achievement and the end of a student’s studies, it is a new beginning. It is a chance for the graduate to use the knowledge received for the greater and make a mark in the world. It is a chance to leave the world a little better than before. It is a chance for a new beginning of success. Some students use it to better the lives of others in their communities, other students fly to the moon to change the entire world. A student becomes a graduate, a professor becomes a former instructor, and a university an alma mater leaving memories and wisdom.

The same can be said when a parent returns to our spiritual home leaving many memories of childhood and transferred knowledge behind in the hope that the next generation would carry on the tradition and legacy, a kind of new beginning although heavily disguised. It takes courage to love because suffering and loss is an inevitable part of loving. It takes courage to let go. It takes courage to graduate and venture out into the world. Thank you, Dad, for your courage. I hope I’ll make you proud again someday. Meanwhile, fly with the angels to the moon. I’ll see you there some day.

Love, Barbara

Sources:

National University www.nu.edu

Petco Park, San Diego http://petcoparkevents.com/

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Category: end

If only I could help

Two New Beginnings

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