''Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without an element of risk."....on opportunity

''Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without

an element of risk."

Who first said this, or where the quote comes from, I have

no idea. However, regardless of not knowing the origin of the quote,

in my view it has merit.

In order to discover anything new to us, at some point, we often have to

un-zip our established and comfortable mindsets. 

(According to those in the know, consciously we can only

pay attention to one thought at the time, so the only way to

have a new thought is to let go of the old one.)

As a kid, I couldn't stomach celery. The taste of it made me feel

nauseous so I decided that I had to avoid celery for the rest

of my life. So I did, until...someone handed me a celery stick

covered in peanut butter. I love peanut butter, so I decided

to try it. I loved it, not only the peanut butter, but the combination

of the celery and peanut butter. I now love crispy celery on its

own, in salads, and smothered in peanut butter.

I had been given an opportunity to challenge my mindset

concerning celery. There was a risk that I was going to

feel nauseous, but there was also the possibility

that I was going to experience something worthwhile (and tasty).

Being able to quickly to do some form of ''risk assessment'', is

in my view a handy, and from a survival point of view, 

a very useful attribute.

''If I do this (whatever this may be) what is the risk that

it may have ''bad/dire'' consequences?"

Once we have established what we view the consequences to be,

often we then decide whether we are willing to ''risk it'' or not.

But here is the thing as I see it; it can be easy to pay so much

attention to the ''risky bits'' that we forget to consider possible

opportunities that may be available to us as well.

Trying something new always carries with it the possibility/risk of

''failing, making a fool of ourselves, falling flat on our face, being 

laughed at, seem stupid, etc.etc.''

This is true, this may happen, but it may not. 

People we now call friends were once strangers, 

skills we now have, were acquired on the back of ''mistakes'',

''exotic'' foods we now love (sushi, pizza, Asian food, Mexican, etc.etc)

we learnt to love by taking the risk of trying some.

Countries we now love to visit, we have learned to love by taking

the risk of leaving our home countries with all their comforts and

familiarities.

Opportunities, even when there may be some risk involved, become

visible to us when we ask: ''Yes, there is some risk involved, but what

if there are some amazing opportunities as well?

Taking a ''risk'' and taking a ''calculated risk'', may I suggest

are two different things.

If we do a ''risk assessment'' before we go ahead and do

something, in my view, that would constitute taking a calculated risk.

Running a red traffic light, that in my view is plain risky. (There are too 

many variables at stop lights to be able to do a ''true'' risk assessment.

I guess perhaps one could say that the opposite of a ''calculated risk'',

is ''gambling''.)

Risk averse, though many of us may be and perhaps rightly so,

I still believe it may be useful for us to consider:

''Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without

an element of risk.''

''The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity.

The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.''

(Winston Churchill)

''You can measure opportunity with the same 

yardstick that measures the risk involved.

They go together.''

(Earl Nightingale)

''Life may be risky business,

but that doesn't mean we shouldn't live it.''

(Citizen Z)

about the painting: acrylic on canvas

The face peeking through the zip is Andy Warhol

What is beauty? In my opinion, a horse......

''I call horses ''divine mirrors'' - they reflect back the emotions

you put in. If you put in love and respect, kindness and curiosity,

the horse will return that.'' (Allan Hamilton)

Some folks see a horse and somehow instantly get an urge to want to

control it, to harness and use its power, in short,

subjugate it.

Why??

A few days ago a ''behind the scene'' reportage on what happens

to many race horses after they stop racing aired here in Australia.

One after the other blood curdling image of the violence that

the horses were subjected to rolled before our eyes.

WHY?

Surely these noble creatures who have served mankind for thousands 

of years one way or another, deserve better.

From a horse's mouth

I am a horse, no more no less.

And I have served you, 

given you my best.

At sunup, at sundown,

I've never let you down,

with you on my back,

hurtling across the ground.

I have pulled heavy carts,

canons, guns and other parts,

endured weeks of battles

tho bullets around me did dart.

I have endured times of hunger,

times without a moments slumber,

no roof over my head,

through rain, storm and thunder.

I have been prodded, 

I've been whipped,

my hooves fettered, 

my teeth chipped.

Now that I'm old

and my gait quite slow.

My question is this:

Two-legged beast, 

what will you do now? 

(Citizen Z)

I am not a ''horse'' person, I don't ride, I don't

go to races, I don't have anything to do with horses at all

except for loving them.

They are beautiful creatures that pose absolutely no threat

to human beings. On the contraire, we are a threat to them.

Consider with me:

''What is a man without the beasts?

If all the beasts were gone, man would

die from a great loneliness of the spirit.

For whatever happens to the beasts,

soon happens to man.

All things are connected.''

(Chief Seattle)

''The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable

and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough

to carry a man upon his back.''

(Amber Senti)

ps. Have you watched the movie ''The Horse whisperer''? 

It's worth a look.

(about the painting: ink on water colour paper)

Give peace a chance.....and let go of the ego

The peace sign was first used in 1958, designed by British

artist Gerald Holtom.

He made it for a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament march,

but the sign has since come to represent peace in general.

World Peace. Is it a possibility?

According to many Miss Universe hopefuls, world peace is

often quoted as being their number one priority.

There is such a thing as an International Day of Peace, often

called ''World Peace day'', observed annually on the 21 September.

However, the number of countries committed to observing it each

year is information I unfortunately could not find.

(Perhaps there is no actual number.)

If we mean ''the absence of any conflict, violence and/or hostility'' when

we use the term peace, then in my view, world peace is

not possible. Which does not mean that world peace is not

something to strive towards, it most definitely is,

I am just not so sure that human beings are capable

of making it happen.

A disagreement, a difference of opinion, a misunderstanding, can

easily escalate into a conflict, which can easily escalate into hostility

and violence of some kind.(verbal and/or physical)

And it does not take much sometimes for a serious conflict to arise:

''My team is the best! What? No way, my team is way better.

Hip-hop is the best music! What?? You're crazy, Metal rules!

That's my parking spot! That's my seat! You cheated!

I wasn't ready! etc.etc.etc.''

The smallest of a perceived slight can start a fight.

With someone we love, with a friend, with a colleague,

 with a family member, even with a stranger.

The ego, a pesky critter that we all possess,

often has a short fuse and it doesn't take much for it

to take a hold of our emotions and ability to think and behave

rationally.

''The ego is only an illusion, but a very influential one. Letting

the ego illusion become your identity can prevent you from

knowing your true self. Ego, the false idea that what you

have or what you do, is a backwards way of assessing and

living your life.'' (Wayne Dyer)

Gandhi: ''Be the change you want to see in the world.''

World peace, that's a tall order for any one person to achieve,

but becoming a peaceful person, is in my view 

 very possible.

The rambunctious ego can be managed and subdued

with a little help of mindfulness and self-reflection.

For instance:

Give up trying to ''control'' people and outcomes.

Find some time, even if just a few minutes here and there, to be still.

(Turn off all i-Thingy's)

Try to be open-minded and not engage in absolutism.

(Black and white thinking) Do some self-reflection,

and review your positions/opinions now and then.

Try to be tolerant towards others and yourself.

Let go of the past and embrace the now.

If we were to decide to seek peace and co-operation,

tolerance and open-mindedness rather than to be ''right''

as our primary goal, wouldn't that be great?

Coz maybe then, we would be able

to give peace a chance.

about the image: Teddy makes a stand for peace. 

Ink and water colour on paper. Edited in Photoshop.

Hearts need to be handled with care..........

Is it easier to say No, than to say Yes?

Is it easier to be critical than to be encouraging?

Is it easier to find flaws than to find good points?

Is it easier to be judgmental than to be open-minded?

These are questions I have asked myself many times.

I have also asked myself what it may do to a child who

from an early age is subjected to harsh criticism, judgments,

and reminded of their flaws and failings at every turn.

What happens to the heart of a child who is criticized

but seldom encouraged, who has his/her flaws pointed out but seldom

 his/her strengths, his/her mistakes punished but his/her

successes seldom rewarded, his/her tears belittled and scoffed at,

but seldom dried by a compassionate hand?

I think we all know what happens.

A heart, constantly subjected to ''poisoned'' arrows (words),

often has no other choice than to harden itself in order

to survive and this, can often have dire consequences.

Words are powerful. 

With words we can light someone up from the inside out,

 or we can cause damage that leaves irreparable scars.

The heart, (in my view) is that innermost center of our emotions, 

our beings, that still inner voice that guides us, often strong yet

simultaneously also fragile.

(Much like an egg. Place an egg tip to tip between your

thumb and your index finger and try to squash it.

It will not be squashed.

However, the slightest knock to the side of the

egg will crack it.)

In my view, I think that as parents we often get so busy that

we can forget how literally children often interpret

what we say. 

In the heat of busyness we may say something like: ''Watch what

you're doing, don't be so clumsy!''

The child may hear that as: Mum/dad thinks that I am clumsy and clumsy

people are no good. Mum/dad thinks that I am no good.

As adults, we often hide behind sarcasm in order to get away

with saying something hurtful without having to be responsible

for the hurt we may cause.

''Is that what you are going to wear?''

''You don't own a hairbrush?''

''I guess ignorance is bliss.''

If the person looks upset at hearing those words,

usually the person who made the sarcastic remark responds with:

''What? Can't you take a joke?''

Which commonly makes the upset person feel even more upset.

We follow our hearts, we open our hearts,

we listen to our hearts, and 

we often take things people say to heart.

Which is why I believe that it is very important

that when we speak, we are mindful of the words we use.

Especially with children.

A child's heart is tender and needs encouragement and support

just as much as steady and clear instructions.

It may be easier to just say no, but an explanation for the reason 

for the no may be more helpful. 

It may be easier to be critical and point out the flaws,

 but pointing out the positives and suggesting

 where improvements can be done may be more helpful.

It may be easier to be judgmental and follow a black and white

mindset, but offering alternative viewpoints may be more

helpful.

''Children learn more from what you are,than what you teach.''

(W.E.B. Du Bois)