The road is long, with many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where, who knows where
But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy – he’s my brother
So on we go, his welfare is my concern
No burden is he to bare, we’ll get there
For I know he would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy – he’s my brother
If I’m laden at all, I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart isn’t filled with gladness of love for one another
It’s a long long road from which there is no return
While we’re on our way to there, why not share
And the load, it doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy – he’s my brother
He ain’t heavy – he’s my brother, he’s my brother, he’s my brother
This song has been removed from the Coronation Playlist, due to complaints about the band’s republican views. They are certainly not alone with their views, but the mainstream media shuts out anti-monarchy comments like they don’t exist.
Support for the monarchy is already at an all-time low. As the King’s Coronation will be publicly funded, at a time of increasing poverty in the UK, it will not endear the King to his “subjects”. Charles does not actually need a coronation, because he is already the king anyway.
It is a myth that the Royal Family are value for money, because they are good for tourism, they are actually quite low down on the list of tourist attractions. The current cost of the coronation to the taxpayer is estimated at £250m.
Many people are trying to get through life as best as they can, with the least amount of unnecessary hassle. I have known people whose lives have hit rock-bottom, but they managed to bounce back and then they continued to work on their own personal development. Unless we have growth, we stagnate.
One of the biggest hindrances for anyone trying to improve their life, is having people in it, who are a drain on their positive energy. I came across the “selfcarexpress” image below which sums it up quite well.
When you rid yourself of people who are a hinderance to your happiness, life is easier.
“Eye-locks” is a Bipolar/Asperger’s memoir in narrative form that describes the triumph of love over mental illness. While not a lesson plan, it documents Ellen’s therapeutic journey to finding love against all odds. Useful for therapists, and for patients with Bipolar Disorder and/or Asperger’s Syndrome.
The past year has gone and it is time for a fresh approach to achieve any goals that were not realised in 2022.
The road ahead is not always an easy journey, and one of the things that makes the journey harder is when we lose anyone dear to us. Hope, helps us to look to the future and deal with new problems along the way, but without the help and support of friends in difficult times, the challenge is greater.
I think the benefit of online friends is greatly underestimated. One of my favourite proverbs is a Japanese proverb, “One kind word can warm three winter months.” It is not just what is said to you, but who says it, that can make a big difference to how you feel. People from other countries have said just the right words, at the right time to me, which changed my outlook and helped my morale greatly. Kindness generates inner strength, when it is most needed.
People who care about other people, infuse love into the world. People who help other people, bring cohesion to the bonds of society. The most valuable thing you can give to someone, is your time and attention.
May the road you travel on, in 2023 be paved with love and kindness, and your journey be pleasant and fulfilling.
“As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other.”
I usually do not post music over a certain length, as people tend to prefer shorter tracks on a blog. I have made an exception with this Runrig song and chosen a longer version, over 8 minutes, because I consider it to be one of the most emotionally charged songs I have ever heard. Runrig pay their respects to the brave people who have fallen in battle. I hope you can enjoy, and appreciate this music as much as I do.
Rise And Fall
I’ve seen the sunlight shining on the valley
I’ve seen the shadows darken on the deep
I’ve seen the young men riding out for glory
And broken in defeat
There was an hour that never knew a gloaming
The whole of life, enchanted in a day
And we’ll be there, forever in the places
Where we used to be
Passing the hedgerows, moving through the orchards
Through the bocage and breaking out for Caen
Dealing fear and all our dices loaded
With the courage of the dawn
And some will rise and some will fall
To gain the world or lose it all
And that time was mine to hear you when you called
You were our youngest, brightest flower
Walking side by side through our darkest hour
And we’ll take this cup, this portion evermore
I’ve seen the last wave breaking on the beaches
I’ve seen the angels crying on the wire
I’ve seen the first star up and brightly shining
Couldn’t rise much higher
Now we’re waiting here not getting older
But we can dream like we cannot believe
With all those fools, those great historic moments
That flatter to deceive
And some will come and some will go
To rise on wings in the skies of gold
Or to fall down to the final, silent cold
When I was young it burned so bright
The only son, a rising Christ
Now I’m left here in the fall out of that light
“There is nothing natural about extreme inequality. It is the predictable result of an economic system that distributes income, based on who owns the means of production, rather than according to any common-sense principle of labour contribution, human needs or justice.”
– Jason Hickel
Jason Edward Hickel is an economic anthropologist whose research focuses on ecological economics, global inequality, imperialism and political economy.
Image Source Credit: Humane Society for Hamilton County (Indiana)/Facebook
The poignant image is of Ritter, a dog in Indiana. The dog was separated from his family because of unfortunate circumstances. The effect on any dog that is abandoned, for whatever reason, can be devastating.
Although Christmas is a common time for people to get a dog, it is not just this time of the year that results in dogs being abandoned after a short while, it happens at other times of the year as well.
Getting a puppy is similar to having a baby, in a sense that they have to be cared for, a lot, and are very time-consuming. You have to make changes in your life to cater for your dog’s needs. Many people do not realise the amount of time and effort that is needed, or the commitment that is required. This often means that they are ill-prepared and cannot cope with the demanding position that they find themselves in.
Be loyal to your dog and you will be rewarded with unconditional love.
Snowflakes flutter down and land on my head like confetti
Reminding me of the day we became joined in matrimonial bliss.
Your eyes shone like sapphires as you glided along in your wedding dress
Not just the centre of everyone’s attention, but for me, the centre of the universe.
We sealed the promise of till-death-do-us-part with the longest ever, long lingering kiss
Bonding like lovebirds singing a perpetual song of everlasting love, with devoted, undying faithfulness.
Christmastime brings different problems for different people, but it can be a particularly difficult time for someone who is in the early stages of recovering from alcohol misuse. The Christmas period brings about extra challenges for someone who has accepted that their life has become intolerable with alcohol in it, and they are doing their best to become a sober member of society.
Embracing sobriety can feel like being an outcast among friends, or exclusion from the usual family activities. It can feel like self-inflicted loneliness for some.
Unfortunately, there are people who encourage them to have a drink. Sometimes it is by an alcoholic who has been unable to quit, and sometimes it is by someone who genuinely thinks that “just one or two won’t do any harm”.
Just one drink can do a great deal of harm to someone who has been working at total abstinence. It is like a game of Snakes and Ladders; one drink is the equivalent of landing on a snake and going back to Square 1. All the previous hard work, and it is hard work, will be undone.
In cultures where alcohol is socially acceptable and is encouraged at Christmas and New Year, it is fine for people who can drink without experiencing problems. For someone who is embarking on a journey of total abstinence, it can be the most difficult time of the whole year.
If you know someone who has chosen to give up alcohol, please give them praise and encouragement, it goes a long way in helping them to succeed, in what can be the one of the most difficult times of their life.
Ronnie's Blog 