... what the world needs now. And I don't exclude myself from remembering these things.
From my humble and limited President Obama and his wife have brought these qualities back into the White House and good on them for doing it. Like the rest of us they are not perfect and I know that this may not be the whole story of their term in high office. For one thing I don't know enough about US politics to begin to comment on the state of that nation.
But if I think about the public figures in the world right now, I am thankful for President Obama, Angela Merkel, the Queen and Pope Francis ... and I also have a soft spot for Princess Mary (Australia's claim to a throne :-) - perhaps we will become a colony of Denmark one day or at least - and more appropriately - Tasmania might). These people in the most difficult situations of high office give us plenty of doses of good old-fashioned common sense and consideration for others. These were the things my headmistress at Durban Girls' College held out to us as values to live our daily lives by and which have stuck with me.
They are all more substance than glitz and glamour and thank goodness there is something of that left in the world. And importantly they have demonstrated courage in the face of challenge.
I would not want to be in their shoes for all the world in spite of the wealth and privilege they have at their disposal (and good on Ms Merkel for not really having her fingers in these pies). These are among the few people I would happily call your Majesty or Sir or whatever.
So thank you to these figures for continuing to show us that good old-fashioned values still exist in the world. And a major thank you to all those amazing people who allow us to indulge in our selfish pursuit of pleasure during the Festive season - the police, the paramedics and other emergency staff, the workers who clean our cities as we sleep, the fire fighters and so on. They are as much concerned to preserve our dignity and respect even as they go about work that is often disrespected and even vilified.
And finally, a big thank you to all those wonderful people who on a daily basis care for the sufferers of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia, allowing them whatever respect and dignity is left to them in facing the final challenge of their lives. I am constantly amazed when I visit my mother at the love and care and good humour with which these workers go about their daily tasks.
Here endeth the New Year lesson ;-)
From my humble and limited President Obama and his wife have brought these qualities back into the White House and good on them for doing it. Like the rest of us they are not perfect and I know that this may not be the whole story of their term in high office. For one thing I don't know enough about US politics to begin to comment on the state of that nation.
But if I think about the public figures in the world right now, I am thankful for President Obama, Angela Merkel, the Queen and Pope Francis ... and I also have a soft spot for Princess Mary (Australia's claim to a throne :-) - perhaps we will become a colony of Denmark one day or at least - and more appropriately - Tasmania might). These people in the most difficult situations of high office give us plenty of doses of good old-fashioned common sense and consideration for others. These were the things my headmistress at Durban Girls' College held out to us as values to live our daily lives by and which have stuck with me.
They are all more substance than glitz and glamour and thank goodness there is something of that left in the world. And importantly they have demonstrated courage in the face of challenge.
I would not want to be in their shoes for all the world in spite of the wealth and privilege they have at their disposal (and good on Ms Merkel for not really having her fingers in these pies). These are among the few people I would happily call your Majesty or Sir or whatever.
So thank you to these figures for continuing to show us that good old-fashioned values still exist in the world. And a major thank you to all those amazing people who allow us to indulge in our selfish pursuit of pleasure during the Festive season - the police, the paramedics and other emergency staff, the workers who clean our cities as we sleep, the fire fighters and so on. They are as much concerned to preserve our dignity and respect even as they go about work that is often disrespected and even vilified.
And finally, a big thank you to all those wonderful people who on a daily basis care for the sufferers of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia, allowing them whatever respect and dignity is left to them in facing the final challenge of their lives. I am constantly amazed when I visit my mother at the love and care and good humour with which these workers go about their daily tasks.
Here endeth the New Year lesson ;-)
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