My daughter has been learning about the Cold War at school. That it is now considered history is frightening as it was part of my own childhood. In fact, the end of the cold war was the backdrop of an early and very powerful lesson I learnt as a student myself, that the smallest things can bring about great change. I was a student in the late summer of 1989 and I remember unpacking at my new digs in Frankfurt with the TV news playing behind me. The headline news that day were the 40thAnniversary celebrations of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) which were soon to be followed by similar celebrations for West Germany. Part of the news that night were surveys, which concluded that almost no one believed…

Have you ever heard someone say, "I can do what I like, it's my life!" The reality of these words is partly true, yet, the impact of our decisions ultimately affects others. Whether we acknowledge, thrive on or hardly recognise this reality, simply put —our life impacts others. However, the degree and direction of impact depend on us.  My husband, Gary, and I have worked and served in the non-profit, community sector for the past 27 years here in England. We’re both from the USA, southern-born, having met here in the UK, expatriates and together have raised four kids who are now adults.  How easy it is to think, "We’re empty-nesters have given out plenty, let’s retire and relax.”  While that was in the forefront of my thinking, two years…

As I was thinking about writing this blog, a story came to mind. It was the ancient Indian Proverb about the Blind men and an elephant. In this proverb, six blind men are standing at different parts of an elephant and are describing what they feel. One man is standing by the trunk and describes what he feels as a snake. Another, standing by the ear, describes feeling a fan, whilst another, positioned at the leg, describes feeling a pillar. Soon all the men become cross with each other as they believe their perception of the elephant to be the truth. It takes an outsider, who can see, to come into the story and explain, how all their perceptions are partially true and partially wrong. On a personal note, and…

  A friend recently posted and asked what do you find hard to say? For me it was the words “I love you.” I have lived with love and lived without love and on any given day of the week I will always choose to live with love. I envy my generation. These words are uttered so frequently and with ease. They are said so freely and without baggage but to me those three little words are binding. When I say them to someone I am also saying I will look out for you, I will treat you as I too would like to be treated, when you hurt me I will forgive you. I will always look to call out the best in you. These words have been modelled…