First Day Thoughts

A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm

– HENRIK IBSEN

So here we are staring down a new year full of as many hopes and possibilities and dreams as we have ever had.

And I wonder what will befall me.

What will befall you.

It is a daunting thought.

It is an exciting thought.

Ibsen got it right when he said a community is like a ship. I think it is too but sometimes we forget, becoming focused on our own needs and concerns. I think we are all part of the crew on the ship and we are all capable of stepping up and steering it through troubled waters if we have to.

We can get through the rough waters by showing kindness, compassion and tolerance for others. Those qualities are lights shining on the water. Guiding us.

So that’s what I want to do this year.

Take the helm if I have to.

As well as making me want to say – Ahoy, me hearties – it is a thought that cheers me.

I do like to think we are all in this together.

28 thoughts on “First Day Thoughts”

  1. Happy New Year Selma! I will be eagerly anticipating another year of great blog posts from you. Stopping by here always means good reading and I never know what I will find! I so agree with your sentiment that we are all in this together. I believe that our purpose in life is to help each other on the journey. Your goals of kindness, compassion, and tolerance are ones we would all do well to work harder on. As the saying goes, “those hardest to love are the ones who need love the most”. Thanks for the reminder!

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  2. Yo ho ho! and a happy new year to you, Selma. Like, Josie, I look forward to reading great blog posts from you ’11. But I guess they’ve be few and far between …seeing as you’ll be working on your novel and your Masters…won’t you. 🙂 DavidM

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  6. Oh my gosh, Sel. We were on the same wavelength!! I put sailing terminology and metaphors in my new year’s post too!

    Yes, we are all in this together. Absolutely. …and I’d be a member of your crew any day of the week and twice on Sundays. xoxo

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  7. wonderful words selma. and in a strange way synchronicitous because i just finished watching the movie ‘titanic’ again, and there were so many examples of people being together on board a ship. but of course, even with wickednesses, there was honor and most of all, there was love deeper than even the rolling water that swallowed that ship. so i figure that given we are on a ‘good ship in fair weather’, this should be a more than wonderful year, counting blessings, looking forward, happy new year

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  8. hehe every time I hear ahoy me maties, I think of captain highliner, sayin, ever been to sea billy? which leads me to think about the captain on the plane in the movie airplane saying ever seen a grown man naked joey? or ever been in a turkish prison joey? hahahaha my giggle for the morning!

    Your right, we cannot sit around and wait for our fate, if needed, we have to take control, and steer our own way through and we can do it!

    Hope your new year is off to a good start!

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  11. A nice, uplifting post to start of the year, good one Sel. We are indeed a community, a family of sorts, a tribe perhaps….let’s keep the momentum up and running, full speed ahead Matie!!!

    David, thanks for stopping in at Veggies, wonderful comment.

    Hugs and Happy Happy year, G 🙂

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  14. Lovely words Selma – wouldn’t it be good if all these flooded towns and cities in Queensland were ships that could just float away, with everyone all safe and together. I think it sometimes takes a disaster to show people that we are all one people and not just individuals.

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  15. Hi JOSIE:
    OMG. It is so good to hear from you. I thought you had stopped blogging. It has completely made my day to hear from you. I also believe our purpose in life is to help each other on the journey. It is quite a rewarding way to look at things. It makes me feel less alone too. Oh, it is so great to have you stop by. YAY!!

    Hi DAVID:
    *nodding very seriously* Yes, I will. Ha ha. I want to blog a lot more than I did last year. My blogging was very patchy in 2010. That has to change. Blogging is very good for me mentally. I don’t think I will be able to blog every day but I certainly want to do it more regularly than I have been. Happy New Year my dear friend!

    Hi JOSIE:
    ✮♥♡

    Hi MAGS:
    I hope you have a wonderful New Year too. Keep those videos coming!

    Hi MAMA ZEN:
    Wouldn’t that be brilliant? If we were that enlightened I would eat my hat or at least my baseball cap. I live in hope that it happens 😀

    Hi STEPH:
    No way! Great minds definitely think alike. WOW.

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  16. Hi TIPOTA:
    What an eloquent way of putting it. Honour is something I strive for and I crave. I think it makes such a difference. ‘Titanic’ does really highlight that. I’m going to have to watch it again now. Love that movie.

    Hi CATHY:
    Hahaha. Love it. Thinking about it gives me a giggle too. Hope your new year is off to an amazing start too!

    Hi ROSHAN:
    I wish the same for you too. And much, much more. Here’s to 2011!

    Hi SHIONA:
    Oh, wouldn’t that be marvellous? I wish for all of those things for you too. Have a brilliant 2011!

    Hi GERALDINE:
    Full speed ahead. Yay. That’s definitely the way to go for this year. I’m ready 😀

    Hi DEBORAH:
    So nice to hear from you. It is a cheery phrase, isn’t it? Always makes me smile. Hope you have an amazing 2011!

    Hi LISSA:
    I am sure the voyage will go well with all of us on the crew. It’s going to be fun! Happy New Year.

    Hi GABRIELLE:
    It would be the best thing ever. My heart bleeds for the flood victims. How awful for them all. I feel so bad for them. Let’s hope the government does the right thing by them.

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  18. Happy New Year!!!!! I am definitely looking forward to 2011 and reading your blog! I am ready to sail away with you on a new adventure. Where to Captain?

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  22. Belated Happy New Year!

    Finally got a decent Internet connection; I’ll be back home tomorrow, and should be more regular with the blogging and the comments

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  23. Hi MELEAH:
    I couldn’t agree more. Kindness is the word of the year. And we ARE all in this together!

    Hi TBALL:
    The Bahamas look good. I’ve always wanted to go there. I’ll pick you up on the way. Have a great New Year, hon!!

    Hi HEATHER:
    Oh, right on. That’s so important. I hope 2011 brings you many laughs, a bit of peace and absolutely no spiders 😆

    Hi LAURI:
    And to you, Lauri. Wishing your writing success continues and that things just get better and better. 😀

    Hi GERALDINE:
    It actually is a mural in a local park. It’s been there for years and is beautifully done. It depicts some of the homes that used to be in the area. The header is a classic Sydney terrace house. Sadly, I think the mural is going to be removed due to the area being redeveloped. It is such a shame. I mean, there are only so many blocks of flats a community needs. Someone needs to put a stop on these developers. Maybe I should chain myself to the mural…..

    Hi TRAVELRAT:
    My connection’s been a bit dodgy too. Great to hear from you. Have a brilliant New Year!

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  25. Wanted to stop by to wish you a happy new year, Selma! It’s been a joy and a pleasure getting to know you over this past year, and I wish you nothing but the best in 2011. X’s and O’s

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  26. Hi KATE:
    Oh yes. Sparklers all the way. And tiaras. I could cope with anything if I had a tiara 😆

    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU XXXXX

    HI KATE:
    It has been a joy and pleasure getting to know you too. I enjoy your blog and hope you have some recipes for me to try out this year. You had some delicious ones last year. Happy New Year XXOO

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