Stepping closer to the light at the end of the tunnel

In the depths of winter, I finally found there was in me an invincible summer.
- Albert Camus, author

Stepping closer to the light at the end of the tunnel

Hard times are inevitable--death, financial struggle, family problems, the loss of a job, depression--all of these tough times are just seasons.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "This too shall pass," and you can apply it to both the good times and the bad.

The thrill of a new relationship won't endure forever, just as the grief of losing a loved one won't either. So endure the hardships of life, knowing that time will eventually heal your wounds and you will make it through.

Think about what struggles have occurred in your life and what they taught you. No matter how dim the light at the end of the tunnel seems, it is still a light. Each day is an opportunity for that light of hope to get closer and closer, until eventually the clouds above your head part and you feel the forgotten sunshine on you again. Overcoming pain makes you stronger and better equipped to handle the next valley.

Now from me...

Sur une note qui donne à réfléchir~On a sobering note...

Ok on August 29th,2005... Hurricane Katrina made landfall in South east Louisiana.

A sobering thought: Please take a moment today in the midst of all the everyday things, the stresses & the joys in your world & be mindful of the survivors of Katrina from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana & Texas.

Today, observations on the anniversary of Katrina will be made with many reflections such as mine. And many will bring their own unique perspective, like I, to express what it means, not means, should have meant on this occasion.

There are still 4 years later well over 3,000+ people in Louisiana alone who were swept out to sea and many who are still MIA.

It is rather sad that now it has become a short byte on the news and even the major networks have not made a comment about it nationally, yet,except CNN. Easy how somethingcan fade so quickly as new troubles loom.

(If you have cable CNN tonight 10pm EST/7pm PST will be doing a piece called "After the Storm" where N.O is today).

I can say to one and all no matter where you sit on how all this happened and what was or not done do something.

And if you cannot do something for the citizens of the Gulf Coast, know among you in your towns are former evacuees who has set up residency. Be mindful that you may not know who you are talking to so if you have something negative to say, keep it to yourself. No matter if you feel people "should let go, move on or what's wrong with you etc" today they do not need to hear that opinion.

In fact it is nothing short of remarkable the improvements that have been made. Make no mistake it will all not come together at one time nor in the way people expect it to.

In the case of N.O you cannot rebuild almost 300 year old city in 4 years. Just like many here who are re sparking their lives & health, this is being done on a far larger scale. Pre Katrina there were 800 restaurants. Post Katrina there are over 1,000. It has been nothing short of extraordinary what ordinary people can do or rise to the challenge.

As of now 72% of N.O pre-Katrina population is there including, the visionaries, entrepreneurs, community activists, artists, planners and people looking to be of service in something bigger then themselves.

Oh the energy is alive & kicking.

Laissez la bonne ville grandir (Let the Good Town Grow!)

But we should not want to forget, ever. Not completely... To do so it will be as human being can do, become complacent & too comfortable. I am not talking about picking at wounds not allowing them to heal, but remember, not letting the ones who died, those communities still building or ones who are still dealing with trauma to have what they endured be in vain...
If you have never met with that level of devastation and shock you have no right to burden someone needlessly.

At least not today...

And if you cannot assist them, assist someone in your community with a kind word, a smile or a flower in honor of them...

I am not so naive as to believe things are idyllic or peachy keen.

Lots need to be done, but I think we are going to set anew, a level or a model for others not only in the U.S. but globally since we have been thrust into being the spectacle in the arena

I love the adage "Barn burn down. Now I can see the sky!"

Que le spectacle bonne ville (Let the Good Town Show)