Shining Souls

Always there is hope.

Which is easy to say.

Had an old boyfriend who played that fiddle on me the morning after we’d had sex.

“I have hope!” he would declare.

Maybe I wasn’t half bad. Or maybe he just wasn’t getting it enough. Who knows where his brain was at. 

As it turned out, we didn’t last too long anyway.

Three full moons ago I met a stranger, who became a friend.

I love where I am at in my life. It’s easy for me to slither around. I’ve learned how to accept what is. To be in the now. To think good thoughts. To not allow friction to raise my heckles. To stay calm. Feet firmly planted.

Art fills my heart with joy. So does creative thinking. Music. 

Same with old souls

There’s always a great connection.

In finding this new friend, surprisingly I found more out about myself.

Yes, I suppose life is school. Except you never really graduate.

In his eyes I saw a bright, bright future full of the zest for life and for living. But sadly, it came with a very dark cloud over his shoulder.

Alcoholism.

It’s been almost seven years since I got rid of mine. I could see where he was at. I accepted everything about him. Didn't think any less.

Fun is always had when we are together. So is wonderful conversation, sometimes even dancing.

Hints of a crossroads for him prompted me to provide some resources. Subtlety I gave what I could, what I knew.

But at a distance.

Every once in a while we would connect again. When it was right for him.

Traces of hope started to emerge. I fed more. Again, I stood back.

This was something I didn't realize about myself. Usually I am a take the bull by the horns type of person. An action taker, when I see something that needs to be done. I do it.

At whatever cost.

Dad always used to say, "Patience is a virtue, a virtue which I have none."

Daily I find myself consumed with hope for him. He is in my every thought. That he will find the peace he needs to free himself. To reach out for the help he needs.

To save his shining soul.

Staggered Hope

Used to think I knew what I wanted.

Be careful what you wish for. Heard that before.

You can climb the mountain, but when you get to the top what do you have left?

To slide down on your butt.
Dreams pop in and about. Dabbled tribes of faces come and go.

Life’s missions unfold. Deadened goals eliminated.

What’s in the past stays there. The Universe designs the landscape for tomorrow.

Things happens exactly the way they should. Doesn’t always feel right.

Happiness is earned. Transcribed through time.

Affirmations scribe healing.

Today I feel deafened by sadness.

No job. No money.

Yet I’m able to reach out.

Find food. Feel love.

Appreciate the support.

For tomorrow, there’s staggered hope.

Love it Out

It’s what you say that counts. How you say it.

The universe listens.

Always.

From the heart. What you talk about goes out there.

Then it comes back.

Depends how much love you put into it, as to how strong the return will be.

I personally reflect a lot on the power of our minds.

Through sickness, in issues of drama, in days when all hope seems lost.

Daylight lingers longer. Our psyches adjust. Yet veins of our demise swirl in the news. What can we do? Are we doing enough?

Never.

Not unless, you send it out there.

Miracles happen. Circumstances unexplained. It can be done.

By sending love. Hope and love to the Universe. There’s power in the now. I believe it. Each hour and in every day. Try it.

If everyone in the world put out an ounce of love each hour, the dreams of today may unfold tomorrow.

We don’t know much about the “what ifs.” Yet in contemplating the hope, what can we do? We can speak now. Say it. Say it often.

Elevate the reason. Not to hasten the need.

To love and to be loved.

No more hindering hope.

We can love it out.

Documenting Hope

How do you suppose that looks?

Tonight I saw a printout of the photograph of the starved child being hounded by a large scavenger bird - the vulture. With text at the bottom denouncing the photographer who took the picture, left the scene and then three months later committed suicide. No word on whether or not the child survived.

The picture is emotional. So were the words a young teenager typed underneath it. Something to the affect of “If you think you’re having a bad day and are upset because you can’t have what you want…”

Don’t quote me as I didn’t write it down word for word. However, I have to say that the intention vibrated into my psyche. 
While the somber emotion viewed in the picture doesn’t necessarily bring hope, the words she attached underneath it all did. Her wish was to find a way to end poverty.

The recital I’ve been rehearsing for Uganda Wishes reverberated in my noggin. I’ve said it over and over again. I want to document the hope, not the doom and the gloom and the despair. But tonight I realized the possibilities of illustrating hope are much bigger. There is inspiration in words. And power in a photograph. Put the two together and there is much, much more.

There is documenting hope.
I'll say it again... stay tuned. 
I leave tomorrow for Uganda.

Support Uganda Wishes!

“Once we make up our mind to do something, all we have to do is allow the Universe to join us.” Tori Hartman.

Uganda Wishes is a planned multi-media art project documenting the hope of the African people. Looking away from the doom and the gloom our focus is to record the aspirations of these people. What makes them happy? What gives them hope? What makes them smile? What are their wishes for our World?

At the Mengo Hospital in Kampala we’ll visit the Saturday Club. Eighty HIV positive orphans who travel to the hospital once a month for a nutritious meal, clothing and support.

Also at Mengo Hospital is a HIV/AIDS clinic, the TB clinic and nearby another orphanage. All of which will provide opportunities to record faces, names and aspirations.

Further afield in the mountains near the Congo border in Bwera there are a group of Canadians building a school. Here communities living outside of the big city centers face different challenges. How is life different for them? What do we see that they don’t have? What do they feel gives them hope in their day? What do they wish for our World?

Below you will find a number of different items that have been donated to this project. The project email address is ugandawishes@gmail.com. You may contribute directly (email bank transferred preferred) or by contributing a payment towards any one of the following items in exchange:

How to support Uganda Wishes:

• Items are available on a first come first serve basis!
• Email ugandawishes@gmail.com with the item number, name and support price for further details or to contribute.
• Once you receive confirmation arrangements will be made for payment contribution and exchange of goods or services

Item #1: Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper, Autographed by SARK - SPOKEN FOR!

VALUE $18.95 (US) ugandawishes@gmail.com

Item#2: One Hour Couching with SARK! - SPOKEN FOR!

VALUE $250 (US) ugandawishes@gmail.com

Item#3: Basic Boating Crewing Course WITH ADDED BONUS Six Month Club Sail Membership (expires April 2011) - Vancouver Island Maritime Academy (Victoria, BC Canada)

VALUE $1,000 (Cnd) ugandawishes@gmail.com

Item#4: Three-Session Professional Business Coaching
ROI-Coaching is a revolutionary new learning model that grows critical management skills in managers at any level in an organization. Via teleconference, managers work one-on-one with a professional management coach to develop skills that they then immediately use in their own work environment. This immediate application of new knowledge and skills ensures skill transfer and improved manager performance.

VALUE $750 (US) ugandawishes@gmail.com

Item #5: Women's Counselling Session - 1.5 hours
Sherry Bezanson, M.Ed., RCC is a social entrepreneur since 1995. She is passionate about helping other women achieve autonomy and empowerment. Sherry has a Masters in Counselling Psychology from the University of Victoria.

VALUE $250 (Cnd) ugandawishes@gmail.com

Item #6 Astrology Session – 1.5 hours SPOKEN FOR!

With 25 years experience studying Astrology - you must know the exact time of your birth for an accurate reading!
VALUE $350 (Cnd) ugandawishes@gmail.com


With gratitude for the opportunity and support I have already received, I am calling myself the project lead and depart for Uganda November 2. I return December 15 to share Uganda Wishes with the World. Check this blog for updates when power and Internet access are accessible to me!


Uganda Wishes gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following: Alice King, Susan Aerial Rainbow Kennedy (SARK), Sherry Bezanson, Authentic Sue, Succulent Leslie, Daring Dawn, Vancouver Island Maritime Academy, Gifted Marilyn and Friends of Mengo Hospital.


Most importantly, thank YOU for your support in reading this!
With love,
Jane Victoria King
Project Lead
Uganda Wishes

The Gift of Life

As I left the Nova Travel Clinic the nurse touched my arm and looked sternly into my eyes, “You know there’s a problem with Africa.”

“Oh?” I responded thinking to myself - which one might she be referring to?
“Africa gets under your skin,” she continued. “Most people have to go back again.”

I’m off to Uganda for six weeks November 2. To volunteer at the Mengo Hospital. To document the hope of the Ugandan people. (See Uganda Bound.) A project I’ve fondly named Uganda Wishes.

N.B. I am also working on an on-line auction to raise funds for the project – stay tuned!

Tonight I meet up with some of the Board members for the Mengo Hospital Canada. Edward is the special guest. He’s from Kampala the capital of Uganda. I discuss with him my ideas for stories and documentaries. He shifts his stance to look and me and he explains slowly that I really need to understand first the story. Meaning, let them tell you.

Then I ask him, “What makes you smile?”

He talks about his faith. Life here and now and the after life. Then he speaks about his visit to Canada and what he sees. He notices wealth, everywhere. All around. But he asks, “Are people happy?”

In Uganda he explains, owning a vehicle is a luxury. Here a necessity. With choices of big or small.

We go on to chatter about joy and what brings us joy. He smiles when he talks about his relationships with neighbours, people he works with, his wife. All around support. The joy in his life.

I emphasize to him my ideas for documenting the hope of the Ugandans, for inspiration and engagement to the world. Enough of the poverty, AIDS and orphans. What makes people happy? Where do they find their HOPE in a day?

“Your eyes can only see what you don’t have,” he reflects. Then he says, “You can’t buy laughter with money.”
How true. How very true. 

Goodbye Sad Tomorrow Glad

In a hole today. Somewhat suffocating. Dug down deep. Didn’t help that when I stuck my head back up all I felt were tears. Don’t want to say why. Other then that useless, helpless feeling overwhelmed me. Sitting still my mind wonders. Curled up in the embryo position eases up the numbness.

Let the mind wonder. To what? No where to go. Hope slipped around the corner.

At home is peaceful. Refreshing. Alive. A neighbour strolls by. Stops to speak. I invite dinner. The tummy tumbles. Caves into gracious delights. Heartening. I leave to walk. Alone with the dog.

The evening whispers by. Darkness falls. The temperature drops. Goodbye sad. Tomorrow I’ll be glad.