Amongst this section you will find a selection of writings that we hope will inspire you, or give you food for thought or simply make you smile.

Through the Eyes of a Chimp

I sit here being lonely,with my eyes closed, thinking to myself,
thinking all alone.
You think you're better than me, but you're not,
you're not the only one who feels,
I feel you watching me.
I can't bear to open my eyes,
because I know you're there:
I know you're watching me.

Last night I watched her die.
Did you know she lived in boredom?
Did you know she wanted freedom?
I bet you didn't know,
I bet you didn't even care:
My mother cared.

I lived for her, not you,
she was my life, my everything.
That's why I sit here lonely,
that's why I just don't care.
 
Have you ever lost a loved one?
Then you'll know just how I feel.
You may think I have no emotions,
just because I can't talk to you.
But I do have emotions,
I feel like the whole world has come crashing down upon me.
I'm lonely, I'm scared,
and my life is empty.

So next time you come to this wretched place,
and stare at me, as you always do,
try to remember - I feel pain,
and I miss my loved ones too.

by BM aged 11 (1998)

The Three L's

I have the Three L's
Do you?
I can give you the Three L's
Do you want me to?
I can feel the Three L's
Can you?
We can all share the Three L's
If you allow yourself to!
Do you know the Three L's
Love, Laughter and Light.
I gift them all to you
Please pass them on tonight!

by Janice Horsbury (2003)

Being …

Being … the sound of laughter of a loved one,
Being … holding your love so close that your very breaths become one,
Being … feeling the heartbeat of someone oh so close,
Being … not having to say the words that you feel, they know…
Being … knowing the end of a sentence, before it is spoken,
Being … silence – at times it is Golden,
Being … walking together, steps in unison,
Being … sharing happy times and sad,
Being … trusting them to be there, no matter what,
Being … not having to say ‘sorry’,
Being … loving, laughing, sharing, just being.

By DM (2005)

Sunshine and Rain

The weather for the last few weeks has been very changeable.  There has been lots of rain, and spells of bright sunshine.  This is real life giving weather.  Springtime is so beautiful because of all the growth that takes place.  The sun and the rain are the two essential ingredients for the plant life which seems to appear from nowhere.  The blossom and the early spring flowers are so attractive.   As the plants grow, so do the animals that depend on the plants for their own growth. (And so do the carnivores that feed on the herbivores).  The crux of it is, that we all depend on sunshine and rain for our physical growth.

Of course we need the same ingredients for the development of our emotional/mental/spiritual self.  Every experience we ever have is a combination of sun and rain.  The more we go through the more we grow.  We might prefer sunshine but we all need the rainy times in order to fully appreciate and understand the light and warmth of the sun.  Without rain we remain stunted and immature.

The difference between the physical weather and our emotional weather is that we are all able to choose how we grow from our life experiences.  Every experience can turn is into a more balanced and fully developed person.  Into a more beautiful person.  It is up to each of us to channel our sun and rain.

So when we hit a spot of rain, however heavy it might be, we should not feel weak and bitter about what went wrong, or insecure and vulnerable because of what might or might not happen.  Instead we can use the water to turn us into a sunnier, more positive, and stronger person - a person we could never become without passing through that storm.

by IR (2004)

Sanctuary (A Vision)

Where the blackbirds’ rest
And rabbits’ retreat,
Where dolphins’ dance
In the summer heat,
Where horse tales sway
And owls’ fly by,
Where the mighty oak
Towers high.
Through rain or shine,
And autumn breeze,
Lush green hills
And windswept trees,
The sanctuary stands
Bathed in peace and light,
In universal love
And the Angels’ sight.

by Kerry Ann Lewis (2003)

The Goose Story

Next
autumn, when
you see Geese
heading South for
the Winter, flying along
in V formation, you might
consider what science has dis-
covered as to why they fly that way:
as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an
uplift for the bird immediately following.  By
flying the V formation the whole flock adds at least
71% greater flying range that if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community
can get where they are going more quickly and easily
because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
When
a goose falls
out of formation,
it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of trying to go it alone
and quickly gets back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have as much sense as a goose,
we will stay in formation
with those who are headed the same way we are.
When
the Head Goose
gets tired, it rotates back
in the wing and another goose flies point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs
with people or with geese flying South.
Geese
honk from behind to
encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
What do we say when we honk from behind?
Finally,
and this is important,
when a goose gets sick, or is
wounded by gunshots and falls out
of formation, two other geese fall out with that
goose and follow it down to lend help and protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until
it dies.  Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation
to catch up with their group.
IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE,
WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER
LIKE THAT.

Author unknown 

 A Smile...

A smile costs nothing but gives much. 

It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. 

It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. 

None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it,

and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. 

Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen,

for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. 

Some people are too tired to give you a smile. 

Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much

as he who has no more to give. 

Author unknown

Follow your Dreams

Have faith in yourself

and reach for the sky,

aim for the stars not matter how high.

Just follow your dreams,

they’re all waiting for you,

and you are the one

who can make them come true.

Author unknown