As 2 minutes silence is held on November 11th 2011 to remember the men and women who have died in the armed services, it’s as good a time as any to see if you have your perspective right…
I been writing for many years that changes in belief, attitude and thought process will change the way you act, which in turn will change the circumstances around you. These beliefs can be changed by outside influences, or you can take steps to change them yourself.
It can make a massive impact on your life, but in fact it’s possible to benefit from an attitude change which doesn’t need to lead to any action, and that’s the attitude of perspective.
The first World War ended at 11am on November 11th 1918, and it was a year later that the 11th November remembrance was started. November 2011 sees the first remembrance with no remaining survivors from that war, which seems to drive home the point about the remembering.
The date of 11/11/11 has got lots of attention, and there have been lots of new documentaries about what it was like in various wars, particularly World War 1.
That war was certainly vicious, as new methods of warfare overwhelmed old methods – that led to huge numbers of men simply walking forward into waves of machine gun fire.
Most people can think of the muddy trenches, battlefield stalemate, but it can be important to stop and *really* imagine what it was like for these people. Instead of just stopping what we do for 2 minutes, we can linger a bit longer to think of the abundance we have…
Instead of being shot and killed, cold, hungry and scared, if you are reading this you most probably have a wealth of abundance that was unheard of in 1918. You probably have food, clothes, heat, and you have opportunity to create a future that you choose.
Because most of us have it easy by comparison, the little frustrations take on more significance then they really should – yes, you may have broken a fingernail, yes, your favourite act may have been booted off X Factor, but in the big scheme of things, does it matter?
Now, I’m not belittling all the problems that beset us, nor am I suggesting some sort of happy clappy unrealistic nirvana – let’s face it there are plenty of things for us to worry about, and the world economy in 2011 is causing real issues.
What I am suggesting though, is that perspective sometimes get lost. You are allowed to be happy in the moment rather than waiting for happiness at some point in the future.
It’s too often foisted upon us that happiness is connected to material possession, but it isn’t.
Appreciating the abundance we have is a great idea. The fact that we take it for granted is proof in itself that it’s there – the 11th of the 11th 2011 provides us with a wonderful opportunity to remember others, and to really enjoy the wealth we have all around us.
Take a moment, it’s well worth it, to stop and smell the poppies.
‘Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
I found myself in the Foyer of the Royal College of Physicians at 11 pm yesterday. two minutes was barely enough to give space for remembrance. At the same time, at an ephemoral level, I noticed just how noisy the world is when it is silent – phones, beeps and so on going off. Silence really is hard to find these days.
You’re right about genuine silence being hard to find. In a supermarket, although most people will stop for the silence, you can always hear someone asking ‘which aisle are the carrots down?’, seemingly oblivious to the whole thing.
Sometimes I wonder if I enjoy silence too much, it can be strangely addictive, but on Nov 11th I always come back to the idea of life’s perspectives.
I don’t need two minutes silence to remember those that died for us in wars, I remember them when I do my own research into it. I have fired a gun and wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of one, I have worked in the mud and rain but these two things are minor compared to what they went through in the trenches.
The thing that amazes me is that people don’t look at the bigger picture or ignore it when it is pointed out. I don’t know anyone who wants to invade another country or go to war. It’s the politicians who use us like pawns in chess to fight these wars and the only people who benefit are the elite who own the arms, pharmaceutical, construction and oil companies.
It’s the elite, a bunch of incompassionate warlord controllers, who instruct the politicians to go to war and finance both sides. They receive interest on the money they create from thin air and lend to both sides and profit from all the arms that are sold.
Can’t you see how it works ? I’m already against the next war. It will probably be against Iran. Every country without a central (elite Roithschild) controlled bank is a target. Libya has fallen because Gadaffi wouldn’t sign up to Africom and shared the wealth by issuing gold Dinahs. Our currency has not been backed by gold for a long time.
Can’t you see who really controls things and starts every war ? They do not put themselves on display as they used to in the past as dictators (& kings and queens) but instead stay in the background and use highly rewarded puppet politicians who can be replaced at voting time but the same people and agenda are always there.
Can you see the big picture or will you continue to see the smaller picture and see history repeat itself ? Will you let the our controllers choose our next enemy (one that has resources to be stolen or central bank to be created and controlled) or will you be against all wars ?
You make some interesting political points Al, and doing your own investigation is always worthwhile. Most, if not all wars have political motives behind them. It’s the experience of the individuals that died that is the focus in remembrance ceremonies.