Reflections:
Before I set out to tell the story of my journey, I would like to mention that I find a few questions reverberating in my mind like an echo through the caves of Son Doong.
Is there any point? There is this never-ending trail of man-made or natural disasters hitting one part of the world or the other, all the time. Just the other day, the massive storm system sadly dropped an F4 tornado in the heart of Joplin, USA. Killing 117 people and completely wiping out the streets.
.http://www.theblaze.com/stories/unbelieveable-before-and-after-picture-from-joplin-mo-neighborhood/
Are my efforts enough? Would I even make a dent in the fabric of global misery?! What can one woman really do?! I am just a drop of rain in the desert.
One part of being resilient is also this ability to turn a blind eye to distant misery. We go on. Life goes on. Natural disasters strike, NGOs move in. Government helps. Individuals donate. After a short while, NGOs move out. Government finds someone more needy to help. XYZ sum of money gets spent on a certain community or a locality. Chapter closed. However, are lives of the affected ever the same?
The answer is- probably not. Most lives change beyond recognition. Humans are as resilient as they are sensitive to external factors. Most of us have encountered a set-back of some sort. Death of a loved one; A loss of job; A bad diagnosis; Robbery, rape, assault, domestic violence; Inability to pay a mortgage or bills or even a separation or a divorce, hit some lives just as hard as an F4 Tornado in the heart of Joplin.
What happens next? Who picks up the pieces? Family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, even some kind-hearted strangers play their role up to a certain point. Then it really is this inner strength that we find somehow in our deep recesses of darkness- a shadow that looms over our heads, a quagmire of sadness or this steep feeling of helplessness. Everyone else helps but it is, in essence us, who help ourselves- by finding a leeway, a second chance or a stroke of luck. But every now and then, we do need that extra gentle nudge to put us on the right path- to help us focus and achieve what we set out to achieve; may it be the pursuit of happiness or something else to move on with our lives or even find new beginnings.
Same goes for these communities, struck with natural disasters. After everyone else moves one, they help themselves in most cases and they find that inner resolve to get on with their lives. And what I aim to do is to provide that gentle nudge to help put things in the right place.
I gently whisper to myself- listen dearest, I am not just one woman, standing alone to do something bigger than myself. I am resilient enough to overcome my own personal obstacles and step out of my comfort zone to make a difference to other lives. I believe when I stand up to bring hope to these forgotten souls through art as that is my medium, I'll find many more to join me and work as a team. I am not going to be alone. I may be a single drop of rain in the desert but when there are many more drops like me, the desert will quench it's thirst.
One place at a time. One step at a time.
More to follow!
facebook.com/HumanResilienceProject
you can read about the aims & objectives of the project here:
http://www.beakayani.co.uk/#!projects
http://www.highscapeimages.com/
http://www.beakayani.co.uk
http://www.beakayaniart.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/BeaKayaniimages?ref=ts
http://twitter.com/#!/BeaKayani
Please "Follow" the blog and "subscribe" to stay updated. Join hands to make a difference!
Please feel free to write to me to express your interest and share what you can do to participate in the project and help.
Before I set out to tell the story of my journey, I would like to mention that I find a few questions reverberating in my mind like an echo through the caves of Son Doong.
Is there any point? There is this never-ending trail of man-made or natural disasters hitting one part of the world or the other, all the time. Just the other day, the massive storm system sadly dropped an F4 tornado in the heart of Joplin, USA. Killing 117 people and completely wiping out the streets.
.http://www.theblaze.com/stories/unbelieveable-before-and-after-picture-from-joplin-mo-neighborhood/
Are my efforts enough? Would I even make a dent in the fabric of global misery?! What can one woman really do?! I am just a drop of rain in the desert.
One part of being resilient is also this ability to turn a blind eye to distant misery. We go on. Life goes on. Natural disasters strike, NGOs move in. Government helps. Individuals donate. After a short while, NGOs move out. Government finds someone more needy to help. XYZ sum of money gets spent on a certain community or a locality. Chapter closed. However, are lives of the affected ever the same?
The answer is- probably not. Most lives change beyond recognition. Humans are as resilient as they are sensitive to external factors. Most of us have encountered a set-back of some sort. Death of a loved one; A loss of job; A bad diagnosis; Robbery, rape, assault, domestic violence; Inability to pay a mortgage or bills or even a separation or a divorce, hit some lives just as hard as an F4 Tornado in the heart of Joplin.
What happens next? Who picks up the pieces? Family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, even some kind-hearted strangers play their role up to a certain point. Then it really is this inner strength that we find somehow in our deep recesses of darkness- a shadow that looms over our heads, a quagmire of sadness or this steep feeling of helplessness. Everyone else helps but it is, in essence us, who help ourselves- by finding a leeway, a second chance or a stroke of luck. But every now and then, we do need that extra gentle nudge to put us on the right path- to help us focus and achieve what we set out to achieve; may it be the pursuit of happiness or something else to move on with our lives or even find new beginnings.
Same goes for these communities, struck with natural disasters. After everyone else moves one, they help themselves in most cases and they find that inner resolve to get on with their lives. And what I aim to do is to provide that gentle nudge to help put things in the right place.
I gently whisper to myself- listen dearest, I am not just one woman, standing alone to do something bigger than myself. I am resilient enough to overcome my own personal obstacles and step out of my comfort zone to make a difference to other lives. I believe when I stand up to bring hope to these forgotten souls through art as that is my medium, I'll find many more to join me and work as a team. I am not going to be alone. I may be a single drop of rain in the desert but when there are many more drops like me, the desert will quench it's thirst.
One place at a time. One step at a time.
“I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it.”
More to follow!
facebook.com/HumanResilienceProject
you can read about the aims & objectives of the project here:
http://www.beakayani.co.uk/#!projects
http://www.highscapeimages.com/
http://www.beakayani.co.uk
http://www.beakayaniart.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/BeaKayaniimages?ref=ts
http://twitter.com/#!/BeaKayani
Please "Follow" the blog and "subscribe" to stay updated. Join hands to make a difference!
Please feel free to write to me to express your interest and share what you can do to participate in the project and help.
