A good year!

What starts out being a project to help others, becomes another way for life to bring joy to you. The Goddess of the World says, ‘don’t think you can help my children. That task is mine to administer as I please and you will never understand my ways for I am the chaos and order of Nature, in all her beauty. But for having that wish, I bless you again and again’.

This is NOT a post about prospects for this year’s Chianti producers. It’s to celebrate my first ever year of trying to fundraise. I’ve learned a lot. What have I learned?

Don’t treat your friends like oranges, from whom you can periodically squeeze out some more money.

Talking of fruit, don’t be attached to the fruits of your actions. It’s hard not to, but such is the path of karma yoga. The lesson learned will vastly increase the joy in one’s life. What starts out being a project to help others, becomes another way for life to bring joy to you. The Goddess of the World says, ‘don’t think you can help my children. That task is mine to administer as I please and you will never understand my ways for I am the chaos and order of Nature, in all her beauty. But for having that wish, I will bless you again and again’.

If you can hang in with that last bit, it’s an instant cure to ‘shining white knight’ syndrome; the belief that you can go and single-handedly effect change in the areas of hardship in the world.

It’s action that matters. That’s all. Words (like these) count for nothing, except to shape and refine the direction for action. ‘Sharing’ sound bytes on social media shows good intent and has been the means to generate change for the better, no doubt. But it’s useless without action. Doing something.

the Banks exist to increase misery in the world… they will do everything they can to ensure that they, the Banks, profit from anyone’s attempt to help their sisters and brothers. They are snakes, feigning interest in your story whilst looking for more ways to rob you.

Lastly, the Banks exist to increase misery in the world. And most importantly, if you’re a fundraiser trying to transfer funds to Africa, they get very protective about money laundering. I suppose they think that’s their prerogative. They will do everything they can to ensure that they, the Banks, profit from anyone’s attempt to help their sisters and brothers. They are snakes, feigning interest in your story whilst looking for more ways to rob you.

---

So I have enough funds in place to get Ketty through first year at Magwero School for the Deaf, and for Alice to get to visit a couple of times each term. And the foundation for starting next year’s saving. When I started out in March this year, I had nothing but a plan. Now I have fruition, beautiful. I’m about to go out to Africa to spend three months with my friends, and to do some painting and artwork with Ketty, before she goes for her first school term in January. Thanks to all who contributed. Not just for your money, more for your goodwill, your trust that something good is happening here.

It’s been a Good Year.

Love, Tony