Recession? What recession? Got 20 million? Let's have a party!

Last week was the grand opening of the Atlantis, The Palm Hotel in Dubai. The resort, built by gaming and resort magnate Sol Kerzner, cost 1.5 billion to build. The opening was an exclusive party for 2000 guests from all over the world and catered spectacular fireworks and a private concert by Kylie Minogue (and many other superlatives). Apparently Kerzner's core value number one is "Blow away your customer". Well I guess he literally did that by blowing away 20 million $.

I am just stunned. I mean, I like a good party, but 20 million $??? Hello?

So much for helping to reduce poverty. 

So much for saving energy.

So much for being ecologically conscious.

I wouldn't even want to attend such a party and I just lost a tad of respect for the people who did.

There, just needed to get that off my chest...

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The great cathedral space which was childhood - Virginia Woolf

Childhood

Endless space and time

all trees are there to climb

Unconditional love and trust

every no feels so unjust

Outdoors and in the woods

weekends full of baked goods

Summer holidays last forever

oh we think we are so clever

Sleeping on the floor in grandma's house

talking even though the lights are doused

Spending entire days in the local pool

and it is fun to learn things in school

Campfires and sausages on a stick

television and soup when we're sick

Discovering the magic of reading a book

the need to create a personal nook

Stories at bedtime and playing with dad

everything is just fun to be had

Without notice innocence is replaced by knowledge

the power of time and change we have to acknowledge

Oh the wise who know how to remain

that child that lived life without a strain

(c) Mindful Mimi - November 2008

Thanks to  for prompting this poem on the theme of Childhood Memories.

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Sometimes the biggest act of courage is a small one - Lauren Raffo

It takes courage

to be yourself

to be different

in the face of

Intolerance

and despite

Prejudice

I takes courage

to drop your defenses

to take off your mask

held back by

Fright

or led by

Compliance

It takes courage

to open up

to let someone in

afraid to get

Hurt

or retained by

Pride

Be brave

a little

every day

Have the courage to

Be you!

(c) Mindful Mimi - November 2008

Thanks to  for prompting this poem on the theme of COURAGE.

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A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues - Marcus Tullius Cicero

I am currently reading The Secret.  As usual, I start to doubt such books because I both hate and like them and I cannot conceive the fact of hatred and liking at the same time. But I am thinking happy thoughts, and I am being thankful every day for what I have. So I wanted to make a list and invite you to make one too.

I am thankful for:

• being me.
• being alive and healthy.
• having a wonderful, loving and understanding husband who makes me happy and complete, who supports me, tells me what he thinks, tells me to hold it when I need to hear it...
• having two wonderful little boys who are beautiful and healthy and are the joy of my life.
• having healthy, imperfect parents who are still able to shower their love on our kids
• having a large extended family spread all over the world
• living in a country without war and that is safe
• living in the countryside and being able to snuff in the good that nature does
• having a wonderful, big house that fits our needs and wishes
• having a big garden for our boys to play in
• having a job that pays the bills
• speaking lots of languages which has often gotten me a job and lets me communicate with people
• having friends that are there for me when I need them and even when I don't need them, that I trust and that trust me
• being able to create (paint, take pictures, sing, write)
• being wiser than I was before
• owning a car that doesn't stutter on a cold morning
• being able to hug my loved ones and see them as often as I want
• being able to hear, smell, see, feel, taste
• being able and enjoying working out

...to be continued...

So what are you thankful for today?

Why gratitude makes you happier and wealthier

A funny article by Emily Yoffe about what happened when she followed The Secret's advice for two months.

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Painting is just another way of keeping a diary - Pablo Picasso

Well, this would be my diary entry for the day then. 

I started thinking about painting. Then I thought, well that isn't working. And I just did what I was thinking about. It also helped that I had some old seed pods from Guadeloupe lying around... And the painting from my post before got me inspired.

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Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky - Rabindranath Tagore

FLOATING

Morning run

sweating, alert body

looking at an empty day ahead

Shower

Water trickling, cleansing

quietness taking over

Happily floating

mind wandering

watching the rain outside

Feeling happiness

taking over

floating through my body

Reading, writing

empty mind

feeling at ease, floating

(c) Mindful Mimi - November 2008

Thanks to Weekend Wordsmith for triggering this post about Floating.

More Rabindranath Tagore quotes

Picture: Floating Life by Megan Mulligan

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EU's bureaucracy keeps money away from developing countries

A recent Reuters article mentioned a European Commission proposal to give 1 billion Euros that are left over from the European budget to struggling farmers in the developing world.

The article continues:"But the proposal has run into trouble as European Union lawmakers and governments said the bloc's executive did not choose the right budgetary procedure."

Is the political process just an excuse? Do you think people in developing countries care that the EU is bogged down in bureaucracy and worry about which budget this should be booked under?

Read more at One.org and help getting this money directed into the right hands by joining ONE and sending a letter to your country's leader.

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