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Married to Nick for 13 years, with 2 children; Sabrina - 12 and Dominic - 11. I am a girlfriend through and through in that I love girly things and anything that celebrates the essence of being a woman. I love vintage, shabby chic, the country and try my best to do my bit for the environment. SO yes...we have 3 bins in our house and try our best to recycle! I believe that with everything in life, the closer we stick to nature, the better off we'll be. I would love to have a balance in life, but have learnt that balance is not always possible, so strive for significance instead, in the hopes that that will be just as meaningful, and the rest will hopefully follow.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Today is a day I will never forget....

Sipping my tea this morning, with tears streaming down my face, I watched one of the finest people of our time, Barack Obama, deliver his first message to his people, as the new President of America. As he delivered one of the most honest, uplifting and profound speeches I have ever heard, I watched as the people of America celebrated, through laughter and tears, the beginning of the change they so desperately want to see for their nation – the change they have all fought for…and I knew their hearts. And the fact that he was not my president, was not the issue, because for me he represented that good old saying that people too often forget, that says…”where there is hope, there if life….” And he confirmed how the young, the old, the gay, the straight, the black and white, united with a common goal and vision, and MADE IT HAPPEN. For me, the part that touched me the most, was the fact that his campaign was not as he said…”hatched in the Halls of Washington, but started in the lounges and back yards of homes across America, and on the porches of Charleston, where normal people, dug into their pockets for the little bit they had, to support the cause they believed would bring the change they wanted to see and fight for”….sniff….

How utterly profound…..

For me, today will be a day I will never forget, not because Obama made it to the White House, but because it has reinforced what I really and truly believe about nations that come together – you can achieve great things – change is inevitable, and that the pendulam always swings back. It may not be in our time, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop believing it will, and stop being the change we want to see in the world. I made a decision a few months ago to be “a good news ambassador for South Africa”, and today has reinforced how, you can either poison people with negativity and leave them lost and grasping at nothing, or you can infect them with the positive perspective they need to believe that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. You either are or you aren’t the change you want to see in the world – and you can always make a decision to be, but as I said to someone the other day, why would you ponder on the negative and the problems, instead of focus on the positive and the good, or even better, try to be a part of the solution. Just as all those minority Americans took a stand and never gave up, and lived through wars and pearl harbour, and slavery, and, and, they never gave up,….who today, are seeing the fruits of their labour, and belief and commitment of their forefathers.

And there will always be those who cannot help but be cynics, or ‘realists’, but it’s the first time an election has been won, by the people, in a long time, not by the rich, or the powerful….and I choose to hold onto that instead. I believe that most people are in search of the good, irrespective of race, age or creed, and therefore there will always be a common thread that unites good against evil, irrespective of where you are in the world – you just need to believe it, and as they say in the Secret, don’t put your energy into fighting AGAINST something….be PRO the good, PRO hope, PRO peace, PRO whatever it is that represents the good in your life and makes a difference in the lives of others….

6 comments:

  1. love it B...again you have a wonderful way with words....wish there was someway they could see this in America, I think it sums everything up so beautifully...well done!

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  2. wow berel - that was amazing - can you send it in to an american newspaper - or shall i copy and paste it and do it for you - jut say the word girlfriend?
    i am terribly honoured to know you!

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  3. Go Girl - I had GOOSIES reading your entry.......

    Love R

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  4. You certainly have a way with words - that is why I just love reading your blog!!

    I must say I was also quite touched by both their speeches this morning - both very positive men.

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  5. Thank you Beryldene for sharing your feelings with us on this memorable moment in our world. I believe wholeheartedly with you ... let us be positive and spread hope. Warm regards

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  6. Beryldene for President!!! I vote for YOU!!!

    Now, how does this sound - a woman President - the first for SA (and the USA incidentally) - talk about a minority vote ....

    I must say I did not really follow too much of what went on on Tuesday but I am with it to know that this has been too long coming and that I hope this encourages others around the world to vote with their hearts and not their pockets or by intimidation and fear ... hear me, South Africans ...

    You know what, Bee, I can be your right-hand woman AND we'll go for pedi's and make SA Green and help the poor and teach EVERYBODY to scrapbook and ... and ... oooh, I'm in!!!!

    Beautifuly piece of writing, Bee - you make me proud to be South African ...

    Love, Tracy

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