Travel around the world with the Which Way Challenge
To Mt Fuji, Japan –
Or around Eastern Australia
To New Zealand
And finally to Switzerland.
I found my “Way” to this challange via Cyranny’s Cove. It seems like a host: Sonofabeach is looking for someone to take over the challenge.
Are you interested?
Something to Ponder About
We all live on planet earth and everyone wants their own space. We are all individuals yet we share our world with billions of others.
As a social species, we depend on others to live in this world. Yet we will be alone in the world if we do not have a bridge to other folks. Individuals need a community and we need other lives interacting with our own. Other people may annoy or irk us, they may love or hate us, but without others, we are lost.
Building on the discussion of Empathy last time, I found the following proverb and quotes timely and really grabbed my attention this week.
A bridge has no allegiance to either side
– Unknown
Why then do we, as people, or citizens, feel the need to take sides?
We all want to be happier. Why wouldn’t we?
Happiness is the supreme goal for most of us. Life is more enjoyable and colourful when we are feeling happy.
Could each of us as individuals, at times be that bridge to someone’s happiness?
The following quote suggests we can.
You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How?By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”
-Dale Carnegie
Imagine what might happen if everyone spared a few kinds words of encouragement to a fellow worker or to a lonely acquaintance. That rainbow of acceptance could spread right across the world.
Should we start spreading a wave of happiness by following Carnegie’s words?
This week, I am going to try it. Will you try too?
I think we could make a difference in our little corner of the world.
Build a bridge of happiness around you.
#OneWorld Let’s change it.
Everyone’s opinion is important. What is yours?
Join in the discussion by leaving a comment.
Several years ago, I created ‘Proverbial Thursday’ on my blog. I became fascinated with traditional proverbs and sayings, their metaphorical layers and the many different interpretations found within just a few, succinct words. I marveled at their ability to transcend race, religion, opinions and age.
I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader.
Mostly anonymous, proverbs come to us from past generations and from across all cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned.
Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.
It has been a while since I posted a photography post, but I have been chatting to another blogger about hosting a photography challenge recently, so thought I would get back to the swing of posting photography. I will soon be leaving for Japan, so I will sneak in this post.
The Task: SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF BRIDGES.
Well, the blogger did ask.
Bridges are a popular motif.
A connection between two worlds.
A fascinating angle for photographers.
I tried to find some different photos in my collection for this challenge.
I like the angle where it looks like the Merlion is hosing the folks on the bridge, and indeed on a humid Singapore day, that spray of cool water is indeed refreshing!
A rather abstract edited version, which seems to exude atmosphere.
“A Bridge Too Far” – site of World War II battle over the Rhine and movie with Robert Redford.
A different type of natural bridge, except the arching rock pathway that led to this natural feature in Australia, completely fell down and left several Japanese tourists stranded on the rock for several hours, or at least until the helicopter came and airlifted them to safety.
Find instructions at Nancy merrill photography, if you would like to join.
Denmark’s beautiful Jylland! A footbridge in the place where my g/grandfather was born.
Oops, just remembered a lovely wintry photo or two, with a bridge, that I have ….here they are…
I have a friend who lives in Iceland, who is entranced by bridges, particularly old abandoned bridges. She loves to photograph them and she notices how quickly they deteriorate when they are not in regular use. She would love this challenge. which is another fun theme from Where’s My Backpack.If you would like to join in click here:
http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/02/22/travel-theme-bridges/
This theme has great timing as it was only last night when, I spotted an photo I took a year or so back. It could also qualify for another photo challenge, which I have not as yet entered, called Unique. But for now, this is enough.
The underside of a bridge is not always a commonly seen perspective in Australia.
I pondered about whether to add the archetypal pic of Sydney Harbour Bridge, but nah!!! It is sooo photographed, already.
So finally, one bridge much more interesting in terms of its historical perspective.
“A bridge too far”… literally. The bridge from the Movie: A Bridge too Far, in Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Wiki gives us more info on the John Frost Bridge:
“In September 1944 the Allies launched Operation Market Garden. The road bridge across the Lower Rhine should have been the final objective of the operation, and its capture was tasked to the British 1st Airborne Division. Unexpected German resistance in Arnhem meant that only a small force of some 740 men were able to reach the northern end of the bridge, commanded by Lt-Colonel John Frost. On the night of the 17 September the British attempted to take the southern end of the bridge, using a flame thrower to destroy German positions in the bridge’s towers. This accidentally ignited an ammunition store and the fresh paint on the bridge caught fire, illuminating the area for most of the night and forcing the British to abandon their attempt.[3]
The superior German forces in Arnhem eventually overwhelmed Frost’s men, although this took several days. They had however succeeded in closing the bridge to German armour for some four days, twice as long as a whole division was expected to hold the bridge. The rest of the division held out at nearby Oosterbeek until 25 September before being evacuated across the river.”
Although the bridge survived the battle, it was bombed and destroyed by B-26 Marauders of the 344th Bomb Group on 7 October 1944 to prevent the Germans from using it to send reinforcements south of the river.[4]
Something to Ponder About 