Be the change you wish to see...

Good Morning Lovely Readers and a warm welcome to my new follower, Souricette....


If you have a minute, do go and check out her blog. She is the lovely daughter of the talented Stephanie at millefeuilles who makes hares to die for - I just have to own one (one day) .... not a need, I know, but a want .... go have a look for yourself and you will see what I mean:  http://sbmillefeuilles.blogspot.co.uk/  Souricette  (or Héloïse)  http://une-averse-de-mots.blogspot.co.uk/  has inherited her Mama's creative genes and is already making lovely things and her home-made cards are a delight. I love that the world of blog allows us to find such people. 


The title of my post comes from Gandi's quotation:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

This is so true for my own life. I have to catch myself, frequently, when I want to criticise or judge someone for their actions/behaviour and pull myself back to me and how I can change! This brings me on to my hero. I have mentioned him before, but I feel that he is more than worth another mention - he is inspirational: 

Satish Kumar

I am utterly inspired by reading about his life and particularly the 1960s peace walk he undertook. Whenever I feel down about my own life, I return to what this gentle man has achieved and I feel that my own problems are insignificant. This potted biography is taken from the Resurgence Site:

http://www.resurgence.org/satish-kumar/ 

A former monk and long-term peace and environment activist, Satish Kumar has been quietly setting the Global Agenda for change for over 50 years. He was just nine when he left his family home to join the wandering Jains and 18 when he decided he could achieve more back in the world, campaigning for land reform in India and working to turn Gandhi’s vision of a renewed India and a peaceful world into reality.

Inspired in his early 20s by the example of the British peace activist Bertrand Russell, Satish embarked on an 8,000-mile peace pilgrimage. Carrying no money and depending on the kindness and hospitality of strangers, he walked from India to America, via Moscow, London and Paris, to deliver a humble packet of ‘peace tea’ to the then leaders of the world’s four nuclear powers.

In 1973 Satish settled in the United Kingdom taking up the post of editor of Resurgence magazine, a position he has held ever since, making him the UK’s longest-serving editor of the same magazine. During this time, he has been the guiding spirit behind a number of now internationally-respected ecological and educational ventures including Schumacher College in South Devon where he is still a Visiting Fellow.

In his 50th year, Satish undertook another pilgrimage – again carrying no money. This time, he walked 2,000 miles to the holy places of Britain, a venture he describes as a celebration of his love of life and nature. In July 2000 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Plymouth. In July 2001, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of Lancaster. And in the November of that same year, he was presented with the Jamnalal Bajaj International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Abroad.

His autobiography, No Destination, first published by Green Books in 1978, has sold over 50,000 copies. He is also the author of You Are, Therefore I Am: A Declaration of Dependence and The Buddha and the Terrorist.

In 2005, Satish was Sue Lawley’s guest on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. In 2008, as part of BBC2’s Natural World series, he presented a 50-minute documentary from Dartmoor, Earth Pilgrim, which was watched by over 3.6 million people. He also appears regularly in the media, on a range of programmes including Thought for the Day and Midweek.

http://www.resurgence.org/satish-kumar/



If, like me, you have black days, I would really encourage you to have a look at this man - it may be that he speaks to you too.

You can have a listen to him here:



There is crafting, de-cluttering and thrifty living going on and I will post about it soon. I am also determined to finish my secret sister swap today.

Have a wonderful day

Love Mrs Thrifty

xxx