NB: This is my final blog in this series. So today it is
a little longer. Thank you for following. I hope it has brought you some joy,
laughter and pride in who you are (particularly when you compare yourself to me).
All things are affected by the passage of time, including us
as a being. But in particular, this blog. Consider the following. I have
mentioned while writing this blog, the various incidents where I was ‘taught a
lesson’ (rightly or wrongly) by my mother, father, priest, teacher, brother,
sister, even the odd uncle or aunt (actual uncles or aunts even) but
especially, by some very special friends. You know who you are and that you are
especially valued. No one person makes all their own decisions. No man is an
island (that is a famous quote… but a really good metaphor. It’s a famous line
from the poem by the English poet John Donne in "Meditation XVII,"
Oh, and its also a book title by a monk, a film title and a cantata… but mainly
refers to the poem) and (before there is a scream from the female quarter) the
‘man’ refers to ‘humankind’ it’s just it was written in a time when that was a
given… didn’t need to be politically correct. Humankind learns from interaction
and social communication. Even those of us who don’t necessarily enjoy social
interaction need the odd communication. While there are many craving attention
from ‘everyone’, there are just as many who wish to be ‘left alone’ with a
minimal amount of contact. We can be happy with that. But as we grow we learn,
by listening, watching and communicating. There are some who listen well, others who watch well (in
fact my name Gregory means “He who is always watching”; sort of explains my
attraction to what I used to do and in some ways what I do now), and there are
still others who communicate well (I don’t but I keep trying (many people who
are good at listening probably wish I wouldn’t).
As discussed there are many differences between people. How
we grew up affects how we become adults. Some take longer than others. Becoming
an adult doesn’t mean you stop being a child (and there are probably many wives
who would agree with that comment). I mean by that, that you do not stop
appreciating the value of life. The wonderful adventure that is life. Be
curious about what you see. Be interested in what you hear. Learn as much as
you can. Engage in ideas and create joy. This may be the only chance you
get (depending on if you hold any
religious beliefs). Time is obviously precious and an incredible gift. Some of
us will be able to maximise our time on this earth and others will have but a
brief moment. That is why we must value it. And, in that lesson from my teacher
Mr Walsh, ‘Respect’.
Respect yourself and you will respect others. Respect others
and you will respect their ideas, their culture, their beliefs, Their lives. How
could it possibly be any easier than that. Respect others and you respect their
property and they in turn can respect you. This is surely all humankind needs
to do. This will open the communication between those of us who value this life.
There are those too busy to listen. Too busy to watch. Too busy to feel
anything. They are the poorer, regardless of any ‘wealth’ they possess. But
offer respect to all you meet. It can spread to everyone. Of every race,
religion and yes, colour. For that is still a major issue today. We are of this
earth. We can and need to respect it. We need to respect whom we share this
earth with. By respecting each other, we are free to give help when needed, to
accept help when needed and to teach each other how to help. First comes
respect. All else will follow.
Thank you for joining me on this experience. Should any of
you wish for a complete copy of the blog as a single document (I have saved it
all in order), then please email me ( Gregory.Dwyer@bigpond.com)
and I can send it to you. I have learnt a lot by this experience, by looking
back at my history (as I remembered it) and for now I finish ‘The Dead Zoo Collection’
and look forward to my next project.
Yours faithfully
Gregory F.L. Dwyer
(And for the film fans out there)
The
End.
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