BYE BYE

24 hours left for year 07 (depending where you are on this globe).
Did we lose a year? Or did we gain one (in maturity or stupidity?).

Who cares if 365 or 3,650 days passed by?

Earth is still turning.
The sun still rises and brightens us with its million watts.
Humans are still sad, happy, stupid, smart, selfish, adorable, caring, in love, in hate, giving, taking, hurting, soothing, singing, dancing, hoping, destroying, killing, burying, mourning, believing, forgetting, building, creating, protecting, born, growing, sick, cured, learning, teaching, leading, gathering, talking, explaining, listening…

Humans are here to stay for a while.

And so are we…

My message is: See the big picture.

Imagine you are flying in a beautiful silver and gold space shuttle with sparkles, and looking at earth. What do you see?

Humans just like you. Everywhere.
Look at the sparkles around you. Give some to others. A handful is enough to create a smile. Forget the small things that nag you. They are not worth it.
Take one day at a time. This is just a journey, an adventure. Learn and teach.

Happy 2008 from Absolut Beirut.

Giving is a funny thing

When do you really give, from your heart without expecting something in return? When do you give with a genuine desire to help and not only to feel good, or feel better?

Recently I was confronted with pure poverty in the midst of Beirut. A piece of land where approximately 10.000 squatters of Lebanese and Palestinian origins are living illegally in huts made of leftovers of bricks, remains of colorful billboards and used tires.

Dr Agnes, a French citizen living in Beirut is volunteering, on a daily basis, by medicating theses illegal squatters, treating their diseases and illnesses, fixing their psychological and physical problems, giving them some sort of dignity and easy-to-understand wisdom that might better their living.

My encounter with Dr Agnes happened a week ago. I am still reliving every detail in my head, and this is slowly altering my view on life, people and the “why we are here” matter.

I realize more and more that what I have is so much and that my daily complaints are oh so futile.

Giving something to these people is now my concern. While sorting out clothes and toys to give away, I suddenly remembered someone saying that you only truly give when you give away something that you really need.