Today many people are wondering what is the meaning of this strange number:11 - 11 - 11 !
Yes, I can hear your comments: CRAZY!Because I always go to bed late, I started after midnight wondering if anything special would make this day different.
These last few days have seen an increase in activity of El Hierro Volcano in the Canaries - something a lot of people don't seem to realize as a potentially hazardous situation - and renewed Earthquakes in Turkey and Greece emphasize the instability of the geophysical and weather conditions.
Gigantic storms are hitting Alaska, terrible, almost biblical floods have been striking Thailand for weeks now. In usually mild Spain, weeks ago two elderly foreign people spending a Holiday at Marbella or Benidorm where swept away by a sudden flash flood and died!
This is not one of these "end of times" text, relax... But it does make one wonder about the harshness and unpredictability of current conditions - no to mention the economy collapsing all over...
So, around midnight I watched the news about El Hierro, the strong Earthquake in Greece, the raising numbers of people caught in the most recent Turkish Earthquake, and I thought about the 7th Billionth Child that is supposed to have been born on the last day of October. Ans I wondered about what this world may hold for the seven billions who currently inhabit it...
In the mean time, of course I had to sleep. There was work to be done today and this morning traffic probably would be terrible, with strikes going on against the crises and people trying to avoid the rain.
So this morning I was startled when I was called to attend an urgent meeting.
I rushed down the hall merely to find several Colleagues in a circle, holding hands. One of them said: since it is almost 11H11 of the 11th. of the 11th. month of this 11th year of this century, we thought we might meet briefly to share this moment.
In a way, I was extremely relieved to see that no impending news were going to crush us with any more negativity! On the contrary, this was very much the spirit I would like to see among us "mortals", every day, no matter what its numerology: That we would be able, as HUMANKIND, to hold hands and cooperate in order to find POSITIVE SOLUTIONS for the diverse crises that are often cornering us into a fearful, limited space.
Crises, if anything, should bring Humans the possibility to find NEW FORMS OF LEADERSHIP, more humane and wise, a NEW-FOUND RESPECT FOR NATURE AND ALL BEINGS and an AVAILABILITY TO SHARE AND TO FIND BEAUTY AND SIMPLE GOODNESS.
Throughout the day (it is not over yet) I randomly followed the news, but until now I did not find those that would really inspire me. And what would these be, you might ask?
So, let me finish with a wishful list of news that would put a smile on my lips:
The 7th Billionth Girl born 12 days ago has received a grant from the government to study. She has become the image of a new sort of woman, that is cherished and welcomed from birth till death in this land called Earth.
The countries of the world have decided to finance a campaign about HUMAN VALUES - instead of marketing for other commodities, during one year all public transport in the world will bring quotes about lofty ideals, human aspiration, the courage to "be change we would like to see".
In an unprecedented move, the most powerful governments of the planet decided to support special Educational efforts. All children will be entitled to free education. Older children will also be taught HOW TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.
These last few days have seen an increase in activity of El Hierro Volcano in the Canaries - something a lot of people don't seem to realize as a potentially hazardous situation - and renewed Earthquakes in Turkey and Greece emphasize the instability of the geophysical and weather conditions.
Gigantic storms are hitting Alaska, terrible, almost biblical floods have been striking Thailand for weeks now. In usually mild Spain, weeks ago two elderly foreign people spending a Holiday at Marbella or Benidorm where swept away by a sudden flash flood and died!
This is not one of these "end of times" text, relax... But it does make one wonder about the harshness and unpredictability of current conditions - no to mention the economy collapsing all over...
So, around midnight I watched the news about El Hierro, the strong Earthquake in Greece, the raising numbers of people caught in the most recent Turkish Earthquake, and I thought about the 7th Billionth Child that is supposed to have been born on the last day of October. Ans I wondered about what this world may hold for the seven billions who currently inhabit it...
In the mean time, of course I had to sleep. There was work to be done today and this morning traffic probably would be terrible, with strikes going on against the crises and people trying to avoid the rain.
So this morning I was startled when I was called to attend an urgent meeting.
I rushed down the hall merely to find several Colleagues in a circle, holding hands. One of them said: since it is almost 11H11 of the 11th. of the 11th. month of this 11th year of this century, we thought we might meet briefly to share this moment.
In a way, I was extremely relieved to see that no impending news were going to crush us with any more negativity! On the contrary, this was very much the spirit I would like to see among us "mortals", every day, no matter what its numerology: That we would be able, as HUMANKIND, to hold hands and cooperate in order to find POSITIVE SOLUTIONS for the diverse crises that are often cornering us into a fearful, limited space.
Crises, if anything, should bring Humans the possibility to find NEW FORMS OF LEADERSHIP, more humane and wise, a NEW-FOUND RESPECT FOR NATURE AND ALL BEINGS and an AVAILABILITY TO SHARE AND TO FIND BEAUTY AND SIMPLE GOODNESS.
Throughout the day (it is not over yet) I randomly followed the news, but until now I did not find those that would really inspire me. And what would these be, you might ask?
So, let me finish with a wishful list of news that would put a smile on my lips:
11 - 11 - 11 NEWS:
The 7th Billionth Girl born 12 days ago has received a grant from the government to study. She has become the image of a new sort of woman, that is cherished and welcomed from birth till death in this land called Earth.
The countries of the world have decided to finance a campaign about HUMAN VALUES - instead of marketing for other commodities, during one year all public transport in the world will bring quotes about lofty ideals, human aspiration, the courage to "be change we would like to see".
In an unprecedented move, the most powerful governments of the planet decided to support special Educational efforts. All children will be entitled to free education. Older children will also be taught HOW TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.
But why should this be any crazier than for people on such a small planet to kill and hurt each other?
So, I do not know how many Earthquakes today may still bring, how many economic blunders in this terminally ill Civilization. But I do know that all we may take as certain is WHO WE ARE, and we owe it to us and to all to BE THE BEST WE CAN BE, TODAY AND ALWAYS!
Maria Carmo.
Lisbon 11 11 11 around 15H50.
