Fall Fearless and Fly #5

When I logged in to Artists in Blogland to find the new challenge in the Fall Fearless and Fly series I was delighted to find that I had won the giveaway for the challenge #4. Not only a brand new challenge but a bonus as well :) Thank you, Jessica and Carolyn.

So, challenge #5:

Headline Prompt:  Lifelong Fan:  What or who have you consistently valued or looked up to in your life?  What lessons have you learned from people you admire?

Color Prompt:  Your favorite color now or from childhood or both!

Quote Prompt: "Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator; but among those whom I love, I can:  all of them make me laugh."  W.H.Auden

Again, so much material! Favourite colour was easy - red. As for the headline, I could have done half a dozen pages. Instead I ended up making a list of what I admire in others, what I am a lifelong fan of, in no particular order.

Integrity - people who stand up for what is right even when it costs them something. People who are the same wherever they are and whoever they are with.
Humility - those who serve others and do not seek to gain at the cost of others.
Friendship - as an only child my friends have always been precious.
Courage - those who face fear, especially when they are doing it to help someone else.
Learning - I love to learn new things!
Giving - there is something so satisfying about being able to give something to someone, whether it is in terms of money, time, or skill.
Loving - so much more powerful than hate and more useful than apathy.
Sharing - I so appreciate those people who are good at what they do and secure enough in their skills to share generously with others. They do not hold tightly to their expertise but take joy in teaching others.

This is the sort of woman I would like to be.

I am a work in progress :)


Linking to Fall Fearless and Fly and Art Journal Every Day.

community

I've been thinking a lot about community over the last year. We are all part of many different communities - where you live, where you go to church (if you do), people who share the same pastimes, the school community, etc. We have connections to lots of different people for lots of different reasons.

Last Sunday we had a joint service at church with our Sudanese congregation. It was fun to share together and learn a bit more about each other and find that, despite our obvious differences, we share a common faith that draws us into community together. We also discovered connections that we didn't know existed. A sort of 'six degrees' of the church. And although we don't always speak the same language - my Dinka is non-existent - we all laughed at the same things.

Our connections are important. Through them we become part of a network, meeting people we wouldn't necessarily meet in our normal sphere of life, striking up new friendships and thus having our lives enriched.

Who will you connect with this week?