My birthday took place on Easter Sunday this year, so I started the day with happy hymns and ringing bells. Alleluia!
It was a lovely day.
Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone!
And huge thanks to my family and friends for loving me — yesterday and every day!
~~
It’s been said that how we live with each other and how we live with the Earth are the defining issues of our time.
I’m going to start with the Earth first.
As I start another year on Planet Earth, I know that Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the Earth. That’s a big concern.
But my Jamaican ancestors would say: “One-one coco fill basket”. That means all our small efforts can add up to something big.
So I’m making a compact with our planet. I pledge:
To remember that living on Earth is a sacred privilege.
To be more mindful of the impact my daily decisions have on you, Earth.
To remember that I — that each of us — can help preserve and love you in our own small way.
Next: Living with Each Other
As my family and friends know, I did not take kindly to my own mobility problems, caused by a car accident. I still get upset about it sometimes.
But as I start the next year of my life, a picture of a girl stays in my mind: Florence.
Florence, the Ugandan girl who became disabled at age 8, and is now able, for the first time in 4 years, to get around without crawling on the ground.
Florence got her very own wheelchair — and the gift of mobility — because strangers donated to CanUgan — a small charity run by Canadians and Ugandans together.
If you wish to help others like Florence: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/canugan-disability-support/
I’ve also spent the last few weeks supporting a fundraising drive to benefit vulnerable children, adults and pets through #GlobalSussexBabyShower — and rejoicing at every donation.
Thanks to this grassroots online initiative that honours Prince Harry and his wife Duchess Meghan, more children in South Africa now have food each day; more newborns in the US are getting clothes, diapers, food.
More seriously ill children in the UK are getting expert care and more unemployed British women are getting help and clothing for their job-hunt.
More adolescent girls in India are getting sanitary pads so they can go to school when having their monthly periods; more girls in Africa are now able to attend school.
The problems of the world are daunting. Poverty, oppression, racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry loom large. As I start the next year on this beautiful planet, I will try to keep in mind:
One-one coco fill basket. Bit by bit, one by one, each of us can make a difference to another person’s life. And each of us can make a difference to the Earth.
Cynthia Reyes 
Lovely thoughts Cynthia! Happy Birthday!
Hope your birthday was lovely, Cynthia! Our family had a birthday yesterday too, the first time it has landed on Easter in such a long time!
A lovely birthday post. Yes, we can!
This is a beautiful way of celebrating your birthday Cynthia! Yes we each can make a difference, bit by bit. I love the reminder that our lives are largely defined by how we treat others and the planet. A great guidepost for loving. Birthday hugs and blessings… ❤
Happy Birthday Cynthia and YES! We must!
Happy birthday and happy Easter! What a lovely post!
Glad you like it, Luanne. Thank you. And for the nice wishes.
XO
Happy Birthday for yesterday, Cynthia! You are right. We can all make a positive difference to the world!
We can, Clare. Even when our efforts seem small.
Happy birthday, Cynthia. One-one cocoa fill basket, a much more colourful version of ‘one step at a time’, is a worthy adage for all of us to include in our personal guiding principles.
Thank you, Jane. Hope you’re enjoying Spring!
A beautiful post! Happy birthday.
Lovely post Cynthia. Happy Birthday. We share the same birthday, though I have had the privilege of spending more years on this wonderful earth than you have so far. We must all do our part to tread lightly and do what we can to preserve the beauty for future generations.
Happy birthday!! Wow. Hope it was lovely.
Happy birthday…happy year! Thanks for all the wonderful things that you say, do, and live, Cynthia.
Awww. Thank you very much, Becky.
You’re so welcome!
An inspirational post
Thank you, Derrick.
I like that “one-one coco fill the basket” a lot! It makes me think of a line in a song by Sweet Honey in the Rock–“many drops will turn the mill.” We all need to do our parts and you certainly are doing yours! Happy birthday, Cynthia!
Happy Birthday! Yes, our earth is a wondrous place.
Happy Belated Birthday, Cynthia. Love the One one coco fill basket.
Happy belated birthday, Cynthia!
Yes, the Earth is home for all of us. May we fill the basket that is around us, one by one. You inspire all of us every day, Cynthia! Happy belated birthday! I sending you birthday greetings on Facebook as I was in Houston with Husband, Son and Daughter and did not even check FB. We celebrated Easter and Daughter’s birthday. You and she share a birthday with Queen Elizabeth!
Beautiful post, beautiful thoughts – from a beautiful soul. Happy Birthday Cynthia 🙂
Belated Happy Birthday Cynthia
A lovely post, with great reminders of all the positive things we can do for mother Earth and others. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday to you! One-one coco…
And in return the earth showers us with beauty.
Happy Birthday!
A wonderful quote to live our lives by. The world’s problems can seem overwhelming but, I agree, we can each make a difference with the little things we do.
Happy Birthday, Cynthia. This is a lovely birthday post.Your pledge is inspiring. I think I dropped my basket awhile back. I need to find it and start filling it. 🙂
Oh, that’s such a lovely way of saying it, my friend. And thanks for the wishes.
A belated happy birthday, Cynthia. Hope you had a really good day.
And yes – we can all help each other. xx
Word. Lovely post … And a belated happy birthday.
Cheers
MTM
What lovely thoughts and wishes you have to share with the earth and its inhabitants. A belated but nonetheless heartfelt happy birthday.
Wishing you a belated happy birthday, Cynthia! These are lovely thoughts and observations you have shared with your readers. You have made a difference in my life, and I thank you for that, too.
I am so with you on this, Cynthia. If we all just keep on doing a little bit, it can get better and we can make a difference. People sometimes think their contribution is meaningless, but it all counts. And Happy Birthday!! xo, Jeanne
Happy Birthday, Cynthia, and what a wonderful way to celebrate – by honoring our Earthly home and spreading cheer and kindness to others. Well done. Have another glorious year ahead.
Thank you, D.!
Belated wishes for a very Happy Birthday Cynthia, the thoughts you’re taking into your next year are very wise ones.
Thanks, Andrea. Wishing you a good week. Spring has finally arrived here and the ground is awash with blue Scilla.