Circles That Can Bring Remarkable Results Of Health And Happiness

In 2012 I had kidney cancer and prior to my surgery Trish and Rob organised a Healing Circle via their blog and also a Circle of Light. I was thinking about their kindness a couple of days ago, following a visit to see my medical consultant. (Fortunately I'm now clear of cancer, but will still have to have a few more yearly check-ups.) This led me on to other things.

I remembered how my best friend went to healing circles when he was ill and they always lifted his spirits and gave him a boost. But gatherings like this can also help in more practical ways as well.

I opened an old book I've had since the 1980s and on the page it told how the writer, Rebecca Clark, held weekly prayer groups using, what she called, the Power of Love.

Into the meetings the participants brought their private prayer lists of people and situations they wished to bless with the power of love. No one else saw the lists, nor did they discuss them.

While together they quietly held their prayer lists while they all affirmed positive statements of love in unison.

According to the writer amazing things began to happen for the group members and also to the people for whom they prayed. Here is one example from the book Macro-Mind Power.

Patsy had been troubled for some time because of a misunderstanding that had arisen a month previously between her and her teenage son. She had made every effort to reach Mike [his name is what made me notice this particular example] and create harmony and understanding, but she was coldly rebuffed in spite of her loving efforts.

... Patsy was driving home, after the meeting had ended, and heard what sounded like electrical crackles in the air. Startled, she thought something was wrong with her car and pulled to the side of the road and stopped ... Everything seemed in order, however, and she continued homeward. Suddenly, as she pulled into the driveway, a beautiful feeling of peace flowed through her and she felt an unusual excitement about arriving home.

As she opened the door, her son ambled out to meet her, grinned, and flung his arms around her embarrassedly.

"Hey, Mom, sorry I've been such a bum! You're pretty OK and I want to be friends again!"

Patsy's response was to fling her arms about him and reply, "That's alright, Mike. Let's both release the past and go forward from right now."

... she quietly gave thanks that Universal Love could dissipate negativity and heal previous attitudes of misunderstanding and hostility.

What I suppose I'm getting at with this post is that groups of like minded people can produce results of all kinds with combined prayers, affirmations or thoughts. It shows how we can help each other in small ways by sending out positive thoughts.

I know that when I went into surgery in 2012 Trish and Rob's Healing Circle combined with the love of my family and friends helped me through the ordeal. I was actually smiling and joking as I was being wheeled to the theatre - right up until the 'knock-out' injection.

Though I don't belong to any organised religion I believe in the power of our thoughts and of love. Strange that we don't always use these wisely.

Resource: Macro-Mind Power by Rebecca Clark

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The Unconditional Love Of The Unsung Hero

Whatever next! The video below brought a tear to my eye - and it's actually an advert! You may have already watched it as it has been seen by many, many people on YouTube but, for me, it was the first time.

The video is titled the Unsung Hero but it could equally be called Unconditional Love.

It reminded me of a post I published way back in June 2011, Circles Of Goodness Can Change The World. This was basically about how we can all do something to make the world a better place for everyone - by starting in a very small way. As the 14th Dalai Lama suggested change is created within ourselves:

"The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved.

In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet."

In other words we can all start to change the world - and not just for peace.

Enough of the pre-amble, here's the video, it's only slightly over four minutes long.


It's strange how this post came about. I wrote it on Easter Sunday when I had an hour to spare before going out somewhere. I had no idea what to write so I did a couple of other things first.

I went to Pinterest where I sometimes try to promote my blog and found that, since I had been on the site previously, 67 people had re-pinned some of my photos.

I then went to ping my blog and the number I had to feed in was 7767. As I have often mentioned 67 and 76 have been 'special' numbers in my life.

After seeing these numbers I thought that I was bound to come up with something for a post. I had a feeling I should go to YouTube and somehow, out of the blue, found the Unsung Hero video. It was meant to be!

Other Similar Posts:
Circles Of Goodness Can Change The World
Circles That Can Change The World

Laparoscopic Nephrectomy Coincidences And Synchronicity

I'm pleased to say that my laparoscopic nephrectomy operation (removal of a kidney) went okay and I am now back at home - they 'released' me on Sunday afternoon.

Immediately following the operation, and once settled on the ward at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, my wife was allowed to see me. One of the first things she said was, "I see you are on eBay."

I was a bit dopey because of some of the drugs that had been administered and said something like, "You won't get much for me at the moment."

The whole thing was then forgotten as the nurses started their routine checks and I kept dropping off to sleep.

Two days later I was up on my feet and walked a short distance with Karin along a corridor to stretch my legs. As we made to return to where my bed was situated we had to go through a swing door. "See," she said, "You are on E Bay." There was a large sign stating this on the door.

It was then I realised I was on Tolgus Ward and along the corridor were different bays for patients. So she hadn't put me up for auction after all!

When I left the hospital they gave me a bag of assorted tablets I was supposed to take for a couple of weeks. On Monday morning I opened the first box at breakfast. The capsules were a garish green and orange and matched the tablecloth.

I asked Karin where the tablecloth was from as I hadn't seen it before. She told me it was one we collected from my mother's belongings several years ago.

For ages we have used one of two tablecloths for use at breakfast. Strange that, out of the blue, Karin decided to change this for one with the colours of green and orange. Think of it as you will!

After breakfast I went up to my office, the door and windows of which had been closed while I was in hospital. On the windowsill was a lovely butterfly. I took a quick snap - sorry, it's not very clear - left the room and when I returned the butterfly was nowhere to be seen. Interesting to me is that in some cultures, butterflies symbolize rebirth after being inside a cocoon for a period of time.

Anyway, all I intended to say today was really a big thank you to everyone who sent me their good wishes by emails and in comments prior to my operation. Also a big thank you to Trish and Rob at synchrosecrets who published the post Healing Circle for Mike Perry and also The Circle of Light for Mike Perry.

Karin and I have been greatly touched by such kindness within the blogging community. There is much goodness in the world.

Going back to Trish and Rob's Healing Circles, this is a wonderful idea whereby we can help each other with our thoughts and meditations.

Circles That Can Change The World

This morning I was quickly reading a newspaper column by Sandra Parsons. She's not really my cup of tea but she made a throw away comment that got my own thinking back on track.

Sandra wrote how she was at her local Tube station and saw that, "... someone had thoughtfully left, propped on the ticket machine, one of the all-zones travel cards - worth £19.60 [about $27]." A random kindness in other words.

She went on to say, "It was yet another example of the goodwill that's enveloped not just London, but the country [because of the Olympics]."

She then spoilt it a bit by adding a negative slant, "I know it won't last. But wouldn't it be wonderful if it did?"

Goodwill and kindness doesn't have to end. It's up to us as individuals to make sure it doesn't. The Dalai Lama wrote, okay on a different theme but it applies to anything that is 'good':

"The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved.

In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet."

In other words everything starts with us - ourselves.

If we want a kind world it's up to us to do something about it. It's those Circles of Goodness I have mentioned before.

If we want good manners, politeness, peace, goodwill, laughter, happiness, love and so on and so on in our world, it starts with us as individuals - in the middle of a circle emanating the quality we wish to convey.

Theses circles will gradually grow to envelop our family, friends, neighbourhood, town, county, country, continent, world.

Sounds fanciful, but little old us, can help change the world - if we start with ourselves.

Other Similar Posts:
Miles Of Smiles And Butterflies
The Simple Secret Of The Way To World Peace
Woman Donates A Kidney To A Stranger

Heart Saving Coincidences

I came across this story on the Wirral News and it reminded me how my friends had a similar experience. In the case mentioned in the Wirral's story they call it a freak coincidence. I'm not sure if this is an accurate description, it's more of a case of one good turn deserving another.

On Merseyside a son-in-law saved his father-in-law's life following a heart attack. Just months later it was the other way round with the father-in-law saving his son-in-law's life, when he too had a heart attack. Both times they were in the same garden doing a makeover.

The father-in-law, Peter Smith, age 67, told the Wirral News "We are so lucky to be alive. If Tony (the son-in-law) had not been there, I probably wouldn’t be here. I was up a tree when I suddenly felt sick. I came down and told Tony I was going inside for a drink of water. As soon as I got into the house I collapsed. I had pains shooting across my chest, I couldn’t shout ‘Tony’ but managed to call him on my mobile. He came running in and that’s all I remember."

Peter then explained what happened a few short months later: "Tony and I resumed our makeover on the garden. I just heard a thump behind me. I turned and saw Tony on the ground. There was no warning, nothing, he didn’t say anything – he just went down like a sack of potatoes. I felt his heart and it had stopped so I started CPR. After a few seconds it started again and he started breathing again. The paramedics gave him oxygen, but then his heart stopped again so they used a defibrilator."

Their general opinion is that without the others intervention they may well not be here today to tell the tale.  Saving each others lives has also brought them closer together.

In the case of my friends it was wife saving husband and then husband saving wife.

The wife, Jean, woke up in bed one morning and her husband was suffering a heart attack.  She told us that she didn't know what to do but she screamed at him that he mustn't die and started pounding his chest.  He had stopped breathing but somehow, because of Jean's instinctive actions, he started to breath again.

By this time their daughter was awake and Jean shouted to her to dial 999 - the UK emergency number. When the ambulance arrived the paramedics said that Jean had saved Norman's life.

A few months later, again in bed, Jean had a heart attack and this time it was Norman's turn to do the life saving. He saved her before calling an ambulance.

They are now both well, though Jean has been fitted with a pacemaker in case her heart should need any assistance.

As they joke, their bed has certainly seen some unexpected action!

In life good turns and help seem to be returned, though not always in such dramatic ways. When I was a child I remember my mother telling me this after I asked her why she had bothered to help someone. "Because some day you might need help," she answered. It's something that has always stuck with me.

See also:
Circles Of Goodness
Woman Donates A Kidney To A Stranger

Woman Donates A Kidney To A Stranger

Here we are in 2012.  But it doesn't really feel any different does it? It's simply another day, no matter what importance we may attribute to it.

Being 2012 won't alter anything. Only we, ourselves, can change our lives and the world in which we live. I thought therefore I'd start this year with a quite remarkable story.  One that illustrates the goodness that is inside some people.

Veronica Buttigieg, from Leigh on Sea in England, is a Christian but she isn't like those silly priests recently fighting each other in Bethlehem. She actually follows her beliefs - some might say to extremes.

Veronica was at a party for a wedding anniversary and got chatting to a lady called Manoly Viravong. The two had never met before and they eventually started discussing health matters.

Manoly had been waiting for a kidney transplant for two years.  Her kidneys were deteriorating and she had to endure eight hours of dialysis every night.

She told Veronica how her brother had been considering donating her a kidney but had changed his mind.

Veronica's amazing response was to say, "Why not have one of my kidneys."

She explained, "I barely knew Manoly but after talking to her and hearing of how desperate she was, I felt it was the right thing to do,"

She went on to say, "I am a Christian and I felt God said it was right.  I had a real peace about it because I knew it was what God wanted me to do.  I felt completely calm."

Two days after their meeting Veronica went to the hospital to see if her kidney would be compatible and miraculously it was. In July of this year the operations took place at the Royal London Hospital and the two have now become the closest of friends

Manoly, who was originally from Laos, said of the whole experience: "My life expectancy was very short - it (her kidneys failing) would have killed me eventually.

I had been feeling very low because my brother had changed his mind about giving me his kidney, yet here was a virtual stranger offering to do an amazing, wonderful, selfless thing for me.

I can't really thank her enough.  We are very close now, like sisters. I'm really grateful to her and I count my blessings every day."

As for Veronica, she is back at work, going to the gym and is coping well with one kidney. She said, "I have no regrets and I would do it again tomorrow."

Many of us probably haven't the strength of character to offer a complete stranger a kidney but we can all help others - friends and strangers - in smaller ways.  By doing so we also help ourselves and, who knows, 2012 could then turn out to be a very special year for us all.

Further Reading:
Circles Of Goodness Can Change The World
Kindness Plus Gratitude Equals A Trouble Free Life
60 Things To Put The Sparkle In Our Lives

Circles Of Goodness Can Change The World

On Blogger, where this 67 Not Out is hosted, they now produce a set of basic statistics. I don't normally look at these, as I use other trackers, but today I did so.

I saw that the most viewed post on this blog, Married Couple In The Same Photo As Children, has had 1,143,744 views - that's in 11 months (exactly 11 months by coincidence). Seeing it like this got me thinking.

I mentioned this to someone and they said, "Just think if you'd have had one dollar, pound or euro from each view." It's interesting how a lot of peoples' first thoughts are money.

I thought a bit differently and imagined that if each of these 1.1 million people had all done something worthwhile after reading the post, what a difference it would have made.

If each person had maybe helped someone they wouldn't normally have helped. Perhaps made a friend of the cantankerous old man nearby they usually ignored, or took a tray of homemade cakes to a Nursing Home and so on and so on.

But, of course, those million plus people didn't do this - but this did remind me of another post I published The Simple Secret Of The Way To World Peace. In this I mentioned a quote of the 14th Dalai Lama. This is what he said:

"The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved.

In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet."

In other words we can all start to change the world - and not just for peace.

We could take any 'good' quality and start a small 'Center of Goodness'. Let's go the John Lennon route and say 'love'.

With us as individuals at the center of our circle we start to love ourselves, appreciate our good points but importantly love our imperfections as well, whether these be physical, mental or spiritual.

In time we then increase the radius of our circle to include loving our family and close friends - loving them completely without any reservations. Then increasing or expanding the circle to cover our neighbourhood, then our town, county or state, country, continent, earth and infinity.

Our individual circles would gradually overlap each other and our circle of influence, as the business world likes to call it, would spread and spread ... and love, peace, goodness would circle the world.

But it all starts with us as individuals doing our bit ... maybe starting right now.

As John Lennon sang:

"You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one."