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Greetings!
How amazing and awe inspiring is the gift of
life that sings and dances deep within us all!
There must be so many exhilarating ways for us all to respect this gift;
to feel and demonstrate daily gratitude; to share with others this amazing
verse that life treats us to. After all, life is the very thing that binds
us, to treat it with indifference or even contempt only lacerates that
bond and inevitably brings suffering and misery. There are brilliant and
compassionate individuals and organisations that lift and dignify the
human spirit through their inspirational, yet often humble, commitment
to care. Isn’t it their direction that encourages and even propels
us toward harmony and peace? So let’s validate them; let’s
validate their work and hold high and celebrate their values, principles
and achievements. Conversely, look at what happens to the human spirit
when this gift of life is not respected, when spirituality and psychological
health and deep ethics are ignored or even blatantly destroyed. Too many
people, animals and forests have had their gift of life stained, abused
and even shamefully destroyed by rampant acquisitiveness, greed, corruption,
global lies / manipulation, self-servingness and opportunism – symptoms
of fear and ignorance. When these things are embraced we can only be propelled
into darkness, the darkness that is evidenced by war, destruction and
pollution. These poisons pollute our skies, our waters, our earth, our
bodies, our hearts, our minds, our animals and our plants. But there are
giants among us who throw light on these horrors with their adherence
to integrity, humanitarianism, altruism, kindness, compassion, vision
and courage. To those people and organisations… gargantuan thanks.
Let’s not allow fear and ignorance to, as is the case with cancer,
destroy its host (life).
Many years ago, inspired by great spiritual and psychological leaders,
I went on an adventure into the very ‘soul’ of this gift
of life and what it is to be human and to be passionately alive. The
answers were simple. Embrace and live a life rich in values –
stand for authenticity, passion, integrity, humour, compassion, joyfulness...
In 1997 the annual Australian Humanitarian
Awards were born. The following year our first awards presentation
evening took place. And boy, was it successful. When I saw how so many
people yearned for connection with others, it was confirmed that we
were on the right track. The richness of living and acting for others
will sure get that gift of life dancing inside you.
Now we have new awards (The Turtle Awards
– ‘Acknowledging leaders who stick their necks out for the
common good…’), new programs and a zest to joyfully support
positive social change; to play our part in creating an ethically, spiritually
and psychologically healthy Australia.
Thank you.
Shane Holst |
Patron Dr. 'Patch Adams and Founder of
Altruism Australia,
Shane Holst.
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