Last few weeks

So, dearest friends.. I have been away for the past few weeks, and here is a bit of blogging saying what I was doing and the amazingness of my time!

So, the first week I attended Scottish Baha'i Summerschool in Perthshire, and the second week I participated in a study circle looking at Ruhi book 5 - Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth (http://www.ruhi.org/). Both weeks were totally amazing, and filled with various confirmations. 

During these weeks I have become exceptionally close with an amazing (and beautiful) girl who I have had the utter joy to learn alongside and discuss our past experiences and understandings of our Faith. As well as deepening ourselves to further understand our purpose. The first clear confirmation followed these discussions, as each day following our evening discussions featured a talk from Mr Dunbar (an ex Memeber of the Universal House of Justice), who addressed nearly every discussion point we had come across without ever hearing our conversations. It was hugely clarifying and inspiring.

Me and my Beautiful Companion, may we share many more understandings <3

I couldn't imagine that the following week would have been any more uplifting, but it was.. Myself and 4 others, including my beautiful companion, travelled to Fyvie in Aberdeenshire in Scotland where we commenced with an intensive 7 day study of Ruhi book 5. If you read my past post on the importance in children, you will understand how important I feel the raising of kids is. This book solidified this perfectly and more, explaining the purpose we have as humanity to not only spiritually transform ourselves in terms of fostering virtues, but also to serve humanity on a global scale through service to mankind. The enthusiasm and vigor present in youth suggest their huge importance in manifesting this change in future generations for humanity.

As part of the practical component we (the aptly named Fyvie Five) were tasked with assisting the community with starting a Junior Youth Group, a group in which local youth can come to discuss and deepen on spirituality. Inviting the local youngsters to a session on the Friday we began to make preparations for games and activities. However, on the Friday morning we only had one who had said they could attend. Disheartened we said some prayers, and within half an hour 8 youth had confirmed their attendance!! On the Friday morning we were greeted with rain and miserable weather, however yet again we were confirmed in our efforts when the skies cleared and we had glorious weather to play games outside the entire time the children were present. The nail in the coffin was shown as the last parent left with their child. As they literally pulled away down the driveway in their car, the heavens opened and an immense hail shower ensued, with larger hail stones than I have ever seen. Utter confirmation of our work. Amazing!

The Fyvie Five -outside Fyvie Castle

This whole week brought joy and a thirst for greater understanding and knowledge! I can't wait to get going!

Ya Baha'u'l Abha!

One day I will live this dream..

I love mountains, so thought I'd share!!

Nice huh?

Childlike Thoughts!

Sup Folks,

So today was a grand adventure! Myself and a few new friends of mine decided to build a fort! T'was AMAZING! We used sheets for the roof, draped over the backs of chairs and sofas, propped up with a lamp in the centre, it was a proper old skool child fort! Got to say I was properly impressed with our mad skillz, seen as most of us hadn't built a fort since the age of 6!

Anyways, it got me thinking about how great it is to do things from one's childhood, but with an adult perspective! Such as fort building, or re-watching films that you loved as a child but see with a grown-up brain. Something as simple as sitting under a sheet in someone's living room elicited such a happy feeling! I think this may because it reverts you to a simpler time, with less cares and worries! Kid's don't know how easy they get it!

I honestly think children are the most important part of life and are truly are probably the biggest motivator of my life. From an early age we are constantly being assessed and pushed in our education towards a career. We must do well in this class  in order to get the grades to get into this one. We must get a score of this to be in a chance of getting into this collage or university! Then university is there to educate us to get into a job that we want or more importantly need to earn food and eat. Everything is directed towards career, with "success" being determined by the big house you own, the flash car you drive and the income you get.

I've never seen life this way, and have never been motivated by wealth and career development. What motivates me is family. A career, yes is vital, and it's important to do something that one enjoys (so as not to go completely nuts), but it should never be the be it and end all. We shouldn't be defined by our careers, because that's all they are in the end. A craft or service which allows us to provide for those we care about, partners and offspring! Instead of telling people I'm a lawyer, or an actor, or a fire-fighter I'd like to tell people I'm a husband and a father first.

Because as cliché a line as it is, children are the future! And more time needs to be invested in their upbringing a care in order to build the foundations of tomorrow. The psychological and spiritual development is massively dependent on their guardians. I remember reading a psychological article describing the three elements that create a psychopath: a) a genetic contributor b) an abnormality in the frontal cortex of the brain (the big squishy bit at the front), and c) a bad childhood upbringing! Even with a genetic and physical deformation, an individual can still develop perfectly normally if they have a "normal" happy childhood. This clearly illustrates the sensitive nature of raising kids, something I want to be there and wholeheartedly invest my time and love into.

This video really resonated with me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd7540wi6RE

Anyways, maybe more of this later.. I feel it's been a bit of a rambler! =]

Head Juice

Dear Dudes and Dudettes!

Basically, I feel now is a good time in my life to begin this blogging malarky! Had a few attempts in the past but none to which I had truely commited.. So thought I'd make a start, and this time attempt to keep it up when I can.

Brain Juice is basically what I'm calling my recent food for thought, any little bits and bobs (juice) that recently pops into my noggin' (brain) and that I feel like jotting down and sharing. Don't know what's going to happen...... but it could get real!! =]

Let's start with a bit of basic info! I'm currently 22, soon to be 23 in September. I recently just graduated from the University of Stirling in Scotland with a 2:1 Honours BSc in Psychology. I'm going to be starting a new course in the upcoming semester in Nursing, which I'm really looking forward to and I hope I can share with people soon! Currently single, although up until recently was in long term serious relationship and was on the verge of marriage (sad times I know people!!)

Hmmm let's see, what else? I'm a martial artist, mainly focusing on pragmatic self defence. I'm a member of the Baha'i Faith, which is a huge part of my life. The Baha'i Faith is a religion, which our good friend Wikipedia likes to describes as "a  monotheistic religion emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind".. Couldn't have put it better myself!

Hmmmmmmmmm.. much else that jumps out? Nope not really.. Let's get this show on the road folks!

I'll end this first piece with a quote:

"O SON OF DUST! Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most negligent is he that disputeth idly and seeketh to advance himself over his brother. Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning."
- Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith


Until next time folks!

God Bless