The Arija Award
"Ancient as time, favourite tree: the oak, animal: the wolf, flower: Anemone hepatica, place: a forest near water. Bird: too numerous to name,camera permanently grafted to hand, lover of light, nature, the sea, mountains, deserts,all forests, musing on the essence of being, loving all things great and small, caring for this wonderful planet of ours. "arija
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A wise and and much beloved woman taught me something indirectly through her actions. Having grown up in a country ravaged by wars, governed by a dictator who later fled in the cover of darkness, of thieving and corrupt politicians; a place hammered by typhoons, washed up by floods and battered by droughts, there were times when we had nothing but just enough to quiet our borborygmi. Yet the wise and much beloved woman told us to share what very little we had with those who had none. Whoever came to our home to ask for something never left empty handed. She made me believe that by sharing the very little of what's left, it will multiply. Try telling that to a six year old, it will pass over her head like a flying omega.
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It was not until years later when I realized what she meant and see for myself the product of her philosophical multiplication function.
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My Mother was also the first woman I knew who practiced conservation without the bleeding heart-liberal mumbo-jumbo that I now hear with the present green movement whose leaders preach and chastise our lives while they jet off to lunch and highly paid lectures, or power their mansions with air-conditioning enough to cool a hospital building and then invest in companies to advance their financial portfolio rather than truly preserving Earth. She lived a life of great sense and meaning and never once did I ever hear her lecture, proclaimed herself holier-than-thou. She taught by example and made the preservation of our environment a basic function much like eating or bathing.
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I did not think I will ever find another woman like my mother until I met Arija. They went through wars, natural and man-made disasters yet arose from the ashes and remnants with great dignity and honor. They share a progressive view anchored in timeless wisdom, both of great intellect and compassion.
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I am blessed to call Arija my sisterfriend and it is my great honor to design this award to recognize her: A thinking, seeing, feeling, loving person who celebrates life every day. She is an artist, a photographer, a fascinating woman with great sense of humor, wise and thoughtful blogger and a loving and caring friend.
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Bella Sinclair had this to say about Arija: "I was reading just a little bit about oaks yesterday. Such a strong wood that it is prized for its strength and density. It refused to be felled for centuries (until the invention of iron tools). That, truly, is Arija, she who offers support and shade, who twinkles in the sunshine and sways with the breeze, and who refuses to be felled."
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I am delighted to share this award with my favorite bloggers:
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