“Change is never painful, it is resistance to
change.” — Buddha
By the time you read this, it will already be the month of May, nearly halfway through the year of 2021 and if you are anything like me, the days just seem to be galloping past. The temperature has dropped, the nights have drawn in and everyone seems to be going about their business pretty much as per usual.
May is a special month, named after Maia, the Greek God of fertility and growth. The Romans believed that to be born in May was lucky and numerous studies over the years have shown that babies born in May are more likely to be more optimistic, successful, and healthier than other birth months. May’s birthstone is the Emerald, the symbol of success and love.
Historically, May is peppered with important happenings. Labours in Haymarket, Chicago were dіѕреrѕеd оn Mау 4, 1886, who had gathered demanding еіght hour wоrkdау. Pоlісе fired ѕhоtѕ killing four demonstrators; and the dау is now recognized as the International Worker’s Dау AKA Lаbоur Dау. The Empire State building opened in May 1931, and in 1841 New Zealand was declared a British Colony.
The second Sunday in May is celebrated as Mother’s day in the US, Australia, Denmark, Turkey and New Zealand amongst other countries. The day grew from a small service held by American Woman Anna Jarvis in 1907 to commemorate her own mother. Perhaps more than ever this year, we need to stop, reflect and give thanks for the symbol of motherhood, of nurturing, happiness and contentment and all it means.
There is no denying that the world is forever changed by the pandemic and families all round the world have been irrevocably changed through loss, distance and lockdowns. It was Buddha that said “Change is never painful, it is resistance to change.” Changes to our lives and our situations are constant, a moving tide that ebbs and flows in a never-ending cycle. As we move into the month renowned for growth, lets pause, give thanks for the things that are going well however small they may be and address any ways we feel we could do better. We cannot change much in this crazy world, but we can change the way we react to what is happening around us to better empower us and our families.