Young lives blown away for others' principles. Souls walking in hope, eager to push for peace, meeting together with all the enthusiasm of youth, naively certain that their force for good can change the world, or at least the country they live in. Then, boom - just twice - a few seconds that shock us all; a brutal affront to our idea of Turkey and being Turkish, leaving us devastated and shrouding all good thoughts with a blanket of despondency and hopelessness. How can we bloggers continue to write after an event like this? Three days of mourning have been declared and the country grieves and rages. I mourn but refuse to give up my posts. At the worst of times we should actively seek relief in the beauty of nature and minutiae of daily life however trivial they seem. To give up looking for good is to acquiesce to the terrorist. I will continue to write about the beauty of the changes of season, the glorious sheen on a newly picked olive and the subtle purples of a wild thyme flower. Shattered bodies can't be repaired but we can restore our broken morale and refill our reserves of optimism, despite the craziness going on in the corridors of power. It is observing, appreciating and writing about the small details of life in Bodrum that keep me positive in difficult times. Look on it as therapy!
B to B, Thanks for this post and for giving our spirits a little therapy. Yes, looking for good and making it happen is really what gives meaning to life. Take care.
ReplyDeleteWe must keep going SDAs
DeleteYes,keep on posting.....suxh a beautifu=======================
ReplyDeleteYes, keeping on posting.
Thanks - I will for as long as the internet isn't blocked.
DeleteSending you healing hugs. It's awful, such a waste of life, so disrespectful of youth and hope. Gypsy blogged recently abut how the constant stream of sad news slowly blocked up her blogging - I felt similarly for a long time but like you, feel that the battle with evil (because that's what it is) can only be won by constantly seeing, and pointing out, the intrinsically good things around us. So chin up, girl, and keep socking the beauty of life in Turkey to us. Hugs xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your hugs - we need them here this year.
DeleteThe bombing was such a senseless and devastating act. I feel awful for everyone we know in Turkey, the place we called home for 3 years.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, there is so much beauty to share from Turkey as well!
Senseless acts have all all chasing our tails trying to give reason to the unreasonable.
DeleteLife has to go on. We can't these bastards (whoever they are) win.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteSeeing your post is just what I needed and what the doctor ordered - we need to keep going, showcasing the wonders and beauties, delights and amazing people of this wonderful land.. I am speechless for what was done, but we need to keep going for them too. Eline saglik sevgili Annie, keep going xxx Ozlem
ReplyDeleteYou do a fantastic job of spreading the best of Turkish culture. We must not be demoralised.
DeleteCompletely agree with you Annie. We all must continue doing what we are doing because Turkey is still here, people still live their daily lives and to stop what we are doing is to cave in to these hideous acts. And yeah, it's therapy, too...
ReplyDeleteA few blogs have slowed down recently - it's a shame.
DeleteSuch terrible images will be forever lodged in my mind - happy, young, peace loving people, innocently holding hands and declaring their hopes for a better world - who would do such a terrible act? It will not deter our imminent return to Turkey.
ReplyDeleteI think those that know Turkey will come back, but it deters theses that have never visited.
Delete. . voices refuting the ugly, murderous actions of the power-crazy. Voices raised in rejection, in anger, in love, in respect, in trust in each other. Voices speaking for the dead and maimed and disenfranchised. Voices, calling out the callous, self-seeking, heartless bastards at every level and every culture and class. Voices!
ReplyDeleteLets keep shouting then, Alan.
DeleteLooking for the good, however powerless we may feel, is so important. So much sadness though, so so sad. xxxx
ReplyDeleteWe may not be able to keep smiling but we'll keep looking for the good.
DeleteIt's difficult to feel happy and optimistic at the moment and I admit to feeling anxious in recent days. However, you are right and I am starting to look again at all the positives about living here. Who knows what the future holds, so enjoying each day as it comes seems to be the best way forward.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling things in Turkey will get worse, at least in the near future. I hope I will be proven wrong. But it is so hard to feel optimistic now.
ReplyDelete