“The only thing
necessary for the
triumph of evil
was that good men
should do nothing.”
Edmund Burke
necessary for the
triumph of evil
was that good men
should do nothing.”
Edmund Burke
Early morning, Kenton-on-Sea
Once a week I meet my dear friend, soul sister and also client, Jo Wilmot, for an early morning natter & walk to Shelley Bay, where we Salute the Sun and then brave the waves for a refreshing swim. While I am prone to be the melancholy kid, introverted, reclusive, she is the ray of sunshine, the social one and the one with the oh so big heart, who encourages and supports, tirelessly, but not today ... today she is pale and withdrawn.
Jo has been championing the rhino cause in the Eastern Cape for some years now and the recent poaching and death of rhinos at Sibuya has left her feeling shattered, but it is more than that, it is the silence of those of us close to her - who know her passion and what impact these events have on her - and our choice to do and say nothing that has impacted on her.
As we strolled we explored positive steps - e.g. buying rhino honey; Chipembere coffee; etc. - that anyone can take to protect the rhino and then what came to mind was one of the key concepts in yoga, Ahimsa (non-violence - to live in such a way that we cause no harm in thought, speech, or action to any living being, including ourselves), similar to the biblical do no harm concept I was raised with. I wondered, can we cause harm through inaction, by doing and/or saying nothing? Can our silence or inaction impact negatively on our relationships? When I am consumed with my own wants and needs, do I forget to be concerned for others too?
Once a week I meet my dear friend, soul sister and also client, Jo Wilmot, for an early morning natter & walk to Shelley Bay, where we Salute the Sun and then brave the waves for a refreshing swim. While I am prone to be the melancholy kid, introverted, reclusive, she is the ray of sunshine, the social one and the one with the oh so big heart, who encourages and supports, tirelessly, but not today ... today she is pale and withdrawn.
Jo has been championing the rhino cause in the Eastern Cape for some years now and the recent poaching and death of rhinos at Sibuya has left her feeling shattered, but it is more than that, it is the silence of those of us close to her - who know her passion and what impact these events have on her - and our choice to do and say nothing that has impacted on her.
As we strolled we explored positive steps - e.g. buying rhino honey; Chipembere coffee; etc. - that anyone can take to protect the rhino and then what came to mind was one of the key concepts in yoga, Ahimsa (non-violence - to live in such a way that we cause no harm in thought, speech, or action to any living being, including ourselves), similar to the biblical do no harm concept I was raised with. I wondered, can we cause harm through inaction, by doing and/or saying nothing? Can our silence or inaction impact negatively on our relationships? When I am consumed with my own wants and needs, do I forget to be concerned for others too?