Author: Damien Lourens

Morning Task – Breaking negativity

/ Damien Lourens

This mornings task is built around processing the negative and finding the positives. So lets get out the notepad and get going.

1.Take the time to write down the negatives you’re facing.

When we right down the negatives, we acknowledge them as issues. that need to be addressed or dismissed in our lives.

2. Then take a moment to relook and address the negative.

We then need to assess why the issues are there and decide what we can do about or learn from them.

3. Write out the positives.

Find the positives and decide what should be done in the future.

4. Then write out a short motivation for yourself.

By writing a motivation we are drawing this to a conclusion, and deciding on a positive outlook in the process.

(Here’s my personal motivation )

You will find a way, you always do.Love like you can, do what you can. You know you have to change, so change. Find your best self, find and summon the strength you’ve always had, that’s built in you.It will work out, so embrace it all.Love it all, do what’s most important for those you love and yourself. Your best future doesn’t wait, it’s moving forward and so are you.Every step towards it brings you closer to it. Move refuel, move refuel, repeat. You will love and live your dreams.

5. Do it again the next day

You will find that some of the negativities from the previous day have dissipated and the new negativities will be less and seem manageable.

Long term change takes time and work so a conscious effort, will help progress and increase your general positivity.

Do this every few days to keep and reflect you will feel the change.

Damien’s Cancer diagnosis

/ Damien Lourens

To be honest, It’s a challenge to hear or break news like this, it’s news no one wants to hear. “What Cancer, again”. It was just supposed to be a routine checkup. I couldn’t identify any symptoms, so the doctor finding a tumour in my lung really threw me. I initially chose to keep it quite until I had a treatment plan in place, for reasons I will explain in future. However, It’s now been months of testing, and the diagnoses is confirmed, it’s Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A form of blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. Which originates in the white cells which protect your body from infection. It’s not the first time I’ve had it, as I was treated for it in 2008, was put in remission in 2010 and then cleared of it in 2013. But it’s back, we’ve found it early, it’s curable and I’ve already started treatment. You can see by the videos, I have had my first treatment of chemotherapy and I am currently preparing for my next one today. Over the next few months we’re looking at a few cycles of chemotherapy, a probable bone marrow transplant and then further chemotherapy.The YouTube channel and this blog is here, for 2 reasons

1st to keep everyone informed of my progress.

And

2nd to share some perspectives along the way, to hopefully help others who are or have a loved one who is going through something like this.

Thank you again for all the support and prayers.

Looking at slavery.

/ Damien Lourens

According  to research, the fight against slavery has been going on since the  beginning of time.  Iceland and Japan being the first countries to officially abolish it in the 13th century.

While Initially European countries led the way in abolishing it in the 19th and 20th centuries, first in their own countries and colonies, then globally through sanctions, political pressure and diplomacy . The United Nations then officially made it illegal globally after the 2nd world war, although the last country Mauritania only made it officially illegal as late as 2007.

Modern day Slavery

According to the walk free foundation the populations of African, Arab and Asian countries still remain the most vulnerable. Global slavery index

Slavery very much still exists in many countries, including the west with regards to sex trafficking. Black Africans continue to enslave other ethnic groups, women are raped and child soldiers are taken. Even today Certain Muslim groups still believe it is their right to enslave others not of their religion. Women and children are smuggled throughout the world enslaved in the sex industry. In Asia people are tied to machines in factories. These issues overlap regions, cultural groups and reach all levels of societies.

Walkfree.org

To sign a petition by walkfree.org to end Domestic slavery in South Africa click here

How does slavery affect us?

Through western media the story of the slave trade and the enslavement of black Africans by Western whites has been told over and over. Yet similar stories are tragically overlooked in the rest of the world. Who’s highlighting these past and present atrocities and telling these stories elsewhere today. Isn’t this is a brush that has tainted us all.

Our minds are closed to specific cultural and race groups, thinking only they are capable of such atrocities and yet we continue to ignore those that condone those atrocities around us. We also fail to acknowledge that there are people among us who are involved in such travesty’s, whilst we also fall short as people with the capacity to act to change the lives of those affected.

I almost own nothing but reached a score of 16 on a test to check my slavery footprint.

How many slaves have you unknowingly engaged?

You May Check your own Slavery Footprint Here

How can we get engaged?

Where are these stories and how are we encouraging others to tell these stories and address these issues?

How thoughtful are we in what we buy? How observant are we and how much responsibility do we take in reporting possible Humanitarian injustices?

Here is A list of Movements and organisations stepping up to fight modern Day Slavery. Although it is always best to source an organisation already working in your area.

Volunteer and Tell their story.

walkfree.org 

freetheslaves.net 

Antislavery.org 

 

What are your Thoughts and How should you and we Respond?