Tag Archives: Peace

Twist on it! Stay playful

Dear The Lighthouse Readers,

This second week of February, our 24th Edition together, has been very special, with many hearts in my mind, and much music festivals to celebrate, id est The 66th Edition of the Grammy Awards, the Sanremo Italian Music Festival and the Super Bowl LVIII!

Listen, Enjoy, Share!

Big Hugs,

Your Gaia – from the Lighthouse

On the Spotlight… Music!

Watch the Super Bowl LVIII Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers Half-time show performance of Usher – R&B takes the main stage

Watch all the best commercials of the Super Bowl 12 February 2024 on this link

My fav commercials

Twist on it – Oreo

Whatever you forget, Uber Eats gets anything

Rachel & Ross, 10 years later on

Change is coming, YESS!!!! Reese’s

Peanut butter & caramel !

On my mind

Throwback at my singing promising career : Claudio Baglioni – Cuore di Aliante

Question of the day: better to be rightly informed or to bask in lies? Listen

Angelina Mango- La noia, Winner of Sanremo Italian Music Festival 2024

Flowers – Myley Cyrus Record of the Year Grammy Awards 2024

Tyla – Best African Music Performance of the Year, with the record Water

Spotted! New very well-curated new songs, by Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well & Beth Gibbons – Floating on a moment

Worth-reading:

Great Vietnamese Buddhist teacher and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, continues to enrich, ennoble, &  empower with his teachings well into his nineties.

The articles below stem from the website Marginalian.org

  1. How to transform fear into love
  2. True Love and the five Rivers of Knowledge
  3. Deep Listening – understanding and loving are inseparable
  4. what makes a good communicator

United Nations Priorities for 2024

UN Secretary – General Remarks to the General Assembly on UN Priorities for 2024, read here Peace is our raison d’être

Special Love day

Loving each day – Ronan Keating

Tell it to your heart – Meduza

shared by a friend Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack

Pills of wisdom

  • Hone/Smooth and Sharpen your Hope in language (repeat a mantra & clear your mind, to the very essence of your heart). This transforms your Hope into an actionable and practical element;
  • A mantra simply clarifies, concentrates, and consecrates intent, and all meaningful transformation springs from purposeful, devoted intent.
  • look inside yourself. The ability to love another person, depends on your ability to love yourself, which in turn depends on your degree of self-understanding.
  • Your wholehearted presence is a miracle
  • according to Buddha, for true love there is no place for pride
  • five rivers: the body (“which we do not know well enough,” he rues); sensations (“Each sensation is a drop of water in the river,” he writes, and meditation is the practice of sitting on the banks of the river, observing the passing sensations); perceptions (“You must look deeply into their nature in order to understand.”); mental formations, of which Buddhism identifies fifty-two — feeling-states and faculties like happiness, hate, worry, distraction, appreciation, and faith; and consciousness, the last and deepest of the five rivers
  • The intention of deep listening and loving speech is to restore communication, because once communication is restored, everything is possible, including peace and reconciliation

May this week be filled with deep inner joy, and the willingness and the possibility to make a real transformation in your life!

always, with Hope & a Smile!

Yours,

Gaia

Acting Together as (sparring) Partners

Dear The Lighthouse Readers,

Hello & Welcome to blog story 22nd – January 2024, coming in smoothly , with chocolate, coffee (my favorite in the country of Djibouti, originally from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – all LUNA products displayed online , on this link ) & apples! My colors for this month are Green (Hope & Apples) and Light Blue (the color of my eyes, of Peace and Calm Spirit)

back in the office on 7 January 2024 Djibouti sparkling Team!

My jotted reflections for these first days of the year are the following…

Life is all about connecting with each other and our communities to make a positive impact every day. Either with a smile, with an energetic hug, a word of encouragement, a social media publication to lift up hearts and minds, in jointly celebrating our shared success.

Togetherness is the word. It may be not always possible, but it is a good feeling.

Running operations smoothly is what defines an excellent team and teamwork. Working to deliver quality customer service and expertly crafted products or services.

I learned that all of us need a daily dose of energetic people and an uplifting environment where we can freely create, positively influence and guide others, maintain an encouraging team environment and grow our leadership skills.

In life we need to take initiative, act as a role model to others, enjoy working as a team and motivate others, understand how to create a great customer service experience, have a focus on quality & take pride in the work.

Finally, it is of paramount importance to being open to learning, keeping cool and calm in a fast-paced, energetic work environment.

Finally, you need to have excellent communications skills, multiple languages & open to cultures is a fantastic window to the world!

The key words are then: Interactions, Flexibility, Punctuality, Commitment, Customer-service attitude.

TO SPIN AROUND YOUR WEEK, A SELECTION OF NEW JANUARY 2024 SONGS, for your listenings & smiling!

Thank you for the Sunday inspirational pills of new music ! @nytimesmusic

HAPPENING !

https://www.winterjazzfest.com/ New York, 10 to 18 January 2024

https://ausopen.com/ Australia, Melbourne 7 to 28 January 2024

New movie remake of Mean Girls! 2024 By Tina Fey, watch trailer

Seth Meyers interviews Tina Fey on the latest Mean Girls

Tina Fey on Jimmy Fallon Tonight show

LIFE LESSONS & ADVICE TO YOUNGER PEOPLE

Enjoy the reading on this link

By this time I had lost many illusions, but fortunately not my enthusiasm, nor the joy of living, nor my unquenchable curiosity. Perhaps it was this curiosity—about anything and everything—that made me the writer I am. It has never left me. Even the worst bore can elicit my interest, if I am in the mood to listen” – Henry Miller

Interview on the Legacy Project – older generations advice – American Elders to young people on life lessons

Life is short. The older the respondent, the more likely to say that life passes by in what seems like an instant. 1. USE TIME MORE WISELY They say this not to depress younger people, but to get them to be more aware and selective about how they use their time. Older people practice what psychologists call ‘socioemotional selectivity” – because their time is limited, they make careful decisions about how to use their time. Use time more carefully, whether it is expressing gratitude, asking forgiveness, or getting information; spending the maximum amount of time with children; and savoring daily pleasures instead of waiting for “big-ticket items” to make you happy” 2. GO FOR IT! endorsing risks taking : Unless you have a compelling reason to say no, always say yes to opportunities.” 3. HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE, a positive outlook to life, hope over despair, optimism versus pessimism… read the compelling interview, other precious wise pills include TRAVEL MORE, WORRY LESS, FIND THE MAGIC!…

Gaia on 14 January 2024 Djibouti

Solidarity, Food & Music!

Dear the Lighthouse Readers,

Welcome to Episode 16th of the world traveler’s adventures of Gaia & company. This week a donation of 60 MT of dates from Saudi Arabia made headline news, stressing the Islamic Solidarity that unites Muslim countries. ☪️ 🕌🧕 Read the story, here (in French, if you scroll down, the version of the global press release in English), boosted & energized by GCC Gulf Cooperation Council (X account for more information & knowledge sharing).

More, this coming Sunday 12th November Diwali will take place, the festival of lights and of the goddess of power 🥻 🪔🌟🛺 read the history of the Hindu festival, here via National Geographic Kids

“Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness”

National Geographic

Good News of the week

IN SPANISH

Los campesinos del café que marcan sus precios ajenos al vaivén de los mercados internacionales via El Pais Futuro

Mención de honor en Periodismo de Soluciones del Premio Roche de Periodismo en Salud 2023: La esperanza navega por el río Ucayali

Espacios seguros para los niños que huyen del conflicto en Cabo Delgado via El Pais Planeta Futuro

Many of our favorite foods are going extinct – a conversation with Obama’s White House Chef Sam Kass – Global Dispatches podcast interview with Sam Kass.

Workplace flexibility may delay heart disease by as much as 10 years – The Harvard Gazette

Songs of the week

Angels – Robbie Williams

Carry on – Crosby, Stills, Nash

Smells like teen spirit – Nirvana

You tell me – Melih Aydogan

There’s nothing holding me back – Shawn Mendes

Cool about it – Boygenius alternative/Indie band of the year Grammy Awards nominee 2023

always, one of my favorite, to chill & relax: Still Corners, Black Lagoon

Great readings and reflections

From P.T. Barnum to Mary Kay: Lessons From 5 Leaders Who Changed the World – via Harvard Business School Working Knowledge

Better Listening -Harvard Business School working knowledge

The future of agents – AI powered & explained, via Bill Gates Notes

Esperançar o futuro – escritora Eliana Alves Cruz explora a importância de resgatar a história para moldar o presente via Observatorio das Favelas

Thank you for reading, and….in Life, Awalys DREAM BIG!!

In Djibouti, 8-9 November 2023

Cabeza y Corazón – Mind & Heart

“Las mejores decisiones son aquellas en las que la razón acompaña al corazón. El corazón orienta y la cabeza decide”, afirma Mara Cuadrado, psicóloga especialista en clínica.

The best decisions are the ones in which reason accompanies the heart. The heart guides and the mind decides” affirms Mora Cuadrado, psychologist, specialized in clinics.

You can read more on racionalizar las emociones (in Spanish) on the following link: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/es/consejos-planes/familia-amigos/a15164662/relaciones-amor-razon-corazon/

Hay que tener en cuenta que es la razón quien valora los pros y contras de una decisión en base al conocimiento, la anticipación de consecuencias, las posibilidades, nuestras propias capacidades, nuestra historia, nuestros objetivos…”, explica la especialista.

You need to take into consideration that the reason evaluates the pros and cons of a decision, based on knowledge, anticipation of consequences, possibilities, our own capabilities, our history, our objectives” explains the specialist.

Welcome!

Dear the Lighthouse readers, 14th episode aficionados! November is coming, and , close enough , we will be surrounded by lights and winter holidays decorations! 🎄in the meantime, do not forget to put make-up on, and scare someone during Halloween! 🎃

Week in photos!

as per last week’s episode, here’s a roundup of photos of the 48th United Nations Interagency games in Portugal, where i got the chance to win breaststroke and i competed in freestyle as well! Lover of swimming, forever!

On my Mind & Reading List:

Joint UNFPA, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO statement on the vital humanitarian access in Gaza to support communities, providing life-saving humanitarian supplies water, food, medicine, fuel https://www.unfpa.org/press/joint-statement-undp-unfpa-unicef-wfp-and-who-humanitarian-supplies-crossing-gaza?cm_ven=ExactTarget&cm_pla=All+Subscribers&cm_ite=UNFPA+calls+for+an+immediate+ceasefire&cm_ainfo=&&&&&%

women’s full equal rights, meaningful and impactful participation in peace and security agendas around the world https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2023-10-25/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-women-peace-and-security-trilingual-delivered-scroll-down-for-all-english-and-all-french

Musical Playlist

Everything but the girls – like the desert miss the rain ( remix)

Billie Eilish bad guy

Quincy Jones bossa nova

Alesso & John Newman – call your name

Martin Garrix & Lloyiso – Real Love

by wishing you a joyfyl and dancing weekend, may all the prayers and good things happen to you!!!

Yours,

Gaia

Swimming & Learning

Dear the Lighthouse Readers,

I hope everyone is well; this week, on the 13th Episode, there is a mix of good & bad news that are circulating around the world, namely the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday 7 October 2023, the retaliation of Israel against West Bank & Gaza, and all the countless people who are now displaced and staying in schools that have become shelters for them. Read on the help of the United Nations Relief and Works agency for Palestinian refugees in the near eastsituation report #1

The latest press release from WFP calls for the opening of a humanitarian corridor, able to facilitate dispatch of food and provide assistance to 800,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank who are facing dire circumstances, lacking access to food, water, electricity and essential supplies.

On the good side of the news, I will do some traveling next week, namely Portugal for the UN Inter-Agency Games 2023

My inner side tells me to look at the positive and bright side of Life, in order to be happy, cheerful and make a positive contribution in society, thanks to my smile & vibrant energy.

Bem-vindo a Portugal – Welcome to Portugal

Photos of the week!

A bunch of other Good News coming along

Harvard Business Professor Claudia Goldin was awarded Nobel Peace Prize for Economics for her trailblazing research on Women in the Workforce, women & economics, and on her constant research to narrow the gender pay gap – in terms of wages explaining for example on how events, institutions and technological innovations – like the birth control pill influence women’s economic power.

Claudia Goldin How work and life are intertwined: This woman’s work on Harvard Gazette

Why Goldin’s Nobel matters, on the Conversation

Yes, you can radically change your organization in one week, powered by Harvard Business School Working Knowledge

The Caine Prize for African writing, awarded to Senegalese married couple Mame Bougouma Diene and Woppa Diallo for the short story A Soul of Small Places

Musical Playlist

Never can say goodbye – Gloria Gaynor

3 words – Cheryl Cole ft. will.i.am

Ocean – John Butler

1, 2 step – Ciara

Worship – Jon Batiste

If you had my love– Jennifer Lopez

Ciao and have a joyful week ahead!

Hugs,

Gaia

The Road ahead: the Pact for the Future

What remains of the United Nations General Assembly 78th speeches all covered in the UN News website & YouTube channel of the United Nations, voices & people united to improve People ‘s lives conditions & prevent other wars from happening, including ensuring peace, security in countries, health coverage for all, gender equality to spearhead economic growth?

Let ‘s explore more in this 11th episode of the Lighthouse, fresh at the end of September, with a road ahead, renewed on Development, Prosperity and Energetical Desire to live well, better, with immensless opportunities, horizons & potentials.

Plateau de serpent, Djibouti

As extensively covered & explained in the UN Secretary-General remarks to the Ministerial Meeting, on the Summit of the Future (21 September 2023), The Pact for the Future will be launched at the Summit for the Future, in 2024, and will encompass and incorporate digital innovation, technology, meaningful participation of youth in decision-making, women empowerment, climate action for a safer and cleaner world, & will complement and reinforce the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda for 2030.

Multilateralism is key in understanding and accompanying the geopolitical, socio-economic changes in society, in the global environment that we live in, to ensure stability, solidarity and trust in the institutions.

We must bring a new urgency to our efforts, and a shared sense of common purpose.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

“The Pact for the Future must reflect the priorities and concerns of women and men struggling to feed their families, and communities bearing the brunt of the climate emergency.

It must offer solutions for a better, fairer, more peaceful, and more sustainable world.

Above all, it must demonstrate that multilateralism can deliver for everyone, everywhere“.

Read more on: Summit of the Future: unique opportunity to rebuild Trust: Guterres

Additional resources:

  • Summit of the Future – moving towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
  • Sustainable Development Goals cards, explanation of each Goal and practical example on how we, in our everyday life, can make a difference UN SDGs
  • Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023
  • United Nations Charter

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Oser rêver en grand, oser créer, oser innover…l’Avenir appartient à ceux qui ont foi en leurs rêves et foi en l’innovation et à la résolution numérique.

wishing you a good week ahead!

Gaia

Reinvigorated & Re-energized

Calmness is the virtue of strong people ” my father used to tell me when I was a young irreverent & reckless in motion girl.

I am slowly understanding that Patience, Discipline, Tolerance, Strength & Perseverance make a difference in my little world & in the world of other people.

In a Sunday piece I read from The Marginalian, David Bowie, the creator of many memorable songs, said that when we are on our own, we discover who we truly are, what we truly want, constantly learning and re-learning about creation. “This is an artist” he delivered in a TV interview when he turned 50 years old.

“Go always a little further from what you know, and when you do not touch the water beneath you, this is exactly when the work gets exciting and you start creating” I believe in it. It definitely takes Courage, but it is worth living & feeling the Life that has been given to us.

Go into the depth of yourself & of your soul, do not dwell in a comfort place, challenge yourself, and, in the process, smile & stay calm

Creation starts when we are at Peace with whom we are, smile at every step of the creative growth, deliver what we are capable of doing, sing out loud, be graceful, gentle & kind.

27 November 2022 Burkina Faso

I still dream of singing for a big crowd, pray for all people to have food, water, a little song & smile from a friend, and a supportive family. I hope this little dream of mine is still valid & always a “work in process” like myself.

SPARKLE!

Love Will – Jordin Sparks

Celebrate – Whitney Houston & Jordin Sparks

One Wing – from the motion picture movie “Sparkle”

His Eye is on the Sparrow – Whitney Houston

Winter of Soul – Black History Month February 2022

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, American songwriter, musician and film maker from Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love, presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. During the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park).

Dazzling performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.

The documentary “shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present” The Museum of the city of New York writes.

Moreover, the New Yorker – Louder musical section – recommends the American alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, with its jazz album ” the 7th Hand” , an extract here below, absolutely sublime for the soul. The title “7th Hand” is derived from a question steeped in Biblical symbolism: If the number six represents the extent of human possibility, Wilkins wondered how it would sound to invoke divine intervention and allow that seventh element to possess his quartet Blue Note Records recounts.

“It’s the idea of being a conduit for the music as a higher power that actually influences what we’re playing,” he says.

wishing you a joyful Black History month, where we understand, each day more, that equality, social justice and peace are all that we need to live in a richness in diversity world, where everyone can freely express themselves and fruitfully contributing to the wellness, care and improvement of the communities and the societies we live in.

cover image: by Immanuel Wilkins, Photo credit @BlueNote Records – album cover

Summer of soul documentary – movie scene

The Promise (towards the Highest)

Words do matter. Although sometimes they cannot express all emotions, surely they help out in the process of life.

Eid Mubarak has come, Joy & Continuous Prayers for Peace & a better place to live for all go on.

This month 14th April – 14th May 2021 was challenging. Not because I fasted – very hard exercise – but I stood in solidarity with friends & colleagues and felt the sacrifice & the promise they made each and every day to the Highest, of waking up early, eating at dawn, continuously praying, fasting all day – in a temperature of around 30-36 degrees Celsius – breaking fasting with Iftar, eating again at sunset, praying, and all over again.

During this month, I got to meet people in a deeper sense. A Deeper way in human relations, and the words that came up the most during conversations were modesty, commitment, trust & responsibility.

I see devotion & dedication towards a higher cause. We are accountable to God /Allah/the Highest, and during the month of Ramadan people seem to see it clearly.

Actions are driven by selflessness & kindness. Nothing expected. Nothing in return. Allah sees it, and He will give it back, on other forms.

I am learning to love, to be grateful & to expect nothing. To give with full heart & not to judge. Never.

Love is perhaps caring for one another. Each and every day. Counting on someone & someone counting on us. It makes us vulnerable, but it is part of being human beings.

About Peace, I think we should embrace a mixed citycultural exchange – multicultural dialogue approach to different geographical contexts in which we operate. Peace starts by opening doors, views and horizons, expanding discussions & asking hard questions. Acting is based upon good questioning, detailed analysis & commitment to enhancing protection towards civilians & communities.

I love this song, and it makes me think of Love, the Promise

From my inner self, a bright song of my favorite singer, Katy Perry! Life is electric!

You have the power to make your Life.. Electric!

Finally, to chill & enjoy the waves of life, enjoy the summer vibes house mix of Avcii, Jonas Blue, Kygo, Calvin Harris, Alok, Robin Schulz, here

Eid Mubarak 2021 Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

The Source

While working, for the last month, I have had the chance to dig inside myself and re-consider the purpose of my life, and, more in general, of people on the Earth: Yesterday I came across the French idealist philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist and took part in the discovery of Peking Man, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. His quote “We are Spiritual Beings living a Human Existencesparked my interest. He wrote the book Le phénomène humain (1955) in which he describes  evolution as a process that leads to increasing complexity, culminating in the unification of consciousness. The work is a mix of science and theology- scientists underline, but I believe , to expand views and horizons, it would be nonetheless a good reading moment .

What struck me the most from the sentence is the fact that, if we assume that “we are all spiritual beings living a human existence”, we should strive to be connected to “The Source” as I call, our inner self, our soul and true self- which- you can see in the image below- is all about Unity, Humanity, Understanding, Friendliness, Forgiveness, Love, Gratefulness, Co-Happiness, Wisdom, Peace and Sympathy. Therefore, if we are connected, our natural drive and state of behaviors and actions ( we are not even talking about free will and choice) is to be peaceful, smiling, happy, understanding and humble, united with the world and humanity and loving towards ourselves and other people. If we connect and re-connect constantly with our Source, our inner self, we can be more compassionate. The direction of Life is then given by our soul, who tells us exactly what to do. I have a very interesting and special connection with my Dreams. They seem to know and they tell me what to do. People in my Life appearing in my dreams and talking to me, the guidance i have from them is phenomenal. It also happens in the “wakefulness state of the day” that I find beautiful souls along the life path, who show me places and tell me things that perfectly resonate with my soul. They are harder and harder to find, but, if you listen carefully, there are souls-connecting.

I also like what Deepak Chopra tells us: You must find silence in order to discover yourself, what you want, your drives, your dreams and what you soul tells you. Based upon the inner voice of your soul, your actions will follow. Naturally and because this is what your soul is composed of: a puzzle of millions of experiences ( and perhaps past lives) that you are trying to interconnect and make sense of. If you are brave enough to listen to your soul, it will tell you what to do and where to go next.

solitude to listen to your soul

With this, I wish you all a Joyful Sunday and good rest of July, and hope that you can dig inside you and connect with yourself, before mindfully connecting with others. The key to happiness is to understand who we are. Once we do, we can spread our good and positive energies in the world and to all people around us.

It has been a long time since I created the last playlist, therefore this is the one for you:

Wandering Limbs– Kimbra

Joyful Joyful– Lauryn Hill

Beautiful Soul– Jesse McCartney

The Remedy– Puscifer

Say my name-Maimouna Youssef

Love on the Weekend– John Mayer

Talk is cheap– Chet Falker

Aeroplane– Benly

Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)– Crystal Waters

Free– Ultra Nate

Show me Love Robin S

Praise you– Fatboy Slim

Sound Of Freedom– Bob Sinclar & Cutee B. Feat. Gary Pine & Dollarman

Onde – Alex Baroni

What is Love Haddaway

Too much of Heaven– Eiffel 65

The Rhythm Is Magic– Marie Claire D’Ubaldo

Ci sei tu– Nek

Bleed It Out Linkin Park

Love Show Skye

The Roots – The Seed (2.0) ft. Cody ChesnuTT

I just wanna live– Good Charlotte

Vivo o morto X– Ligabue

 Everywhere– Michelle Branch

Você Me Apareceu– Kaleidoscópio 

It is good to be in Love Frou Frou

Lemonade Planet Funk

Let me Love you– Mario

Welcome to my life– Simple Plan

Shine– Take That

 

bty

In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you- Deepak Chopra