...the month of merriment"
Happy May!
What a month of merriment it has been so far, with the King’s Coronation and multiple Bank Holiday Mondays to enjoy…when considering the theme for this month’s blog, I was reminded of the service which Prince William pledged during a speech at the Coronation Concert. Whether you feel a connection with the Royal Family or not, it is undeniable that service is a universal quality which passes far beyond the individuals at Buckingham Palace…
Indeed, at the end of his speech, Prince William thanked “millions of people...” and said that he wished he could mention them all. He recognised that the spirit of service and goodwill towards others is universal and should be appreciated by everyone.
“The true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts”
Queen Elizabeth II’s quote above reflects the importance of intentions and how actions can be measured in this way. If we do an act of service for others beyond ourselves and for the good of all, it will be remembered in that way.
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the coronation song adapting the words of Psalm 98 with its message “Make A Joyful Noise unto the Lord, the King”. Even here, a talented individual like Andrew Lloyd Webber composed a song which has an essence that focuses on celebrating everyone and all that they bring to the world. The quality of embracing and appreciating the universal rather than the individual can be seen in the words “Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
Indeed, the very act of coming together and celebrating as a community, nation and humanity of the world shows the power of the universal and how celebrations like a coronation are a great way to develop our own service towards others. When everyone sat down to watch the coronation, the act of sitting down together and celebrating together will result in feeling more united, as there is a common feeling shared by so many people.
Take a minute to consider someone who you look up to, perhaps as a role model or inspiring individual – we remember the moments when they performed actions for the greater good…
o Mahatma Gandhi leading non-violent protests and marches which resulted in the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule
o Martin Luther King leading the largest civil rights demonstration in history with nearly 250,000 people there and saying the famous words “I have a dream…” which embrace everyone in attendance
o Nelson Mandela becoming the first black President of South Africa and leading millions to vote for the first time in their lives
And there are many others…
Carl W. Buehner’s words above illustrate a way of life, portrayed in the huge influence that he had in his service to others on a personal level as well as through his Church leadership. Our actions towards others will be remembered…
The etymology of service has interesting results. There are records of the word c. 1100, meaning "celebration of public religious worship according to prescribed forms or methods," from Old French servise "act of homage; servitude; service at table; Mass, church ceremony," from Latin servitium (in Medieval Latin also servicium) "slavery, condition of a slave, servitude," also "slaves collectively" (in Medieval Latin "service"), from servus "slave". The phrase of politeness “At your service” is attested by c. 1600.
Service-book, containing forms for public worship, is attested from 1570s. The link of service to the religious sphere links to my examples of Carl W. Buehner and the Coronation 2023.
We may consider service and its benefits:
o Boosts happiness, health and personal wellbeing as it extends your perspective beyond yourself and helps you to consider those beyond yourself
o Helps others to feel good about themselves as you become more socially active with others
o Creates a sense of belonging as you can make new friends and connect with your community
o Gives you a service of purpose, enhancing your overall sense of purpose and identity and helping others can make you feel rewarded, fulfilled and empowered
o Giving helps keep things in perspective as you are helping others, and can see how many positive aspects there are in your life
o Its contagious and therefore one act of service can result in many others which will lead to an overall positive community
o Helping others can give you a sense of life satisfaction
o Boosts self-esteem as you feel empowered and can create stronger friendships with those close around you
o Changes your own outlook and attitude, as it makes you more optimistic and positive
“Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living” ~ Albert Einstein
These words emphasise the importance of service and how we can create useful focus for our lives.
The recognition of the benefits of focusing on the universal rather than the individual can be seen expressly in Queen Elizabeth II’s words:
“The lessons from the peace process are clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load”
I am delighted to say that I have continued with more episodes of my own mini podcast-type series @snippetswithsitara which featured stars from every walk of life, talking about their own life experiences, how they deal with their challenges and their advice for future generations…recently there has been a plethora of British Sailing Team athletes discussing their entry and experiences of the sport…
I am always looking for new individuals to feature in this series, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any suggestions!
Thank you for all your continued support for the foodie brand Instagram account. I hope that you are finding foodie inspiration from the warmer weather and enjoy experimenting with summer flavour. Here are some of my recent foodie plates full of colour and delicious flavours.…thank you for all your continued engagement with the posts and do let me know if you have any creative ideas that you would like me to try!
I conclude this blog of May with the following words by Paulo Coelho:
“The world is changed by your example not by your opinion”
Lots of love and good luck with your acts of service,
Sitara xxxx
Comments