The cost of being a revolutionary.

There are many people who would be classed as 'revolutionary' - some very ordinary, some who have done it on a huge scale. One of these people who has caught my attention in the last few years is
Aung San Suu Kyi.
Now this woman is truly an inspiring one. Even if you don't like her, you have to agree she is inspiring. She has sacrificed so much, so so much. She missed out on seeing much of her children's growing up. And has suffered with ill health and other problems i'm sure we don't know about.


Thinking about her raises questions for me though. How much is ok to sacrifice for a cause ? I don't presume to know her children, but can only summise that there would have been times when they would have given anything for their mum to be with them a little more. So is democracy in Myanmar (burma) more important than her children ? I don't have an answer or to be honest even an opinion as I'm too divided in my thinking on this one.


To me, bringing up my little girl is my first priority right now. And even if I was in full health, I wouldn't give that up for a political cause. I just wouldn't. But maybe that is due to the fact that I live in a country with democracy. Where she is safe, fed and has the right to a fair vote, education and freedom of speech. If she didn't, would I feel differently ?  Would sacrificing see her grow up, and providing that oh so important love and care to attempt to change an oppressive regime which she lives in, I don't know if I would.


But a woman like An yan su chi, no matter what the outcome of the elections will for certain be one who makes political history of some kind. She is a revolutionary in the true sense of the word.


I guess I am thinking lots at the moment about family and being a parent, and whenever someone is bought to my attention, I so often think about their family and what it has cost them. But the fact remains that without these people who have made such huge sacrifices personally and on behalf of their families, our country and world would be a very different place.


I can be so quick to criticise someone's choice, yet happy to benefit from the result of their actions. 


What do you think?

What do we need ?

Do you ever wonder, do I actually need that ?


I do, and it gets me in a pickle.


Its reached a stage when many of my clothes are falling apart, or don't fit, and it's spring and I would also like some new ones !


But how does one differentiate between need and want ?


I think by today's standards, in england where really you kind of need to look a little bit co-ordinated and 'nice' to fit in. I probably do need some new spring/summer clothes. But really, do I need them ? 


It's not like I will walk around naked without them, so I guess the answer is no, no I don't. 


But I feel like I do.......so maybe that's ok ?


You have to live where you live, and kind of fit in a bit I guess. 


The fact that I like clothes, and enjoy picking out new things makes it even more tricky. Cos if you enjoy fulfilling a 'need' then it can make you ( well me anyway) question if it is a need or not ? do you see what I mean ? 


It also can make it more tricky to convince the person who you share your money with that you do 'need' some new clothes. The fact that you like them, can make it seem a bit too much like it's something you just 'want'..... but what if you want your need ? !


I like drinking freshly squeezed orange juice, do I need it ? Well, vitamins from oranges in some form, yes I do.


Pah, I don't know.........


Any thoughts people ?