Chezz - C'Tack!

Gday I am Chezza and come from the land down under and live in a small town on the banks of the Murray River.

Basically I am like everyone else, just trying to do the best that I can with the hand of cards that I have been dealt.

I am married with a family including one child from my 1st marriage and 3 children from my husband’s 1st marriage - I am privileged to be a part of their lives.

I am currently undergoing rather gruelling medical treatment after my 2nd severe relapse of ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome).  If you are interested see this post for more details ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If I don't respond to a comment left or if you are a friend and it looks as if I am not reading your blog it will be due to the fact that I am resting because of my ME/CFS - so don't take it personally.
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I would like to live by this prayer; taken from the "Doughboy Prayer":

The supreme prayer of my heart is to be radiant.

I desire to radiant health, calm, courage, cheerfulness and good will.

I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy or fear.

I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected, ready to say “I do not know,” if so be it.

To meet all men on an absolute equality, to face an obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid.

I wish others to live their lives, too, up to their fullest and best.

To the end I pray that I never meddle, interfere, dictate, and give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people I will do it, by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference, suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation.

That is to say, I desire to be radiant, to radiant life.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I also strongly believe in this motto:

Opportunity is always present in the midst of crisis. “Every crisis carries two elements, danger and opportunity. No matter the difficulty of the circumstances, no matter how dangerous the situation…. At the heart of each crisis lies a tremendous opportunity. Great Blessings lie ahead for the one who knows the secret of finding the opportunity within each crisis."
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Religion: Universal love, compassion, understanding and justice.

Politics: Grey

Colour of Skin: Purple

Ethnic Background: European Mongrel

Name of blog: "Holding on to the Truth" comes from the literal translation of "Satyagraha" the name Gandhi gave to his technique of non-violent civil disobedience which he used to fight against injustice. 

Satyagraha uncovers hidden motives and reveals the truth; even if it results in the opponent's falseness.  If non-violent disobedience is used to fight injustice then the wrong will be more sharply felt and will be more clearly seen and the opponent’s truth will be revealed.

 Gandhi emphasised self-suffering rather than inflicting suffering on others. By undergoing suffering to reveal the injustice, the Satyagrahi strives to reach the consciences of people. Satyagraha does not try to coerce anyone but rather to convert by persuasion, to reach the reason through the heart.

Satyagraha appeals to intelligent public opinion for reform. In the political field the struggle on behalf of the people leads to the challenging of unjust governments or laws by means of non-cooperation or civil disobedience.

When petitions and other remedies fail, then a Satyagrahi may break an unjust law and willingly suffer the penalty in order to call attention to the injustice. However, he does not hide or try to escape from the law like a criminal, rather he openly and civilly disobeys the law as a protest, fully expecting to be punished.

In Hind Swaraj Gandhi wrote, "It is contrary to our manhood if we obey laws repugnant to our conscience." (Source and more information)

Gandhi’s views are definitely food for thought.  I wish I could be that well disciplined. 

Contrary to some people's beliefs, Gandhi was not a pacifist, he believed in active non-violence and active resistance.  The Greek word translated as "resist" [antistenai], is literally "to stand" [stenai] against/anti. 

So all that is left to say is the Chezza Motto: "Hugs and Luv, plus Miles of Smiles and the Odd Tear Too."