With permission from Emily Aviles, Community Editor of Ode Magazine, the following email is reverently reproduced. The author, Anne Thomas from Sendai, Japan, will forever alter the way you view our fellow brothers and sisters.
In light of what is happening in our World today, this is the most powerful message I have ever read! It stopped me in my tracks and has remained an indelible image in my thoughts:
Once again, a shout out to Emily Aviles at Ode Magazine for giving me the permission to share Anne’s email with you. It is my hope and fervent prayer that we will be able to connect with Anne in Sendai. She needs to know how much we care, how deeply her words have impacted us, and the love and support we forward back to her on a daily basis.
Thoughtfully,
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Darlene~
Thank you very, very much for sharing Anne’s email with us. Talking with a friend and reading her parts of Anne’s email, she confirmed the kindness that she was aware of with the people of Japan. I think it’s marvelous, no looting, consideration instead.
Linda
Linda G. Cox@ Multiple Sclerosis´s last [type] ..Green Smoothie Discover the Most Delicious Combinations
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Darlene I just saw this on facebook and came over to your blog. The amazing thing is that when I first read it I thought of you.
Never again will I second guess my intuition.
I have read it many times now and every time I do I see another message. Thanks for sharing it here.
Sue
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March 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 am
Am not sure why you thought of me when you read this email, Sue, but a huge thank you for doing so. You’re right! Every time you read it there is a new message to be found.
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:08 am
Darlene,
Thank you so much for getting Emily’s permission to share her amazing email on your blog here.
You are correct on how powerful and touching her message is and it creates such peaceful images for me of people truly caring for each other no matter what. This should be the way we work together always. It is sad that it takes such a destructive event to prompt this feeling of all being one and united. It won’t take the people of Japan long to recover from this terrible event if they continue to care for each other and work together as Emily documents that they are doing now.
Thanks again for allowing us to be affected by Emily’s words and experience.
Dawn and (Dave)
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March 23rd, 2011 at 9:24 am
Dawn, Wouldn’t it be marvelous to work together as the Japanese people are. Let’s continue to send them love!
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:49 am
Darlene
Thanks so much for sharing this email. We can learn so much from the way the people of Japan have responded to such a disaister. Things like this always make us aware that we are all family in one way or another.
Have a Great Day
Chester
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:26 am
We are all ONE, Chester. I don’t think there is a greater calling than helping each other.
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:04 am
Darlene,
This is an amazing testament to human nature. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Don Enck´s last [type] ..How to Grow your Network Marketing Business Using Webinars
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:27 am
It shows what kind of obstacles we can overcome, doesn’t it, Don?
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 am
One thing we have learned from this disaster is that Japan has a thing or two to teach the world when it comes to fortitude, dignity, patience, all virtues that are so lacking in other societies today. My most heartfelt wishes are with the Japanese people.
Stevie
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March 24th, 2011 at 7:21 am
Right on, Stevie! We have so much to learn from the Japanese people:)
March 24th, 2011 at 2:47 am
Hi Dar,
Thank you for sharing Anne’s email. It’s very humbling to read her words from amidst the very time of turmoil. She sounds calm, mindful and very aware.
I so agree with her comment about the evolution that is taking place. The Planet definitely seems to re-adjusting itself accordingly. We are so blessed to be witnessing it whilst remaining safe.
My Blessings and Love to the people that are not so fortunate.
Toni
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March 24th, 2011 at 7:20 am
Toni, You bring tears to my eyes. Lives are changing drastically and all we can do is send love and our heartfelt support!
March 24th, 2011 at 6:43 am
Darlene, this is just wonderful. Her perspective reminds me to choose this perspective more often. Please let us know if you are able to reach Anne.
March 24th, 2011 at 7:18 am
Debbie, It is my hope to connect with Anne. I will let you know, for sure!
March 25th, 2011 at 5:29 am
What an amazing letter. This was so refreshing. Thanks so much for posting this!
March 25th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Hi Darlene,
That’s such a gorgeous, emotion-filled, and heart warming letter. I can see how in some ways we are missing out on such an outpouring of generosity and love for others that we rarely (if ever) experience today, yet still my heart aches for them, of course. Thank you for sharing this letter! How blessed we all are.
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March 26th, 2011 at 2:16 am
Wonderful letter , Darlene. Thanks for sharing. Shows you the power of a blog linked to facebook.
This letter has touched many hearts and opened up so many minds to how human kind can work together like now other form of life.
Thankyou
Peter
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March 26th, 2011 at 7:39 am
I have no doubt that elements of the Japanese character play into this description of “community” versus “competitive survivalist” worldview.
But the disaster itself fosters a sense of community. I don’t know why. But I do remember how “The blizzard of ’78″ here in metro Boston got people out of their homes and speaking with neighbors they never knew they had, offering to help others in need.
In any event, thanks for sharing the inspiring note.
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March 26th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Darlene…thank you for sharing this wonderful account with us all. It is amazing how , when faced with such adversity, we change our perspective on life and bring it back to basics. My thoughts are with the people of Japan.
Louise
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March 26th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
How wonderful to read an account by someone who is THERE, that isn’t filled with negativity or self pity! With their courage and generosity, and with such strength of spirit, these people will overcome this serious setback, and teach us in the process.
Willena
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March 26th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Hi Darlene ~ I appreciate you sharing Anne’s email and agree with the majority of the comments here, that it is emotionally moving to learn that so many in Japan have united after such a tragedy. It is sad though to think that it does sometimes take such extreme things to have to occur before we reach out to one another…Christine
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March 27th, 2011 at 9:00 am
Yes, Christine, it is sad that we can’t/don’t incorporate reaching out to others in our daily lives.
March 28th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Hi Darlene,
Adversity always seem to bring the best out in us.
It is a pity that we need something like this to make us realise that there are others in this world besides ourselves…. all with the same needs and hopes.
Thanks for sharing this email with us … watching the events on TV was horrific …
Cheers
Bryan
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March 29th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Bryan, The Japanese deal with adversity better than we would, I fear. It behooves us to enjoy what we have!
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 am
Thank you so much for sharing this powerful email. It would be wonderful if we could learn to share and care for each other without terrible disasters. Perhaps if we each move in that direction just a little more each day, start at home, then the neighborhood where we live, then the wider community.
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April 5th, 2011 at 7:09 am
Teresa,
It would be wonderful if we could band together without facing tragedy. Guess we will have to make ourselves a committee of one to begin the process!
April 5th, 2011 at 9:01 am
It is only showing that Japanese people are really generous, they want to help each other as much as possible. I believe, this tragedy won’t let them suffer for long because I know Japanese people always finds way to raise again. Their unity will help them stand again, it works like a charm. God bless you Japan! We’ll pray for you.
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April 5th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
They have set an amazing example that we all need to follow!
April 7th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Darlene,
Thank you for sharing that wonderful email. Although the damage and destruction was no where near as devastating as what happened in Japan, the story as it is told reminds me of the aftermath of a few big hurricanes I experienced in Florida several years ago. Neighbors who had extra food shared it with others. Those who had a grill created a cookout. One neighbor shared coffee with me because she had a gas grill to heat the water on. The local restaurants that were open served whatever food they had left. A few of us sat there for hours just talking. The bridge was closed so only those living in this area near the ocean were there – absolutely no tourists or anyone from anywhere else. It felt like a bygone era. There was destruction all around – roofs had fallen off, debris was everywhere. We had no electricity, no AC, no internet. It looked like a war zone. But there was a relaxed sense of peace and quiet.
The difference is that we knew the electric would soon be turned on and that supplies would arrive in a few days to the supermarkets. And there were very few deaths.
Erica
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April 11th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Dr. Erica,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I could feel the trauma you had for those hours of “a bygone era”. It certainly brought the experience closer home to me.
April 9th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Darlene,
What a read. It was very moving to read that. Thank you for sharing.
June 14th, 2011 at 4:13 am
What an incredible letter. Thanks for making my day! I enjoyed it a lot!
September 11th, 2011 at 1:54 am
This is indeed a very touching and inspirational letter. It’s a great feeling that people are helping each other to survive as a group. In times of crisis, we need to work together to become stronger and survive. I hope everyone is recovering well from the tragedy. God bless you all!
November 12th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Darlene, thanks for sharing this inspiring story of survival, sharing and caring. It’s nice to read about people’s stories after the big event being so positive. I have read lots about the event which broke my heart.