Posted by Dwight-and-Aileen on Sep 17, '07 8:22 AM for everyone
In life there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning,
falling as well as standing, hunger as well as plenty, badness as well as goodness.
Life is a journey sometimes walked in light, sometimes in shadow.
You did not ask to be born, but you are here. You have weaknesses as well as strengths. You have both because in life there is two of everything.
Within you is the will to win, as well as the willingness to lose.
Within you is the heart to feel compassion as well as the smallness to be arrogant.
Within you is the way to face life as well as the fear to turn away from it.
Life can give you strength. Strength can come from facing the storms of life.
You must stand up in the storm. You must face the wind and the cold and the darkness. When the storm blows hard you must stand firm, for it is not trying to knock you down,
it is really trying to teach you to be strong.
- Keep Going, Joseph M. Marshall III (Lakota native)
*****
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation belongs to one of the poorest counties in the US for more than 30 years. And the Lakota (native americans) people, often stereotyped as hopeless alcoholic natives. Problems of unemployment, alcoholism, gang violence, adolescent suicide, poverty among others permeate the communities for years.
But, I remember Pine Ridge with such fondness. During the many years that we spent living there, we've developed a deep friendship and love for the people we've come to know. They've welcomed us like family and made our stay more like home. If you look beyond it's ugly side, one will find it's own gentle beauty ... the warmth, the kindness, the wisdom ... of a people, and a place who've faced adversity at its worst.
But, I remember Pine Ridge with such fondness. During the many years that we spent living there, we've developed a deep friendship and love for the people we've come to know. They've welcomed us like family and made our stay more like home. If you look beyond it's ugly side, one will find it's own gentle beauty ... the warmth, the kindness, the wisdom ... of a people, and a place who've faced adversity at its worst.
(picture above was taken at the reservation, back in 2005. sorry i had to post an old pic. for the past week, all the city showed me was day after day of cloudless skies. and made me a bit of homesick for the old place we used to call home.)
Wopila, in the Lakota language, means "thank you".
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nagpanaoan wrote on Sep 17, '07
Don't apologize. This is fine with me. It's beautiful! Is this in Big Sky -Montana?
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janeandjosh wrote on Sep 17, '07
o, naa ra lagi ni yen! =) in this pic, you could feel the vastness of the world. kung golfer pa si Magellan, mao ni makapaingon niya na the world is round. hihi. ;-) |
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filsanjose wrote on Sep 17, '07
what a beautiful picture Yen! you definitely have it in you too. Nagpa huwam si Dwight sa iyang camera? =D
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uweliebtmarislie wrote on Sep 18, '07, edited on Sep 18, '07
this pic is so comforting. i am thinking of lying down there and look up heaven's above... dreaming. =)
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elenaretuya wrote on Sep 18, '07
Hey it is truly beautiful. Reminded me as well of the smoke from an erupting volcano =)
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theresehabana wrote on Sep 18, '07
ayen, this one you can see a lot here!!! i wish you can come visit us soon!!!
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ragenstevart wrote on Sep 18, '07
yen, mura man ni'g fantasy place uy..=) nice yen..murag i can just "kab-ot" the clouds=)
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dwightnyen wrote on Sep 19, '07, edited on Sep 19, '07
hi guys! finally found some free time to reply ... thank you all for the kind words! =) it's so nice to be in a group with such generous, considerate and not to mention very creative souls. i'm so proud to be amongst you all. =)
tita lou, this was taken in pine ridge, south dakota. i've haven't been to montana, though. would love to see that part of country you mentioned. have you been there? lagi Ai, for days i was hoping LA would show make something close to this ... had to go back to my old stuff. sorry ha, i hope this didn't break any rules. oh lynette, if you hadn't called, i would not have the urgency to place my post. and yes, this cheered me up somehow. =) haayy jane, malingaw gyud ko nimo oi! but it's true, no doubt he'll change his mind about the world. p.s. imagine magellan playing golf in ruffles, tights & bloomers! hehehe=) fil, sa ako pa ni trusty old canon =) wala pa nataw ang "igat" nga cam ni dwight! hahaha! noel, chichi, pat, grace, mimi, nicky, i thought of the same things too ... that sense of serenity & kind of beauty i couldn't find in this city. maris, we did just that ... lying down on the grass, looked up and wondered if we'll ever see that place again. thank God for pictures. =) elena, kita na ka erupting volcano? dili scary? it must've been scary but awesome at the same time tingali noh? che, let's keep our fingers crossed! hopefully before the year ends .. chelo, bitaw noh? this will be my getaway place of sorts when i get all blue ... i'll just have to imagine it though. |
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theresehabana wrote on Sep 21, '07
yen, i know u have lots of beautiful clouds/skies pictures!!! asa naman to ako ipa frame? hahaha =P
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dwightnyen wrote on Sep 25, '07
che, nindotan ka ato nila? naa sa albums .... go ahead and choose whatever you like =)
here are the links: http://dwightnyen.multiply.com/photos/album/75/sunset_sky_... http://dwightnyen.multiply.com/photos/album/76/drifting_cloud_... kung wala dri imong nagahan, pangita lang sa uban albums ha. =) |
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