We Are The World Blogfest and Sunsets for Kate
Welcome to the first post of the We Are the World Blogfest #WATWB! You can sign up here.
Our special lead co-hosts for this month are Lynn Hallbrooks, Belinda Witzenhausen, Damyanti Biswas, Simon Falk and Sylvia McGrath and they are committed to stories about peace, love and joy.
For the We Are The World premier post I would like feature Sunsets for Kate. In some ways it is about a lovely lady who shares her life with Usher syndrome. But, it is about so much more. This is because Kate set up a blog about collecting sunsets and stories.
Kate, among many things, is also a wife and mum. So, other people have a vested interest in her health and wellbeing as well. But, let’s hear a bit from Kate in her own words:
“I was fifteen when diagnosed with Usher syndrome. Already hearing impaired, I was told I would also become visually impaired, and one day, to be exact, by the time I was forty, I would be blind. The good news is, forty has come and gone and I am not blind. Winning! But soon, maybe soon.
Wondering what I will regret when I no longer have sight, I realised it will not be the places I have not yet seen, but all the sunsets I will miss.
And so I had this idea. Sunsets for Kate. Why not invite people to share sunsets with me and I can see a lifetime of sunsets in the lifetime of my sight.
I am motivated to use my impending blindness to open the eyes of others.”
Through reaching out to other people, Kate has received not only many sunsets, but many stories too. Her openness to others has also led her to travel, experiencing people and cultures around the world.
As she describes:
“Travel has allowed me to witness the bond that extends with a smile, across cultures, borders, classes and religion.
It has opened my eyes to both how big and how small the world can be, my ears to the common language of kindness, and my heart to the dreams shared by all across the globe.
Through my creativity and writing, I seek to share my adventures, my experiences, and stories, not only to be a voice for me, but a voice for others like me, all over the world.”
Kate is not letting her challenges stop her, her family and friends from having a full life. You can send your sunset to Kate by following the contact details here. Check out her ‘Chasing Daylight’.
In Honour of ‘Sunsets for Kate’
We spend our days of life,
Thriving in the light,
Amid many joys and strife,
And resting in the night.
When our earthly days are waning,
Our play and toil are done,
Then our gratitude is gaining,
And we behold the setting sun.
Simon C.J. Falk 31 March 2017
Want to spread more cheer with other great writers.
Join our We Are The World Blogfest and visit it’s newly minted Facebook Page
Let us flood social media with peace and love, and “In Darkness, Be Light.” This is the first post for We Are The World Blogfest – 31st March 2017.
~~~GUIDELINES~~~
- Keep your post to below 500 words, as much as possible.
- All we ask is you link to a human news story on your blog on the last Friday of each month, one that shows love, humanity, and brotherhood. Something like this news, about a man who only fosters terminally ill children.
- Join us on the last Friday of each month in sharing news that warms the cockles of our heart. No story is too big or small, as long as it goes beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
- Place the WE ARE THE WORLD Badge on your sidebar, and help us spread the word on social media. Tweets, Facebook shares, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. More Blogfest signups mean more friends, love and light for all of us.
- We’ll read and comment on each others’ posts, get to know each other better, and hopefully, make or renew some friendships with everyone who signs on as participants in the coming months.
- To signup, add your link in WE ARE THE WORLD Linky List below.
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Simon's still stanza 
Beautiful pictures, story, and poem. Thanks so much for sharing about Sunsets for Kate. I may have to get my friend to take some of around here. I’m terrible at photography but he’s great at it. If you or your visitors have a moment and would like to see a story about a gentleman who brings light into others darkness, please feel free to stop by and visit: Bring Light Into Someone Else’s Darkness WATWB
Thanks Lynn and I really like your story too. One of my nephews served the Australian Army in Afghanistan. No physical damage, but he has other scars. Simon’s Still Stanza #WATWB
Kate is so brave. Thank you for sharing this.
Indeed she is, Yassy. You are most welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Simon’s Still Stanza #WATWB
What an amazing woman Kate is! This is so lovely on so many levels, Simon. Thanks for joining in the WATWB, and here’s hoping this journey we’ve started continues for a long, long time.
Damyanti, #WATWB team
Kate is amazing. What is also interesting, is that back in our school days, Kate and I hardly knew each other. She plans to support #WATWB with us too! As for the journey with #WATWB, I’m already planning my first anniversary post 🙂 Simon’s Still Stanza #WATWB
This is a wonderful story, Simon. I love that Kate is creating something so positive out of her illness. I will absolutely remember to tag her the next time I capture a lovely sunset.
She would love that, Mary. Thank you 🙂 Simon’s Still Stanza #WATWB
What a touching story Simon! I have so many sunset pictures I would love to share with Kate! Thanks for sharing this! #WATWB
Belinda Witzenhausen~Writer, Creativity Coach & Artist
Thanks Belinda. Kate would love to receive your pictures. I was gobsmacked by your story of the boy and his art. What a visual voice he has! Thanks so much for all you do for our blogfest. It is so lovely to meet more compassionate and positive people. 🙂 Simon’s Still Stanza #WATWB
I actually tagged Kate in some of my sunset photos last night! What an inspiration! 🙂
Wow. This really hit me in the feels. But what a lovely way to deal with the syndrome… collecting sunsets. I mean, seriously… just wow! Truly inspirational. Let me see if I can’t send a few to her as well.
Godyears.net
Kate would love that.
Kate’s story is extraordinary Simon.I don’t know where people get such courage and bravery in the face of such difficulties. An inspiration to us all, thank you for sharing her story with us .
Thanks, Susan. Kate is still inspiring.
Amazing! Kate is such a motivation to all of us in how we should handle our adversaries. She’s been so creative with her initiative. Who would have thought of collecting sunsets?! I’m speechless!
I was speechless too. I’m also astounded by your output for the AtoZ. It’s truly amazing. What a generous effort.
Hi Simon – what fascinating person Kate must be, as too her supportive family … amazing to read about and to learn more … also another aspect to how the internet and blogging in particular can open doors and give some life back to so many … teach us so much. Fantastic idea …
… and I particularly like her quote … a smile crosses cultures, borders, religions, classes and brings warmth into those we meet or pass like moths attracted to the light we can see or feel …
Wonderful story and good to meet you via the WATWB … cheers Hilary
Kate is pretty special. I hear that today she has a another blog post on the way.
Now I want to go share a sunset with her.
Go ahead and share one with her. She is happy to receive photos.
Now, that is spreading the light. I love it. I have a friend who often takes pictures of the sky and sunsets. Great blogfest. I’m proud to be part of it. Mary at Play off the Page
Mary, maybe your friend could send some images to Kate.
Beautiful poetry and photography, Simon. Thanks for spreading Kate’s story and sharing the love.
Lovely poem and Kate is inspiring. I tweeted a sunset for Kate!
Thanks for tweeting, Kate. No doubt you have some sunset suitable colours in your palette.
Such a beautiful story – thank you for sharing. Kate’s attitude is truly inspiring, and I’ll most certainly be sending her a sunset. And I have no doubt I’ll forever hold her story in my heart now whenever I watch one.
Thanks for holding her story, Deborah. You’re not alone in holding her stry in your heart. I went to school with Kate and regret we hardly knew each other then. There were 252 students in our grade 11 group.
This one brought tears to my eyes.
Inviting people to share sunsets with her so she can see a lifetime of sunsets in the lifetime of her sight. Wow.
Thank you for introducing us to this beautiful soul.
Yeah, it’s good, Michelle. Kate is pretty special. No doubt South Africa has has some beaut sunsets 😎
Thank you for your post and telling us about Kate. I’d never heard of Usher Syndrome before. Her story is truly inspiring. And thank you and the others for starting this blogfest. What a wonderful idea, and so needed now! I joined and posted my first blog on March 31.
Thanks Linda. Until Kate, I did not know of Usher syndrome either. I’m delighting in #WATWB too. Thanks for joining us. I’m gradually making my way backwards through the group and will look forward to reading your post too 😀
interesting story. I’ve never heard of this disease before, but am in awe of Kate who deals with it with grace and hope. She inspires me to pay more attention to what I’m seeing around me. Thanks for the share.
Before Kate told her story I was unaware of Usher syndrome too.
She’s a very brave and compassionate lady indeed! Thank you for sharing her story and sunsets with us. I hope the dreaded day never comes for her
Pradita, I too share your hope. May Kate, and all of us, see many more risings and settings of the sun.
Amen!