Why Phoenix?

What`s in a name? A name can conjure up all sorts of images and situations.

Take "phoenix" for example.

The word is associated with Greek mythology. The phoenix is an immortal bird which arises from the ashes of its predecessor and is born again.

I was asked recently why I had included the name in my website calmworkphoenix.

Choosing a website name is harder than one might think as it has to include many things.

*It has to be easy to remember and spell.

*It has to be relevant to the content of the site..

*It shoudn`t be too long.

*Preferably it shouldn`t be similar to other website names.

*It should be easy to find.

I chose calmworkphoenix for a number of reasons.

The website was set up to be geared primarily towards women who are experiencing a loss of employment.

Little has been documented on how losing employment for a woman may differ from that of a man.

The idea is to give a space where females can reflect on how they are coping with unemployment as it can have far reaching consequences affecting finances and mental health.

As employment can cover a large range of models, the basic word "work" was chosen as part of the website name.

Whilst exploring some of the issues arising from losing employment, some ideas are touched on which can calm everything down and look at ways which can alter mindset, and give rise to optimism and a way forward. As a result the word "calm" was also included in the website name.

Mental health issues in particular can be difficult to come to terms with, whether the cause is unemployment, post lock down or any other reason. That is why it is such a great feeling and sense of achievement when someone starts to turn things around and their increased motivation and belief in themselves begins to pay dividends.

It may be a light bulb moment, some further education or new employment, but like the phoenix, it can be like a new life and person arising from the ashes. From a negative situation, a very positive one can emerge, so "phoenix" was duly included in the website title.

The three words can be applied to so many other situations too.

Having endured the pandemic, the world is having to stay calm, work hard and reinvent itself.

Countries now find themselves facing a perfect storm which has resulted in a cost of living crisis. Regardless of government or any other help which might be offered, communities will have to stay calm, work their way through and like a phoenix, arise from the ashes.

Probably the most significant example is that of Ukraine. If ever a country needed to stay calm, work hard and rise again like the mythical bird, this must be it.

It may seem impossible given the devastation of their country, but we only need to look at our news feeds to see that the Ukranian people are successfully changing their mindset from the horror and destruction of war to one of patriotism and optimism which will undoubtedly, in true phoenix fashion, rebuild their country from the ashes of tragedy.

From the point of view of saving the planet, we must all stay calm, work collectively to reverse the damage that has been done to our wonderful world, and watch it rise again like a beautiful phoenix.

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In my last blog I showed some images of iconic places that are famous throughout the world.

Even if a holiday is not possible, it is good to look and appreciate the buildings, cultures and landscapes of different places.

As I had so many images, I decided to divide them into groups, so today I will add the natural world of the elements of water, earth, fire and air, and how they appear to us.

SUNSET