The Wonders of Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has emerged as a transformative technology that is changing how we live and work. AI can automate repetitive tasks and free up time for more meaningful work (which I think it’s great!), and this has increased productivity and efficiency in many industries. With its ability to learn and adapt, AI is helping us solve some of the world’s biggest challenges and improve our lives in countless ways.

AI can analyse large amounts of data quickly and accurately, and this has led to breakthroughs in fields such as climate science, where AI is being used to model and predict the effects of climate change. AI is also used in finance to identify patterns and make more informed investment decisions. AI is also used to improve our daily lives in ways we may not even realise. Citing an example, I use Siri a lot; it understands and responds to requests, making my life more convenient, but won’t it create complacency? Or too much reliance?

There are so many benefits of AI, and I believe as it continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly bring even more benefits to our lives. From improving healthcare outcomes to advancing scientific research, the potential of AI is limitless. By embracing this technology and using it responsibly, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.

However, my husband still complains about mobile phones. He craves a simpler world where we can connect and make meaningful friendships, not glued to our phone screens for hours on end. Now we have automated cars, but there are still some people wary of all these technological advancements etc. As technology advances and life is simplified, what would happen when one of them goes rogue? I’ve watched too many sci-fi films!

What do you think of AI if you’ve read this article up until now? What do you think will happen in the next 10 or 20 years? Would humans be relegated to the background? Would we become fat and lazy as AI does everything for us?

I’ve read countless articles and watched several videos on the benefits of AI, and for those of us working in the creative industry, it may be revolutionary. Nevertheless, I’ve lived long enough to know nothing good comes easy. I wonder what will happen in the tech industry in the next 50 years. 😊

I’m keen to read your thoughts.

Much love, always!

To be a Woman…

Mar8

Today is International Women’s Day, and I am proud to be a woman. I am not apologising for being a woman. I love being one. Although growing up in a patriarchal society in the early eighties and nineties, I wasn’t too keen on being a woman. I observed women treated badly, abused, assaulted, and sometimes murdered wilfully. It was scary.

Even today, women are still maligned and ridiculed. Speaking up for yourself as a woman can open you up to criticism, coupled with the growth of a hydra, nasty social media where abusers could hide behind the screen and spurt hatred with relish.

We may also face gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination. Afraid of walking alone at night, feeling uncomfortable in certain situations, and being subject to sexist remarks or attitudes. In some countries, women fight off killers daily. It’s never ending.

However, on days like these, we can let our hair down and celebrate being a woman, a mother, and a human being. We have shown resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity and have made significant contributions to society in various fields, from science and technology to politics and art. We are a source of pride and strength.

Being a woman means having a unique perspective on the world, shaped by experiences and challenges specific to the female experience. It means standing up for oneself and others, pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers, and celebrating the diversity and strength of women everywhere.

I love being a woman.

Beauty in a Filthy World

Mar4

Beauty in a Filthy World

I was working on several projects, and today was no exception. Anytime I have deadlines, I usually listen to music to keep the creative juices flowing, and then I stumbled upon this masterpiece by Stive Morgan, an excellent composer. I love how he blended the flutes and other instruments to bring out this masterpiece. The music relaxes my tense muscles, and I allowed it to wash over me as I drink deep into the melody.

If you have a few minutes, listen to this beautiful music, and appreciate the beauty of our world, the mountains, deserts, the blue sky and the dancing stars. Just for a few minutes, leave the complexities of our world; the hysteria, hatred, and sad news behind and just unwind and enjoy!

Photo credit: Marc Girard

Happy weekend friends! 🙂

Hidden Tears in a Jar of Clay

Feb9

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pexels-photo-13021238-1.jpeg — Photo by Rahul Sapra on Pexels.com

Hidden tears in a jar of clay

Rotten bones in a palace

Cold hearts in a sandstorm

Hopes are eaten in a day

Shadows of the past redeemed

Shame dancing for free

What else can go wrong?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pexels-photo-305818.jpeg — Photo by Scott Webb on Pexels.com

Sorrows have the strength of a fig

Hopes the leg of iron

Hearts live forever in the dreams of men

Air is free and unshakable

Earth will regrow.

Everyone you meet is fighting a secret battle. Let’s be kind.
S.S.David

The poems above are a series of contrasts and paradoxes which show the fragility of human existence and the assertion that we are all subject to eventual death, despite our best efforts to protect ourselves. And if we know that, shouldn’t that inform how we live? Shouldn’t we be kind to ourselves and others? Knowing that one day, we’ll move on from this part of heaven?

The second part of the stanza reveals themes of strength and resilience in the face of sorrow and adversity, and after destruction or decay, new growth and life will emerge. This poem played into the unfolding tragedy in Turkey and Syria, where over 17,000 people have sadly died. I know the raw emotions and despair of losing a loved one, but time heals all wounds, and I pray that anyone reading this will hold on to hope despite their adverse circumstances.

My love and prayers to the people of Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, and other parts of the world where there are suffering. Everyone is fighting a secret battle, let’s be kind.

Earth will regrow, and the sun will shine again.

Much love, always. 🙂

The Peace Hagglers

Feb2

Photo credit: Mark Girard, Flickr

They argue from sunrise to sunset, throwing blood on the ground wet with tears of babes. They haggle senselessly, putting a price on peace and stoning themselves with hatred. They pummeled houses with tanks of metal and started a duel with the mountains. They grind soft bones into powder, using it to dress their home. They are the peace hagglers.

They are for peace, they say, yet their guns continue to sing. I laugh without showing my teeth. They fail to see my beauty. They refuse to acknowledge my work. Instead, they splatter evil all over the world. I weep for my clouds; I cry for my mountains.

My hills groaned with displeasure as my leaves danced with agitation. When will sons see their foolishness and embrace joy? Until I steal the wind? Or make my rivers dry? When will they realise the price of peace is cheap? While they massage their ego with foetuses and abort the dreams of teenagers. My silence is at an end. I open my arms and swallow them whole.

They haggle for the price of peace when they only need to love.

Photo credit: Laurent, Flickr

They haggle for the price of peace when they only need to love.
SS David

I’m late to the party, it’s the 2nd of February 2023 already, and I hope this year has started on a positive note for everyone. Every day is a chance to start anew and begin again. The poem above (can I call it that?) decries the state of our world. Putin of Russia is hellbent on starting World War 3, and police officers in the United States still kill unarmed and innocent men(mostly black). Kindness is so scarce now that even in our Royal Family, it’s one scandal after another. People are quick to judge and blame everyone but themselves.

Love is the antidote to all the madness and craziness in our world, but why is it so difficult to love? This question keeps me awake at night, and I believe I’m not alone. I know kindness still exists, and decency is still around, but all I see sometimes is debauchery and sexual immorality on our screens. People need to remember what it means not to cheat. Our politicians are only interested in themselves. People can die for years in their homes, and nobody cares.

That’s the reason selfless love is what we need to make our world a safer, kinder place to live.

I choose love over hate and am confident I’m not alone.

May we find it in our hearts to love this year, and then we will truly live.

Much love, always:)

Love is A Winding Road

Nov25

A Soothing Song About Love

This song is so soothing, and I have to post it. Jason Upton is a worship leader I just stumbled upon on YouTube. His songs drip with such revelation and mystery that I know he must be a profoundly spiritual man who loves the Lord.

Our lives are fast-paced, and sometimes we don’t pause to listen to our heartbeats, which yearn for something greater than ourselves. I have found love in God, and it settles my heart. I hope whoever listens to this deep song will find rest in God and His love. Below are the lyrics of the song. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to the music.

Love is a winding road
Older than old, and hard to straighten
Love is a mystery
It’s got a hold on me
And I just can’t shake it
Love
It’s a winding road

And love is a dangerous word to those who fear losing control
‘Cause love is a wild wind and no one knows which way it goes
Love
It’s a dangerous word

So, take a piece of bread and a cup of wine
A common place and a common time
And sit down at the table with love

Sit down at the table with love

Love is not far away
It’s a home that stays right where we are
‘Cause love it can let us go
It can hold us close
It can heal our heart
Oh, love

Is not far away
Is not far away
Sit at the table
Come on, sit down at the table
Come at the table
If you haven’t already, come by me
Come on, sit down at the table
Do you feel ashamed?
Let the shame go
Sit down at the table

I hope you enjoyed the song, have a lovely weekend friends!

Much love, always. 🙂

Change and Legacies

Sep16

Through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family, and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance
From the Queen’s Christmas speech, 2018

The Passing

I believe there may have been hundreds or thousands of articles written about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last week, September 8, 2022, in Balmoral, Scotland, at 96. But I will remember the Queen, as many of us would, as a constant factor in our lives.

I’m almost fifty and had always known the Queen of England was always there, working for us, the British people and Commonwealth nations. She was a fixture of stability and courage in times of trouble.

As someone who loves to smile, the Queen’s visage is always joyous, creased up in a smile, and there was also a twinkle in her eyes. I love that.

I saw Her Majesty in 2017 with His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, through my office window when the Queen officially opened the New Scotland Yard. I was working at the Ministry of Defence building in Whitehall then. My impression was how petite she looked but what struck me was the way the Queen carried herself, regal but simple at the same time.

The Queen’s Work Ethics

The fact that two days before she passed, Queen Elizabeth met Liz Truss, our new Prime Minister, and asked her to form a new government, is mind-blowing. I spoke to a colleague who commented that not many people could still work at that age, yet, the Queen was still working, even though, if she had refused because of ill-health, her son, the new King Charles III, may have stood in for her.

“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
queen elizabeth ii on her 21st birthday, april 21, 1947

The Procession

Then on Wednesday, September 14, at precisely 14:22, I solemnly watched the procession as the Queen’s coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, representing the Sovereign of the UK, and the Imperial State Crown resting on the top of the casket, left Buckingham Palace for the final time, the Queen’s former home, for Westminster Hall for the lying-in-state. I realised that Kings and Queens are still mortals. We will all die one day.

Change and Legacies

Change is constant, and the legacies we leave behind after our demise are important. How would we want to be remembered?

The Queen is revered around the world, but as a human, she had her flaws, too; who doesn’t? As we mourn the Queen’s passing, it would be great if we could pause and take stock of our lives too.

Time is fleeting. It passes swiftly like a kite released by a youngster.

May, the soul of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, rest in peace, and I pray for the Royal Family, hoping they will love each other and eschew the toxicity that has engulfed the family in recent years.

May King Charles III also be imbued with wisdom to rule kindly, and may his heart pant after God as a defender of the Faith. God Save the King!

The Christmas Story: Hope

Dec25

The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth, the very thing the whole story has been about.
C.S Lewis

There is always hope for a better world!

The key to Christmas is Jesus Christ, and He is the reason we celebrate. The world may have commercialised the most significant event in history, but I believe in Jesus and the eternal hope He offers.

I wish all my friends Merry Christmas, and for the remainder of this year, may you have peace, joy, and hope that there is always a better tomorrow.

Much love to you, always!☺️

The Regenerative Power of Humans

Nov3

Every generation need a regeneration
Charles H. Spurgeon

Earlier today, I was reading one of my articles published in 2016, and as I trawled through the comments, I realised a common thread, everyone wanted to love someone and be loved. That’s just it.

We want to find our place in society, and we don’t want to be restricted or labelled. We want to be recognised as humans, respected for who we are, and acknowledged in the scheme of things. That, I think, is what we want.

However, we all know that things are not as simple as they seem, which makes me wonder why we overcomplicate things. Why do we look for approval? Why aren’t we satisfied with the way we are? We have this overarching desire to be appreciated, which is not bad, but we often cause ourselves grief and unnecessary harm trying to bow to peer pressure.

We often read stories of how teenagers commit crimes to show off to their friends, and that behaviour may have spilt over to their adult years.

The good news is we can change the trajectory of our lives. Just as the human liver can regenerate, I believe we can change the story of our lives.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, Change your attitude.
Maya Angelou

There may be obstructions to changing bad attitudes, but with determination, we can do it. I’ll link this article to the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. We can change the tide and regenerate our climate. There are still many naysayers who don’t believe in global warming, but it’s real.

We only have this planet as our home, and I believe we should protect it for future generations. It’s a matter of changing our mindsets and thinking of other people rather than ourselves, and before we know it, we’ll start making the right choices.

Change is constant, and I think we can start now. Whether you’re leaving an abusive relationship or changing self-destructive attitudes, change is always consistent.

We can regenerate, and therein lies the power of humans!

The Human Story Film: There is Hope

Oct1

My new documentary, The Human Story, premiered on YouTube on 28 September, 2021.

The Human Story documentary explores the effects of the COVID-19 virus on women and how they coped with household chores and taking care of their families while some were also working during the first and second lockdowns. As at the time of filming in May 2021, the virus had claimed the lives of over 2.71 million people, and by the time we wrapped up filming in August 2021, over 4.55 million people had sadly died.

As a practising Christian, hope is an integral part of my being, it’s something I hold on to when life gets so boring and unbelievably tough. But my hope is not in myself. It’s in God. I am an optimist. I believe in a better world, I always have, it’s inbuilt, it’s like an innate ability that no matter what happens now, there will be a better tomorrow. Life is sometimes painful, and as we trudge through it, we may have moments punctuated with joy, optimism, and hope. We can turn things around and that message of hope was the main driving force while I was producing this latest film.

The devastation and uncertainty of the pandemic are so pervasive that the loss of lives was one of the visual aspects of the virus. The hidden cost of the disease lies in lost jobs, shuttered businesses, economic devastation, and a mental health crisis that is seething underneath nations trying to crawl out of static survival mode to some form of normalcy. Every nation of the world is trying to claw back their dignity, and people are still struggling.

The core message of The Human Story is encouraging women to take care of themselves and their mental health. There is hope for everyone going through depression, fear, and anxiety; however, the first thing is recognising that one needs help. Anxiety and fear are so common now that it’s been trivialised, and they shouldn’t be. Recent events, such as the brutal murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, is preying on people’s minds. I had to go out yesterday in the night, and while coming back home, I was extra careful. Although I wasn’t afraid, many women aren’t as bold as I am, and it’s scary if we feel unsafe in our own city. A colleague once told me that she’s afraid of going out at night in London. As a Londoner, I tried to defend my town, but my voice sounded hollow because I think she was right deep down. Violence against women is increasing. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.

However, despite everything, I believe we can defeat fear and live free. I hope that many women will find ways to live better, stronger, and more stress-free lives while every single moment of their lives.

I am launching a new YouTube channel called ‘The Peace Project with Sandra S David,’ I would be discussing ways we can eliminate fear, anxiety, and worry through practical, proven methods. Life is short. Live it well!