Our imagination can be our deadliest enemy, or, our window of hope. In this instance I will refer to our imagination, and what we imagine, as our window of hope. Whether it turns into a reality, or remains merely a vision will only depend on the nature of Sharmers during the next decade, at a start.

Do you ever imagine what Sharm would, and could be like, other than it already is?

I’m sure most of you have. Well, at least once or twice thought: if only that could….. What if this was…..why isn’t it like that….? And so on. Well, that is just life for you. It’s your ego wanting more, or less for that matter.

There are several places around the world that are untouched and spoiled by the greed and ambition of today, is it possible for Sharm to become one of them? It certainly has the setting for it. Could Sharm ever become a sanctuary of international peace, where cultures of the world come together as one? I mean if you really think about it – isn’t that what it really is; a beautiful city where people from all over choose as home. I mean, no one really is from Sharm (except the Bedouins). We are all people that chosen to settle here. We are Sharm settlers.

Now – if we all moved away from what we had, and choose to settle in nature, as they say, wouldn’t that mean that the social dynamics found in Sharm should be very different?  Shouldn’t it mean that the social nature found here is meant to be; pure, free, liberating, non-judgmental, devoid of jealousy, regret, anger and deceit.

So, with that in mind, if you had the choice to change and do anything in Sharm, what would it be? At this point, I would like to call upon some lyrics of Mr. John Lennon.

“Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world” – ‘John Lennon’.

John Lennon certainly had the right idea. Well guess what, such places do exist; places that are pure and simple. They are called Commune’s around the world, and the largest of them being the Kibbutz.

The kibbutz is a community of people who chose to give up everything for a more spiritual lifestyle. At the kibbutz, materialistic obsession doesn’t exist; there they live off the land, and learn to work for what they want.  Everyone has a part and role to play.
Interestingly enough, and to my surprise, we found several Sharmer’s that have taken that path. Here is what they had to say:

“I spent about three – four years an the kibbutz and absolutely loved it! If I could, I would go back…” – Declared Anne, a mother of two.

“Being at the kibbutz was the best experience and time in my entire life; I learnt so much there and think that it would do everyone good to spend some time of their life at the kibbutz.” – Revealed, Mary, a local Sharmer.

Well, why does it have to be somewhere we go? Why can’t Sharm be like that? Why is it that we complicate an otherwise simple life? That is beyond me… Sharm is a virgin land where it is our duty, as the settlers, to cultivate, nourish it, whether by building things, agriculture or implementing new rules, principles and traditions. We are what we make it to be, and it is us who should make the desert bloom, creating a new earth; free from all the nonsense we see and know around the world. Sharm has so much potential that isn’t utilized to its greatest advantage. If we could wipe it clean, and start on a fresh plain canvas; to take a paintbrush and let ourselves go, what wonderful pictures we would make. Well guess what? It’s never too late. Just do it. Get out there and do something for yourself.

So , going back to imagination, imagine Sharm if….

We used solar energy. We would not have the constant power cuts we usually do, and our bills would cost a lot less. Most importantly we will be using a natural resource that Sharm has plenty of, for something other than tanning.

We purify more sea water right here.  Even in the desert heaven we would have plenty of water and would be a lot cheaper that transporting it all the way from El Tor or even further still.

We live in peace, and by peace, I mean inner peace. Imagine what it would be like to live free or racial and social prejudice. It can happen, it happened in Malaysia very well! If everyone stops believing that “their” way is the right or the better way – imagine all the peace there would be flowing in the air. Imagine all that good karma.

Bicycles were the main means of transport. With 9 months of perfect weather, and small distances in Sharm, why are people so persistent on using cars. Most of you are expats; back home you walk, cycle or take the tube to move around. Why in Sharm, does the need for a car suddenly emerge? How come in Amsterdam it seems to work so well?

Imagine a place where you can walk down the streets without people harassing you, where you can show your true emotions without fear, apprehension or guilt. A place where everyone acts like one big family without the complication of the modern lifestyles; go back to when Sharm was pure, simple and a lot less complicated.
Every place is made by its people. Give it a thought and let us know what you come up with.