Hello Folks,
Are you astonishing a mean world with your acts of kindness?
So what does philosophy have to say as things get even weirder? I have a brother that lives in Portland so I have been amazed and troubled by what is going on there. It helps to remember that there is more good is going on than reported in the media. For example, I watched some folks help a horse get out of a mud puddle that it was stuck in. Watching them working together to help the horse made me feel better.
I have been rewriting an essay on Ralph Waldo Emerson for my online class and came across the quote: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” I think this is easy to forget as we try to cross things off our lists and move on to the next thing. If we don’t break that habit and learn to enjoy the journey, then we will miss the importance of the precious moment — the only moment we really have.
Another quote I found helpful: “Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” There is so much fear in the world, but it is love that we need to pay attention to and nurture.
The great Sufi master Rumi wrote: “Love is the endless ocean of God.” Love defeats fear.
A Jewish proverb I came across says: “You are only confined by the walls you build yourself.”
It takes self-knowledge to understand these walls and maturity to take responsibility for them.
Let’s tear down the walls that keep us from living fully.
Maya Angelou wrote: “If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
She also wrote what I could not say better myself, and that is my wish for each of you as well as myself: “My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.”
Are you astonishing? Of course you are. Just let love overcome your fear, stop being normal and watch the walls fall!
To the Journey!
Apophat