I can only fulfill myself
by serving someone or something
apart from myself, and if
I am unable to care
for anyone or anything separate
from me, I am unable to care
for myself.
Leo Buscaglia:
A Plum or a Banana?
We must learn that we cannot be loved by all persons. That is the ideal. In the world of persons it is not often found. A person can be the finest plum in the world, ripe, juicy, sweet, succulent and offer himself/herself to all. But we must remember that there will be people who do not like plums.
A man (or a woman) must understand that if he is the world's finest plum and someone he loves does not like plums, he has the choice of becoming a banana. But he must be warned that if he chooses to become a banana, he will be a second rate banana. But he can always be the best plum.
We must realize that if he chooses to be a second rate banana, he runs the risk of the loved one finding him second best and, wanting only the best, discarding him. He can spend the rest of his life trying to become the best banana - which is impossible if he is a plum - or seek again to be the best plum.
George H. Reavis:
The Animal School
Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of "a new world." So they oganized a school.
They adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum all the animals took all the subjects.
The duck was excellent in swimming, in fact better than his instructor; but he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school and also drop swimming in order to practice running. This was kept up until his web feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school so nobody worried about that except the duck.
The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a nervous breakdown because of so much make-up work in swimming.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the tree top down. He also developed a "charlie horse" from over-exertion and then got C in climbing and D in running.
The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely. In the climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there.
At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well, and also run, climb, and fly a little, had the highest average and was valedictorian.
The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to a badger and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.
M. Dale Baughman:
Every person needs recognition.
It is expressed by the lad who
says, "Mother, let's play darts.
I'll throw the darts and you
say "wonderful."
Henri Nouwen:
Love then is not a clinging to each other in the fear of an oncoming disaster but an encounter in a freedom that allows for the creation of a new life.
Viktor Frankl:
Love is living the experience of another person in all his uniqueness and singularity.
Ugo Betti:
That's what's needed don't you see, that... nothing else matters half so much... to reassure one another, to answer each other. Perhaps only you can listen to me and not laugh. Everyone has inside himself... what shall I call it - a piece of good news. Everyone is a very great and important character. Yes, that's what we have to tell them. Every man must be persuaded, even if he's in rags, that he is immensely, immensely important. Everyone must respect him and make him respect himself, too. They must listen to him attentively - don't stand on top of him, don't stand in his light, but look at him with gentleness, deference, give him great, great hopes, he needs them, especially if he's young - spoil him. Yes, make him grow proud.
Ancient Chinese Proverb:
A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark.
Charles Kettering:
It's man's destiny
to ponder on the riddle of existence and,
as a by-product of his wonderment,
to create a new life on this earth.
J. Dunne:
What makes a man's life worthy of being preserved in memory and story, worthy of being kept alive after his death, is that there is a transcending of death in his life.
Elizabeth K. Ross, Laurie Braga, Joseph Braga:
In order to be at peace, it is necessary to feel a sense of history - that you are both part of what has come before and part of what is yet to come. Being thus surrounded, you are not alone; and the sense of urgency that pervades the present is put into perspective: Do not frivolously use the time that is yours to spend. Cherish it, that each day may bring new growth, insight and awareness. Use this growth not selfishly, but rather in service of what may be, in the future tide of time. Never allow a day to pass that did not add to what was understood before. Let each day be a stone in the path of growth. Do not rest until what was intended has been done. But remember - Go as slowly as is necessary in order to sustain a steady pace, do not expend energy in waste. Finally, do not allow the illusory urgencies of the immediate to distract you from your vision of the eternal.
Fra Giovanni:
Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that you will find that earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage, then to claim it - that is all. But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.
Raymond John Baughan:
What is asked of us in our time
is that we break open
our blocked caves
and find each other.
Nothing less will heal the anguished spirit,
nor release the heart to act in love.
James Carrol:
I wish you, in farewell
earth and good roots,
air and warm sighs,
fire and a lively heart,
water and a second birth,
and all the restlessness
you need to notice.
Shall we together thank
these elements of our hope
And the one to whom they point?
