“Don't flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become. ”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935);
associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court
www.values.com
Monday, November 28, 2011
Everyone is Broken.......
.....some are just better at hiding it than others. Some of us are mended, some are not. And at this time of year, it shows.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
Plato
Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)
We were driving around the other day, running errands, putzing around as we call it. Everywhere was a memory, mostly bad. At this time of year, memories of holiday traditions come back like a flood. We have your basic empty nest now. Our 22 year old lives and works on the east coast. Our 20 year old has her own place here. Our 19 year old has tasted what it's like to be on his own and is working hard to get there again {currently with his mom}. And our youngest, my almost 18 year old, is with his father in KS.
Holiday traditions tend to revolve around our children. Staying up late wrapping their gifts. Putting their crazy toys together. Trying to hide their gifts. Getting their pictures taken with Santa. buying their Christmas outfits for those crazy pictures. Even at Thanksgiving we plan the meal around their likes. We drag out the tree or go pick one with our children. Maybe we go to a movie after the big meal, or watch the game with them. As they grow up and move away, these traditions slowly dwindle and fade. But when you get divorced, these changes happen a lot faster. Suddenly, traditions are ripped away from you and shattered like wine glasses thrown against the fireplace mantle. And everywhere you go, there is a memory of a once lovingly held tradition, now gone and perhaps outgrown.
It makes me wonder how many other sad, maybe angry people we encounter on our way at this time of year who may be experiencing a very similar type of thing. Everywhere they look there are happy couples, families, children ~ but all they have are tragic, shattered memories that burn their heart and soul like a fire. What we see is a tough exterior, a grouchy old man, a crabby lady, a surly teen - but what we don't see is the brokenness on the inside. Plato was so right. We are all fighting a hard battle, every day of our existence. At this 'most wonderful time of year' let's try to cut our fellow human beings some slack, for we do not know how hard their battle truly is.
Merry Christmas!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
Plato
Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)
We were driving around the other day, running errands, putzing around as we call it. Everywhere was a memory, mostly bad. At this time of year, memories of holiday traditions come back like a flood. We have your basic empty nest now. Our 22 year old lives and works on the east coast. Our 20 year old has her own place here. Our 19 year old has tasted what it's like to be on his own and is working hard to get there again {currently with his mom}. And our youngest, my almost 18 year old, is with his father in KS.
Holiday traditions tend to revolve around our children. Staying up late wrapping their gifts. Putting their crazy toys together. Trying to hide their gifts. Getting their pictures taken with Santa. buying their Christmas outfits for those crazy pictures. Even at Thanksgiving we plan the meal around their likes. We drag out the tree or go pick one with our children. Maybe we go to a movie after the big meal, or watch the game with them. As they grow up and move away, these traditions slowly dwindle and fade. But when you get divorced, these changes happen a lot faster. Suddenly, traditions are ripped away from you and shattered like wine glasses thrown against the fireplace mantle. And everywhere you go, there is a memory of a once lovingly held tradition, now gone and perhaps outgrown.
It makes me wonder how many other sad, maybe angry people we encounter on our way at this time of year who may be experiencing a very similar type of thing. Everywhere they look there are happy couples, families, children ~ but all they have are tragic, shattered memories that burn their heart and soul like a fire. What we see is a tough exterior, a grouchy old man, a crabby lady, a surly teen - but what we don't see is the brokenness on the inside. Plato was so right. We are all fighting a hard battle, every day of our existence. At this 'most wonderful time of year' let's try to cut our fellow human beings some slack, for we do not know how hard their battle truly is.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Quote of the day : Pass it on
“We must have a pure, honest, and warm-hearted motivation, and on top of that, determination, optimism, hope, and the ability not to be discouraged. The whole of humanity depends on this motivation. ”
The 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935);
www.values.com
The 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935);
www.values.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
This Lovely Place by Charlotte Siems
Another great uplifting and true! story ~ read, enjoy and pass it on!
The Thanksgiving We Almost Died
The Thanksgiving We Almost Died
A post too good not to pass on
Making a Difference This Holiday Season from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures
Please read, enjoy and pass it on. Thanks!
~sheri
Please read, enjoy and pass it on. Thanks!
~sheri
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Quote of the day : Pass it on
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you want to be happy, practice compassion. ”
Mary Stewbeck -
www.values.com
Mary Stewbeck -
www.values.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Pass it On
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
Maya Angelou (born 1928);
Poet, dancer, producer, playwright, director, author
www.values.com
Maya Angelou (born 1928);
Poet, dancer, producer, playwright, director, author
www.values.com
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Quote of the day : Pass it on
“No soul that aspires can ever fail to rise; no heart that loves can ever be abandoned. Difficulties exist only that in overcoming them we may grow strong, and they who have suffered are able to save. ”
Annie Besant (1847-1933);
British theosophist, women's rights activist, writer
{from values.com}
Annie Besant (1847-1933);
British theosophist, women's rights activist, writer
{from values.com}
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
a key to success
just needs to be grasped and held tightly!!!
“Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.”
Dan Millman (born 1946);
author, gymnastics world champion
“Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.”
Dan Millman (born 1946);
author, gymnastics world champion
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