I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been.
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall never see.
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.
Bilbo sings as the Ring goes South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Traditional Scottish Prayer
Fae ghoulies and ghosties
and lang legged beasties
and things that go bump in the nicht.
May the guid lord protect ye.
Matt (who is really Bill:-)
..and for those who don't understand Scottish.....
From ghoulies and ghosties
and long leggedy beasties
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some of us. It is in everyone.
As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandela
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The greater part of what my neighbors call good,
I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent
of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior.
What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?"
Henry D. Thoreau 1817-1862
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time,
but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
Someone who learned the hard way!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why not seize the pleasures at once?
How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation.
Jane Austen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time.
W.B. Yeats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is in our idelenss,
In our dreams,
That the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.
Virginia Woolf
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyone can become angry - that is easy.
But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree,
at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way
- that is not easy.
Aristotle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Frank Outlaw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See everything.
Overlook a great deal.
Improve a little.
Pope John XXII
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In every man (and woman) a child is hidden
who wants to play.
Nietzsche
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
People are not worried by things,
but by their ideas about things.
When we meet with difficulties,
become anxious or troubled,
let us not blame others,
but rather ourselves, that is:
our ideas about things.
Epictetus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If a person is moderate and contented,
then even age is no burden;
If not, then even youth
is full of cares.
Plato
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember, no human condition is ever permanent.
Then you will not be overjoyed in good fortune,
nor too sorrowful in misfortune.
Socrates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many camels lament that they were more
lion than camel - though in truth,
when presented with the opportunity,
few camels would choose to be a lion;
preferring the familiar burden that
it is their self-professed lot to carry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOW
If I am thinking, I am not in the "now".
Being in the now is being without the arrogance
of the future and the ghosts from the past.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become bitter or vain,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune,
but do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Found at Old St. Paul's Church in Baltimore - 1692
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
