“Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane
and the pessimist the parachute.
- Gil Stern
This quote may seem
lighthearted and clever, but with not much to offer beyond giving us a chuckle or making us smile.
But if we pause and wonder in broader ways about what we and others contribute to society, we might have our minds and hearts illumined with insights.
Yesterday,
in a chance encounter with an acquaintance, our surface chat suddenly turned into a deeper conversation, in which she shared with me how a challenging child was teaching her a great deal about patience and unconditional love.
This is just one example, a seemingly small one. But, in truth, at times, we all act as teachers for others.
After talking with that friend, I thought of my Uncle Joe and how he suffered severely from PTSD after his service in World War II. I grew up seeing his
limitations and watching how he was treated in our family.
At his funeral, I recognized how he was a teacher to everyone in our large family, drawing out compassion, patience, helpfulness, acceptance and other qualities. I also watched how my grandmother loved him unconditionally. She was a significant teacher for me too, in many moments and many
ways.
Today, let's notice some of the ways we and others are making contributions to life. Let's aim to see inner beauty in ourselves and others too.
With love,
Charlene
THE SECOND GIFT IS BEAUTY.
May
your deeds reflect it depth.
- from The Twelve Gifts of Birth
