"We're afraid to appear sentimental or speak in platitudes because people will say, 'What a jerk!' It takes courage in our culture to be a lover." ~ Leo Buscaglia

What's wrong with softhearted, idealistic, peace-and-justice-loving dreamers? Nothing. 

Remember the song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love"? 

We need love now. We also need compassion. We need to cultivate respect for one another. Perhaps most of all: we need courage to stand for truth; to speak for high principles; to be lovers of humanity and all creation; to be protectors of the environment and planet Earth.

We need courage to defend freedom and justice. We need courageous dreamers and do-ers. We need "do-gooders," too. Why do some people demean and disparage people who want to help the hungry, the homeless, the imprisoned, the poor, the sick, and those seeking safe asylum? Why do they speak of them with disdain? 

Inspirational quotes, spiritual proverbs, and reflections like this can sometimes seem like surface platitudes. But even if and when the talk seems trite, there is always great power beneath and beyond the platitudes.

I hope that in the New Year we will each experience The Twelve Gifts at ever-deepening levels and that we will bring these 12 resources into all areas of our own lives and into the world in ways that amaze. 

Loving you,
Charlene 

COURAGE: May you speak and act with confidence and use courage to follow your own path. - from The Twelve Gifts of Birth.