He felt frightened at being different

from his brothers and sisters.

It scared him to be different.

-- E. B. White

Inspirational Short Story, Female Fantasy Art, Relaxing Music

How ugly and wrong it makes us feel to be different: to be tall when others are short, slow when others are fast, black when others are white.

The miracle, and paradox, is that everyone is different -- and that is what makes us all the same.

When we think honestly about the people we admire -- friends, sports heroes, actors, musicians, parents, teachers, employers --

we know that all of them, as human beings, not heroes, have felt out of place in their lives, probably many times.

Believing we are alone or different cuts us off from others.

Climbing over that protective wall of "differentness" is scary, but it is guaranteed to set us free.

No yesterdays are ever wasted for those

who give themselves today.

-- Brendan Francis

We often find ourselves yearning for tomorrow. We get carried away thinking about the next day's big game or camping trip. We find ourselves daydreaming about how much fun we'll have with friends or what animals we'll see in the park.

The next day comes and perhaps the excitement about the game diminishes because our friends can't make it or the camping trip is cancelled because of bad weather. We feel cheated and begin regretting the missed opportunities of yesterday.

When we find ourselves concentrating only on tomorrow, we need to stop and look around.

We'll begin to notice the joke a friend is telling, or the bird flying overhead. We will begin appreciating the joys of the moment.

When we live in the moment, we have no expectations about the next moment, and without expectations, we can't be disappointed, only surprised.

Good friendships are fragile things

and require as much care as any other

fragile and precious things.

-- Randolph Bourne

A good friendship is like a flower garden. It needs attention and care.

We start by preparing the soil and then planting our tiny seeds.

Our friendships haves like the soil, and in them we plant seeds of trust and understanding.

Like a garden, friendships need care and love in order to thrive.

We nourish friendships with visits, thoughtful favors, and trust.

When we are feeling down or in need of help, a friendship can offer us more than just beauty.

When we work at our friendships, they are not seasonal but bloom in any weather, and they surround us with comfort and the knowledge that we have, and deserve, love.

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10/25/2024

Dividers from A Secret Garden by Whisper