Sometimes it's
really hard to get going. We put off things we
don't want to do, or are afraid to
try. We occasionally feel overwhelmed by
the size of a job to be done like cleaning out
the cellar or reading a long book for a class.
But think a
minute.
If Beethoven
had thought about how complicated it was to
write his Ninth Symphony, with all those
instruments and voices and notes to blend
together, do we really think he would ever
have started?
But he didn't
get overwhelmed.
He sat
down and wrote just one small note, and then
another, and a third. It took him months, but
writing one note led to a second, and, one
note at a time, he completed it.
We begin the
same way with whatever tasks we have ahead of
us. Each tiny bit of progress helps us go on
to the next part.
We begin by
reading one page of that book, or taking one
box of junk from the cellar. That's all we
have to do.
The rest will
follow almost on its own.
The trick is
to begin.
Each day comes bearing its gifts.
Untie the ribbons. -- Ann Ruth Schabacker
Today will be
filled with surprises, big ones and small
ones, like the gifts at a birthday party.
Maybe we'll
see a friend we haven't seen for a
while.
Or we'll find
something we thought was lost.
Whatever
happens today will be special, and is meant to
help us grow in just the right way.
Growing up
doesn't always feel easy.
We're expected
to be more responsible and thoughtful of
others.
We're expected
to be honest about our feelings and needs.
If we're angry
or scared, we need to tell someone.
Sharing our
secret about being afraid relieves us of the
fear, and we feel lighter, happier, like after
opening a special gift.
Deep in their roots
all flowers keep the light.
-- Theodore Roethke
All flowers begin with the potential to grow and
blossom. Yet in winter, perennial flowers are
buried under the snow. Inside the dark earth, they
are patiently waiting for their time to bloom.
For the flowers,
faith is believing that spring will return. It
is carrying the light of summer deep in their
roots so that even in times of cold and dark,
there is hope that they will bloom again.
When spring does
return, they shoot out of the ground and burst
into blossom. In times of light, they drink it
deep into their roots--deep enough to sustain
them through the next season of darkness.
We can do the
same, keeping the memory of good times deep
within us, so that when we're feeling low, it
will keep our faith in the happy future strong.
When your day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life
Well hang on
Don't let yourself go
'Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (hold on)
(Hold on) if you feel like letting go (hold on)
If you think you've had too much
Of this life
Well, hang on
'Cause everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand
Oh, no
Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you're not alone
If you're on your own
In this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much
Of this life
To hang on
Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes
So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
