All power is a trust.

We are accountable for its exercise.

From people and for people all power springs,

and all must exist.

-- Benjamin Disraeli

The sun is power. It warms, it burns, it feeds the plants without which we could not live. Yet, for all its power, the sun cannot make so much as a rainbow by itself. For that, it needs the rain, at just the right time and angle.

No matter how strong we are -- or smart or talented or attractive -- we realize our full power only by filtering it through others.

Our most meaningful achievements are born of combined efforts.

Even when we do something that feels like ours alone -- paint a painting, win an award, hit a home run -- there is always a constellation of friends and family and teachers, even enemies, who've been a part of our success.

Like the rain's part in the rainbow, the contributions of others do not detract from our achievements, but enhance them and bring them to their fullest light.

Inspirational Short Story, Female Fantasy Art, Relaxing Music

Great events make me quiet and calm;

it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.

-- Queen Victoria

Isn't that always the way? We cope with major events, like births and weddings, fairly well.

It is the little things -- so inconsequential in the long run -- that upset us.

If the kids don't pick up their rooms, or dinner is late, or we can't go to the movies because we haven't done our homework, we become irritated and annoyed. Minor things like these upset us much more than they should.

Are they really so important?

A messy room is not a terminal illness. A late dinner won't affect our health unless we get so upset about it we make ourselves sick.

We'll survive.

If we think back to the last time we were angry or upset, does it seem important now? We probably can't even remember why we reacted that way.

How much better life is when we let go of the little irritations.

I love him and I cannot seem to find him.

-- Ovid

Where can we find the ones we love? Do they always live in our world, or do we have to go out of our way?

They often are not at home; we can find them at their work.

Their play is different from ours; we could try having their kind of fun.

Too often, we look only for friends who are much like ourselves, and we tend to avoid those who are not.

This kind of narrow-mindedness isn't fair to ourselves or others.

We are each unique, like the pieces of a puzzle.

We are each necessary to the whole picture.

When we go out of our way to know someone else better, we stretch our own boundaries, we give ourselves new space in which to grow.

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03/04/2014

Dividers from Shrubbery's Graphic Collection (dead link 12/29/09)