Tag: life

Fruitful Friday

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

A fun poem I remember from my childhood. Easy to read and beautifully written. You just can’t beat simple elegance. Happy Friday!

Quote of the week

“A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the wills of others, but that he can mold and master his own will: and things serve him who serves Truth; people seek guidance of him who is master of himself.”
– James Allen

This is such a truthful quote. The only certainty in life is ourselves. When we try to control the world around us we lose control and find ourselves plunged into the chaos we set about escaping from. Just be yourself and don’t fear others judgement of you. If you let others dictate how you act, then you truly will have never lived. Hope this quote was inspirational and I hope your weeks go well!

Why Animals are more than “just” Animals

First and foremost, we are all animals, as much as we humans like to think we’re above evolution. Just because we have opposable thumbs and can build what our minds create doesn’t mean we’re smarter than any other animal. So why bring this up, why is this a big issue? Well, this last year my dog of 15 years (since 1st grade through Junior year of college) passed away and that got me thinking. “Why am I so upset, he was simply a pet, one that I can replace”. And then I realized, one of the most meaningful relationships in my life was not with people but rather my dog. So why then, when I talk about him, I refer more often than not that my dog was an “it”, a “thing”. I sometimes call babies an “it” but I never call an adult an “it” because it’s condescending and makes a person equal to an object (objects are “its”, not people). So why then, is a relationship with a pet any different? It’s not.

Yet we as humans, as people, with our infinite knowledge and wisdom refer to our companions, best friends as being lesser than us, which is messed up. We constantly talk down to our dogs, yelling at them when we’re angry, punishing them when they’re bad (instead of rewarding them when they’re good), and treating them as though they don’t have personalities, as if they don’t have brains. If we did this to our kids, we’d be called terrible parents yet it’s perfectly acceptable for owners to treat their dogs this way? Our dogs, that die to protect us, are there when we have no one else to comfort us, and create some of our fondest memories are nothing more valuable than a smartphone, something we can replace? Do we replace people? No, as much as we try. Yes dogs live shorter lives than people and we eventually need to move on, but it makes you wonder why exactly you’re getting a new dog. Honestly there is nothing more beautiful than a man or woman who has synergy with his or her dog as I feel there is a deep connection that is just as intimate as a relationship with a person. Thanks for reading!

Quote of the Week

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” – Confucius

I really love this quote as it is such a wise quote. When we reflect, we are not just looking at ourselves, we are also considering the world around us. We learn through imitation, we imitate those from our environment and those we want to be. Experience really is the bitterest of all, because through experience we learn what is wrong and our views of the world are shaped most through this. Happy Monday and have a great week!