May You Be Forgotten

May You Be ForgottenFrom Paulo Coelho's Online Blog

At the Sceta monastery, the abbot Lucas gathered the monks for the sermon.

"May you never be remembered," he said.

"What do you mean?" replied one of the brothers, "May our example not help those who might need it?"

"In the days when everything was just, no one paid attention to exemplary people," answered the abbot. "Everyone gave their best, without pretensions, and so fulfilled their duty to their fellow men. They loved their neighbor because they understood that this was part of life, and they thought nothing of respecting a law of nature. They shared their possessions in order not to accumulate more than they could carry, since journeys last a lifetime. They lived together in freedom, giving and receiving, without demanding or blaming anything on others.

That is why their deeds were not handed down, and there is no story known about them."

Reflection Questions

• When you die, how do you think people will remember you?
  
• What would you like to be remembered for?
  
• Imagine that you anonymously gave a complete stranger the gift of joy and happiness. What would that feel like?

Why We Shout In Anger

"Why We Shout In Anger"
- Author Unknown

A Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained, .

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return

Some Inspirations To Share

One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others."

Archibald Rutledge

Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have."

Louis E. Boone


Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do."

Liz Smith

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you."

William Arthur Ward

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil."

James Allen

Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway."

Mary Kay Ash