Also see The Funny Side of Life, Success and Failure, Acceptance, Worry and Regret, Anger, Forgiveness, Attitude, Life Song Titles, and Beginning Song Titles.



Quotes


Instructions for Life


We Learned it All in Kindergarten

(adapted from the book by Robert Fulgum)

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Live a balanced life.
Learn some and think some, and draw and sing and dance
and play and work every day some.
Take a nap in the afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold
hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The golden rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and sane living.


Comes the Dawn

(Veronica A. Shoffstall)

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to understand that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head held high and eyes opened,
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.

You learn to build your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much,
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers,
And you learn that you really can endure,
That you really are strong.
And you really do have worth.

And you learn and learn . . .
With every goodbye comes the dawn.


Do it Anyway

(This was posted on Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, it is based on The Paradoxical Commandments © Dr. Kent M. Keith)

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.


The Society of Childlike Grownups

I recently joined The Society of Childlike Grownups and am hereby entitled to:
Walk in the rain, JUMP in mud puddles,smell flowers,
Blow bubbles, ooOoO, stop along the way, watch the stars come out,
Say HELLO to everyone, go barefoot, sing in the shower, read children's books,
Act silly, hold hands, hug, dance, laugh out loud -- and cry out loud,
Feel SCARED and sad ;-( and MAD and Happy, fall down and get up again,
Wander around, wonder (???) about stuff, draw and paint and color,
Talk with animals, STAY UP LATE, take naps, do nothing, daydream,
Climb trees, have pillow fights, learn new stuff, get excited about EVERYTHING,
Tell stories, save the world, make friends, listen to music, ask lots of questions,
Celebrate everything and nothing, be creative, relax, and feel joy and peace.
Frequent amusement parks, playgrounds, birthday parties, ice cream parlors, zoos,
museums, planetariums, festivals and other places where children of all ages gather.

The motto of The Society of Childlike Grownups is: It's never too late to have a happy childhood . . . and to make sure others do, too!

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