I am grateful in whatever accomplishments I’ve made…
whatever triumphs and victories
whatever advantages have found their way to me…
when I’ve turned around
there have been people standing there
who believed in me.
And grateful I could return the favor…
when those who believed in me
finally get their do…
and they’ve turned around…
There I am…standing there
believe in them too.
May we be blessed to create a world…
where we were building bridges
instead of blowing them up…
Where Instead of discouraging one another
and tearing each other down…
We were encouraging one another
and building each other up
As humans we are social beings…to connect with one another,
to cooperate and interact is how we’re orchestrated…
This is not by accident…it’s how and why we were created.
In fact each year as the Earth completes another revolution
our ability to socialize is essential to our physical health, our mental well-being
and to our successful evolution
It is in our destiny that any success we have obtained
has not been acquired on our own…
We are created to work together…not to stand alone.
Which means no matter how smart we are..
how strong and resilient are our genes…
We are all somewhat dependent on the people behind the scenes.
Those people who support and encourage us…who help us to succeed
by providing us, from behind the scene, everything we need.
What makes this relationship so wonderful…
is how those we help succeed..
when it’s our turn to succeed
are now the ones behind the scene
providing us…everything we need.
So a shout out to everyone who has worked diligently
behind the scenes…to help another person reach the stars…
and in case we do not say it often enough…
Thank you…and we know who you are.
From a time when I was young…
until today…when I am old
I am grateful I ever came across
the teaching of Marc Gold.
When I first entered the classroom as a teacher…
his ideas were on full display…
He taught if my students weren’t learning the way I was teaching…
I should Try Another Way.
His simple message…that in my mind he would implant
helped me to see my students for what they can do…
instead of what they can’t.
It’s a philosophy I hope people will use today…in life
It is still a beautiful thought…
to see people for who they are…
not for who they are not.
And when it comes to prejudice and hatred and war…
prevalent in our societies today…
Instead of doing what isn’t working…
Perhaps it’s time to try another way.
May we be blessed to think about
the words we write and say…
Think about their impact…
before we send them on their way.
Before we use words to harm…
humiliate or disgrace…
may we be blessed to remember how feelings…
unlike words…
are not so easy to erase.
Have you ever noticed how people gather together..
comfort and help each other…after the bombs have dropped
Family, friends, neighbors, strangers…hugging
consoling one another as they search through the rubble
after the the bombs have dropped.
People grieving together…leaning on each other
trying to deal with unspeakable loss and sorrow…
after the bombs have dropped
Mother’s, fathers, children…innocent victims of war and hatred…
walking side by side…hand in hand…
trying desperately to understand…
after the bombs have dropped.
Have you ever thought to yourself…
how throughout Earth’s history
this fighting among ourselves has gone on too long?
That perhaps we have it backwards…
perhaps we have it all wrong.
What if we made an effort…to gather together
comfort and help each other…
before the bombs are dropped
What if family, friends, neighbors, strangers
would hug and console each other
before the bombs are dropped
What if before we dropped our bombs:
we made an effort to see all people of the world as one family
and Earth as one land…
What if before we dropped our bombs
we tried walking…side by side…together…hand in hand.
If we all made an effort before we drop our bombs
to know, understand and love each other…
to pick each other up…when we fall…
Then…and only then
as one family…as one Earth
there would never be a reason
to create and our bombs again.
I am grateful knowing that those I have loved
who are no longer here today…
Because I still hold them in my heart
and I’m my thoughts
are never very far away.
