“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci
A little old lady sitting at the busy market Saturday morning. Her frail figure can hardly be noticed in the crowds of shopping enthusiasts. Her beautiful embroideries, however, catch my eyes immediately. “Who makes this wonderful artwork?” I ask. “I do,” she says almost being hurt that I would question such an obvious fact. “I’ve been making these for 32 years and have been selling them here at this market for 20 years.” “Such beautiful, delicate embroidery. You must love making these!” “Yes, I do love it. Wearing glasses I can still make them and be here at the market […]
“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” – Pema Chodron
“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” – Lao Tzu
The following story about giving and receiving with an open heart was shared with me by a dear friend and I am happy to re-share it. There is so much we can learn from each other and from one another’s lives every day: “I was sitting in the park with my shattered heart. I didn’t know the answers, the path ahead. Clouded by my tears I was sitting alone on a bench when I felt that someone just passed by me but I didn’t really take notice. A minute later a gentleman came up to me: ‘Excuse me for disturbing […]
“What is your secret?” “…a life full of joy and spiritual delight, a life of unity and concord, a friendship both mental and physical…” – ‘Abdu’l-Baha
On my commute home today a lady in her late 50s was sitting opposite me on the bus. She seemed tired, I had a crazy day. Nothing unusual. A huge thunderstorm swept over Budapest this afternoon. People around us all seemed indifferent, just couldn’t wait to get home. Something deep inside me wanted to really reach out to this lady. I kept looking for eye contact with her. Then suddenly I opened my lips to speak: “Excuse me. May I say something?” She looked at me surprised not knowing what to expect. “This blouse suits you so much!” I smiled. […]
I was traveling to the countryside today. As we were queuing to get on the bus, I caught sight of a young mother trying to close her baby pram and put it in the storage compartment of the bus while also holding her baby on one arm. She was struggling alone. I looked around to see if any men, or for that matter, any women cared to give her a hand. One by one we were all interested to get on the bus as soon as possible. I stepped out of the queue and walked up to her asking if […]
“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding…” – Gibran
“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” – Buddha
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