PLEASE SHARE YOUR WISDOM

Looking through my book of quotes collected through the years, I have found this one, which my son once sent me. I thought I would share it with you.

"Never fear big words.
Big words name little things.
All big things have little names
such as life and death, peace and war,
or dawn, day, night, hope, love, home.
Learn to use little words in a big way.
It is hard to do
but they say what you mean. -
If you don´t know what you mean -
use big words -
they often fool little people."

Arthur K...ner (sorry, handwriting not clear) to his son.

I think it is worth thinking it over.

Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Juliana, that's very thought provoking. 
 
It reminds me somewhat of my response to the silent retreat I attended last month.  People asked me afterward what I learned in the silence, and my response was I learned that people talk too much, or rather use a lot of words and communicate little.  I wonder if your quotation means something similar?
 
Lori

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Juliana,I love your quote from your son.  It says so much.  Humanity is strange, though.  When I finished school, they told us when we were interviewed by parish committees to be sure and use the "big word" jargon.  General feedback to the grad school was that if we used ordianry "little" words, the committees would feel like we weren't qualified to minister in their parishes.
Lori, isn't it amazing how much one can learn on a silent retreat???they are truly such a blessing.(I can say that because my retreat director isn't back in town yet.)

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

The guy's name from the quote is Arthur Kudner. 

Things I'm Grateful For - Updated Daily. Now updated to the new Mk II version.

Thanks, Solomon, it looked like it in my son´s handwriting, but I wasn´t sure. 
Lori, I think there is quite a lot in the quote to be gotten out of it. Each one of us will probably read it in a somewhat different way, according to our personal experience.
Betty,  what you say about that advice given amazes and angers me (a 1)
It seems to have become general practice today, however, (especially in job interviews, politics etc.) So I consider it important to open people´s (our own) eyes to it, and for each one of us to return to using little words whole-heartedly. I am not quite sure what you wanted to convey by saying "Humanity is strange, though". Did you mean to point to a change that is taking place? Humanity is on its way all the time, and hopefully we´ll learn to distrust big words more and more.

Juliana
____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

What I want to share today links up with the last posts about "big" and "little" words.

Lori, you have pointed to the fact that we often talk a lot, but  communicate little,  which the silence of your retreat has taught you.

In Germany and Austria, there is a traditional myth which says that in the night when Christ was born all animals were able to speak. In a magazine I found the following:

"Angeblich konnten in der Nacht, als das Christkind geboren wurde, die Tiere reden und die Sterne schienen heller als je zuvor zu leuchten.
Heute wäre es wünschenswert, wenn die Menschen wieder wirklich miteinander reden würden."

"It says that in the night when Christ was born the animals were able to speak and the stars seemd to shine more brightly than ever before.
Today it is to be wished  for that human beings will again learn to really speak  with one another."

Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Juliana, that is a very valuable little story. thank you for sharing it.
Jude

Love is the only way

In the vein of talking a lot but communicating little (thanks Lori), I offer the following quote from Meister Eckhardt that communicates much while saying only a little:
 
If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
 
I really do appreciate reading everyone's posts and want to encourage people who read to also feel free comfortable to post. You'll find we are supportive and kind.
Thankful one

Daily meditation has profound effects on getting through difficulties.

Mood enhancing is another very effective way to focus on gratitude in the mist of struggle.
I listen to inspirational speakers, watch inspiring videos, and dance to  inspiring music.

A variety of sources are abundant and plentiful here on the web.

In fact today I found the "A GOOD DAY"  video. It uplifted my thoughts and spirits, so I shared it with people. As the day progressed, I listened to it again from time to time. Eventually I visited gratefulness.org which led me to here.

Another thing I do is go beyond just affirming the things I am grateful for with just words. In addition I also try my best to re-live  and emphasize the feelings that go with what I am grateful as well. This creates a physical reaction that produces endorphins. This relieves stress and send out good vibrations.

I suppose I apply gratitude to the struggling side of life like medicine.
With the intent to heal.

What better medicine is there??   Jude

Love is the only way

Welcome to the forum, Lillie!
 
You have found wonderful ways to feed your spirit! All this helps to stay in a grateful state of heart and mind. I hope you will visit here often and share with us your insights, experience and wisdom.
 
With every good wish for a happy New Year, rich in blessings for you,
Edda

Peace and joy!

Juliana, Dear, thank you for the quote

Today it is to be wished for that human beings will again learn to really speak with one another."

I sometimes wonder if the real problem is that human beings again need to learn to really speak with one another or if part of the problem is that we really don't LISTEN to one another. We so often hear words and it seems easy to "listen" to words rather than to listen to the words plus the tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions which often times completely contradict the words. So often the very same words can mean such totally different things depending on how they are said. One of my companioning classes involved using the same words yet saying something totally different each time we used them. Even here on the forum where we can't physically see the person writing, if we really listen to how the words are put together, so often the very same words in a post can signify such totally different meanings. Just a thought--

Thankful one--Such a powerful message from Meister Eckhart. On a Zen retreat, we were taught to bow to each and everything we used as a means of "thank you" since each time we used it, whether shoes, socks, whatever, that specific "it" that we were using was giving up part of its life for the enhancement of our lives. Thank you for the reminder.

Lillie, Welcome to the forum. You are so correct that daily meditation has profound effects, not just in getting us through our difficulties but in allowing us to surrender to the Holy One who knows much better than each of us what will bring us peace, happiness, and contentment. We hope you will come back often. I can hear the peace that re-living the feelings of a particular situation brings to you.

Jude,you are right, gratitude is truly the best medicine.

Edda,Prayers are continuing for Leon's surgery and for you. Do take good care of you. I know he will need your assistance after surgery.

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

Lillie,
I am very curious and want to learn more from you. You said,
 
"Another thing I do is go beyond just affirming the things I am grateful for with just words. In addition I also try my best to re-live and emphasize the feelings that go with what I am grateful as well."
 
Could you please elaborate on this and give me one or more examples so I can try and incorporate this into my gratefulness practice? I would appreciate learning more about your technique. It sounds powerful.
Thankful one

Dear Betty, I feel I owe you a response to your comment on my last post, concerning speaking and listening.

You see, the snares of translating are ever present !  When my son and I decided to render "wirklich" miteinander reden by "really" speak with one another, we already had our doubts, but could not think of anything better.
What is meant by "wirklich miteinander reden" is exactly this: listening and responding! In other words, it refers to dialogue. And here the next snare is waiting: as far as I know, "dialogue" in English means just any conversation - whereas in German it is a technical term used in the science of communication.

"Dialog" (German!) is rare, it is the exception, and that for many reasons.
First, each one listens to the other one attentively, without judging what he/she says, without any intention of convincing the other one of one´s own position. It is then that something new can grow between differring parties, they will leave with new insights. (Spiritually speaking: it is the Holy Spirit at work).

It is in this sense that Father Lombardi said, "The new name of Love is Dialogue".
And that is what we are doing on the Forum, isn´t it?

Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Juliana: I can´t agree more about the translation problem. I call the dialogue-problem in German "Kampfquatschen". That means that people talk and talk just to relief themselves of the newest "Klatsch" = gossip, not even interested what the other one talks about. The ironie is that the person opposite does just the same. A lot of words, no meaning...
 
 

What is understood need not be discussed.

Dear Juliana and Barbara G, You are both so very correct. Juliana, "Dialog" seems to be just as rare in the U.S as it is in Germany. Your definition of "Dialog" is perfect. It is only when such give and take occurs that true conversation has taken place. Thank you for defining it so succinctly. Barbara G, it is good to have you back. I love the word "kampfquatchen". It just sounds like someone spewing forth meaningless words. I really need to remember that word. "Klatsch" has been known since childhood. Thank you both for posting such a solid definition of true "Dialog"

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

I received this email today and thought it had a very profound message.

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.We buy our food, but they grow theirs.We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

Thank you, Betty! This is a great story and makes a wonderful point. A change in perspective makes all the difference. It is like looking at the world standing on your head and having everything turned upside down!
 
Edda

Peace and joy!

Thanks Betty for reminding me of this story. I have seen it before, but it doesn't lose any of it's power second time around!
 
Jude

Love is the only way

Betty: Thank you for the story I really appreciate it. It tells me that values can differ a lot and that the ones we are given by society aren´t questioned most of the time. Today I read in a book of Jörg Zink the words: "Ich brauche kein erfolgreicher Mensch zu sein, wenn ich ein gesegnter Mensch sein soll nach Gottes Willen." My clumsy translation: I don´t need to be a successful human being, if I shall be by Gods will a blessed human being. That is for me a simular aspect.

What is understood need not be discussed.