Culture Fuze

Twelve favourites

Okay, I admit it. What with one thing and another, I simply couldn’t think of something to write about this week.

More accurately, I had so many things I was thinking about, bopping around in my mind and bumping into one another, that I couldn’t settle on just one of them.

So, as what I hope will feel like a gift to you, here are some things that other people have written–a dozen of my favourite quotes. I hope at least one of them will brighten your day.

1. “Each time someone stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others…he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” Robert Kennedy

2. “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle, but sometimes I just wish God didn’t trust me so much.” Mother Teresa

3. “Anyone can go to the top of a mountain and wear a saffron robe and meditate, and be grounded and centered and wise. What the world needs now is for us to come down from the mountain top and go into the market place, and be grounded and centered and wise.” A Tai Chi instructor whose name I have forgotten

4. “I’d never want to belong to a club that would have me for a member.” Groucho Marx

5. “If I’ve learned one thing...it has been to save the energy I used to expend on being angry about injustice and put that energy into thinking and feeling joy, prosperity, sustainability, health and justice for all. This is what will change the world...a groundswell of people pouring their energy into manifesting their ‘preferred future’ instead of being worn down by disillusion and disappointment.” Molly Carlile

6. “Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” Joseph Campbell

7. “There is vitality, a life force, energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action. And because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.” Martha Graham

8. “Every positive change–every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness – involves a rite of passage. Each time we ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.” Dan Millman

9. “Each one of us is like a single thread in a huge tapestry, woven in a complex and colorful pattern. We may be only one strand, yet we’re all integral to the finished image. We affect the lives of others just by choosing whether or not to be our true selves. Our only obligation to others, our only purpose, is to express our uniqueness and allow others to do the same.” Anita Moorjani

10. “If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” Eubie Blake

11. “O God, help me to believe the truth about myself, no matter how beautiful it is.” Marina Wiederkehr

And my personal favourite:

12. “When we come to the edge of all the light we have known, and step into the darkness of the unknown, we have to believe one of two things will happen: something will come up to meet us, or we will be taught to fly.” Patrick Overton

Happy flying! ***

I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send an email to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com . I’ll happily reply within one business day.