bio

quotes

writing

off the wall

rambles

“from the walls of Lolly's loo”

click on the image to see a full-size version

It was important to Lolly that his tiny apartment be well decorated, and he was kind enough to even post things up in the washroom. These were words that we all spent time reading while doing our thing in Lolly's loo.

Take Time

Take time to THINK

It is the source of power

Take time to PLAY

It is the source of perpetual youth

Take time to READ

It is the foundation of wisdom

Take time to PRAY

It is the greatest power on earth

Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED

It is a God-given privilege

Take time to BE FRIENDLY

It is the road to happiness

Take time to LAUGH

It is the music of the soul

Take time to GIVE

It is too short a day to be selfish

Take time to WORK

It is the price of success

Take time to DO CHARITY

It is the key to heaven

Words for Thought

—Dance like no one's watching—

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We'll be happy when they're out of "that stage". We tell ourselves that life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?  Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

Stop waiting until you finish school. Until you go back to school. Until you lose ten pounds. Until you gain ten pounds. Until you have kids. Until your kids leave the house. Until you start work. Until you get married. Until Friday night. Until you get a new car. Until your car or home is paid off. Until spring. Until summer. Until you retire. 

There is no better time than right now to be happy…
Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt. Smile a lot. It relaxes yourself and others. And dance like no one's watching. 

Author unknown.
Pinned to the wall in the screening mammography clinic in Vancouver, BC.

Memos From Your Child

This piece whose author is unknown is meant to come from a child to his parents, but it applies equally well to our relationship with our kids at Covenant House.

• Don’t spoil me. I know quite well I shouldn’t have all I ask for.
• Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it. It makes me secure.
• Don’t let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
• Don’t make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly “big”.
• Don’t correct me in front of people if you can help it. I’ll take much more notice if you talk quietly in private.
• Don’t protect me from consequences. I need to learn the painful way sometimes.
• Don’t make me feel my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
• Don’t be too upset when I say “I hate you”. It isn’t you I hate but your power to thwart me.
• Don’t take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
• Don’t nag – if you do, I’ll have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
• Don’t make rash promises. I feel badly let down when promises are broken.
• Don’t forget that I can’t explain myself as well as I’d like. This is why I’m not always accurate.
• Don’t tax my honesty too much. I’m easily frightened into telling lies.
• Don’t be inconsistent. It completely confuses me and makes me lose my faith in you.
• Don’t put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you’ll find I stop asking and seek information elsewhere.
• Don’t tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real.
• Don’t ever think it’s beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me surprisingly warm towards you.
• Don’t forget I love experimenting. I can’t get on without it, so please put up with it.
• Don’t forget how quickly I’m growing up. It must be hard to keep pace with me, but please try.

Desiderata

GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND THE HASTE AND REMEMBER WHAT PEACE THERE MAY be in SILENCE. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself, especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture the strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars: you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.