You Are The Sum Of Your Experiences
|
Hi Reader, Welcome to my first newsletter. A successful writer I know told me the best way to build an audience was to: Write consistently and hit publish. You will soon find out if people are interested in what you have to say. So here goes. Yesterday, I got a comment from a troll on social media. It upset me hugely. I am a ‘live and let live’ kind of soul, so the whole trolling thing escapes me. If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. My website and newsletter are in their early stages. The point being to share what I learn in the hope that it will help others. That’s all. No other agenda. But the prospect of putting myself out there and being open to abuse made me falter briefly. Then, I read another quote that turned me around. The right quote often finds you at the right time. It was merely this. The meaning of life is to discover your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away. I am not sure exactly what my gift is, but I like to help. So, I am giving away what I learn in the hope that it will help someone else. I was recently given this to share. You are the sum of your experiences, that includes other people’s kindness. Repay in kind. Sometimes, we encounter people we find it difficult to foster kindness towards. Someone who has hurt us or committed an act we cannot comprehend. But consider you are only seeing a small snapshot of this person. Had you encountered them at another time in their existence, you may have considered them a most beautiful soul. We all make mistakes, and the people we dislike the most are the most in need of our compassion. They have lost their way. Focus on the light, always, Natalie Attenborough |
Focus on the Light
Hi Reader, A very good friend of mine works in the education sector. She is perfectly suited to the work as she is extremely wise and patient. They are both traits I have associated with her since I first met her, and she embodied them even then, during our misspent youth! One of the wisdoms she shares with her students is that you can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it. I have always loved that counsel. It is attributed to the renowned Stoic, Epictetus....
Hi Reader, For my main occupation I am an arborist. It’s my job to arrange for the inspection of trees in order to manage them appropriately. Trees are remarkable, self optimising structures. A direct product of their genetics and environmental stimulus. And when left to their own devices, can live for tens, hundreds and thousands of years without issue, supporting literally thousands of other life forms on one individual tree. When we plant or encompass trees in urban settings, conflicts...
Hi Reader, As of today, the Focus on the Light Newsletter is going out weekly. I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to send me positive feedback. It’s heartwarming to know that the newsletter is well received. My intent to help others by sharing wisdoms. They are not my wisdoms. As Mark Twain once said: "There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope." I am not sure I agree with that...