“Choosing to have joy is not naively thinking everything will be easy. It is courageously believing that there is still hope, even when things get hard.” ​ – Morgan Harper Nichols

“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

“There is still so much in the world worth fighting for. So much that is beautiful, so many wonderful people working to reverse the harm, to help alleviate the suffering. And so many young people dedicated to making this a better world.” ​ – Jane Goodall

“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” -Carlos Castaneda

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” -Scott Adam

“The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.” ​ – Robert M. Parsig

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people…

“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love. And then we return home.” -Australian Aboriginal Proverb What have you observed this summer that helped you to grow? As we leave Chautauqua Institution after nine weeks of lectures…

“Sometimes we forget how magical it is just to wake up in the morning. Take a breath. Wriggle your toes, and open your droopy eyes. Take a moment. Be present. Give gratitude first.” ~Unknown Thank you to the Charter of Compassion Facebook Page for this thought. My research didn’t turn up an author, but it…

A very busy week and we forgot to post. But it’s still Sunday, and Dr. Seuss had something to say about being late. Do you ever feel like he (and we) did today? It’s nice to know we’re not alone. How did it get to be late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon December…