"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best
of all possible worlds;
the pessimist fears this is true.
                -James Branch Cabell"

No matter where you go, There you are.

These Things I warmly wish for you-
Someone to love,
Some work to do, A bit o' sun
A bit o' cheer
And a guardian angel
Always near.
          {Old Irish Greeting}

Leave the flurry
To the masses;
Take your time 
And shine your glasses.
          {Old Irish Verse}

Learning is Better than house or land.
                    {Maria Edgeworth}

Age and knowledge only contribute to sour our dispositions.
                                         {Oliver Goldsmith}

Then accept it and live up to it.

The day we die
the wind comes down
to take away
our footprints.

The wind makes dust
to cover up
the marks we left
while walking.

For otherwise
the thing would seem
as is we were
still living.

Therefore the wind
is he who comes
to blow away
our footprints.
   {Southern Bushmen}

Hail Mother, who art the earth,
Hallowed be thy soil, rocks and flora
     that nourish and support all life.
Blessed be thy wind that gives us breath
     and thy waters that quench, bathe and refresh
     all living things.
Holy Earth - as one - we praise your majesty,
     grace and wonder.
                       {Bill Faherty}

* THE EARTH TEACHES ME *

 Earth teach me quiet,
as the grasses are still with new light.
 Earth teach me suffering,
as old stones suffer with memory.
 Earth teach me humility,
as blossoms are humble with beginning.
 Earth teach me caring,
as mothers nurture their young.
 Earth teach me courage,
as the tree that stands alone.
 Earth teach me limitation,
as the ant that crawls on the ground.
 Earth teach me freedom,
as the eagle that soars in the sky.
 Earth teach me acceptance,
as the leaves that die each fall.
 Earth teach me renewal,
as the seed that rises in the spring.
 Earth teach me to forget myself,
as melted snow forgets its life.
 Earth teach me to remember kindness,
as dry fields weep with rain.
   { A Prayer from the Ute }   (Native American Indian)

* What's Important to You? *

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near
Times Square in Manhattan.

It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were
honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and
 the sounds of the city were almost deafening.

Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket."

His friend said, "What?" You must be crazy.
You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"

"No, I'm sure of it," the Native American replied, "I heard a cricket."

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the
street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the 
bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. 
His friend was utterly amazed.

"That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have super-human ears!"

"No," answered the Native American. "My ears are no different from yours. It all 
depends on what you're listening for."

"But that can't be," said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise."

"Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. 
Here, let me show you.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly
dropped them on the sidewalk. 
And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed 
every head within twenty feet turn and l
ook to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

"See what I mean," asked the Native American.

"It all depends on what's important to you."

   { Author Unknown }

* SEVEN DEADLY SINS *
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without conscience,
Knowledge without character,
Commerce without morality,
Science without humanity,
Worship without sacrifice,and
Politics without principle.

   { Mahatma Gandhi }

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find money cannot be eaten.

   { Cree Prophecy }