“You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
– Kahlil Gibran
Have the wisdom to know the difference
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.”
Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr
Glass window at Proger in Bern.
Do. So you will understand.
I hear and I forget,
I see and I remember,
I do and I understand.
– Confucius
Mistakes – embrace them
Embrace mistakes and let them become your friends. Nothing else will provide as much opportunity to learn and grow.
“My life is mine to create and enjoy”
One of the most moving quotes from a brave and resilient young woman in the book Humans of New York Stories, which originates from the beautiful website Humans of New York :
“I was sexually abused between the ages of eight and twelve. But honestly, I don’t even like to talk about it anymore, because I’ve finally gotten to the point where it no longer defines me. For a long time I saw myself as a victim, but I’ve moved past that. I’m in a place now where I realize that my life is mine to create and enjoy, and that my future will be the result of the decisions that I make.”
Taking back control and having aspirations for ones future are essential in overcoming trauma. Most refugee children have experienced neglect, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse and violence. Sexual and emotional abuse and corporal punishment are taboos in our society. Let us support children by helping them get out of their isolation and build their future.
Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
The 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen R. Covey (habit 5)
Go placidly amid the noise
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 to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
What project would you start…
…if you knew you wouldn’t fail?
Mia and Ela jumping on a trampoline, Hoher Hirschberg.
Do one thing at a time
1. Do one thing at a time
2. Know the problem
3. Learn to listen
4. Learn to ask questions
5. Distinguish sense from nonsense
6. Accept change as inevitable
7. Admit mistakes
8. Say it simple
9. Be calm
10. Smile
How to work better, by Peter Fischli & David Weiss
An enemy is one of the most important teachers
“An enemy is one of the most important teachers. Without an enemy you cannot practice tolerance, and without tolerance you cannot build a sound basis of compassion.”
Indian scholar Shantideva in How to Practice, The Way to a Meaningful Life by the Dalai Lama