Positive influence

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Marianne Williamson

/phil

See the light in others

See the light in others, and treat them as if it is all you see.

Wayne Dyer

/robin

Look for the helpers

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.

Fred Rogers

In light of recent events

This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We’d have eaten ourselves alive long ago.

So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, ‘The good outnumber you, and we always will’.

Patton Oswalt

Paying attention to the good stuff

You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.

from Good Will Hunting

/robin

Joyful and exuberant

Joyful and exuberant. That is a grand goal. Something to shoot for. Let’s go for that today. Yup, sign me up. Let’s start by imagining that it’s entirely possible, that it’s within reach, heck it might even be around the corner, or right next to you, about to tap you on the shoulder, right after you read this. I know and you know that imagining it will not automatically make it happen. But it might help. Let’s forget our cynical, logical self for a minute. Most of the time we don’t have any goals for the day, other than a to-do list. If we decide that today we are going to feel JOYFUL and EXUBERANT, then I’d say there’s a damn good chance we will. We’ll be on the lookout for it, and when we spot it, we’ll grab it. It’ll be ours. So let’s put it on our list today.

Marc Johns

/robin

Good thoughts

If you have good thoughts, they will shine out your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.

Roald Dahl

/robin

The magic of reading

The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – that you’d thought special, particular to you.

And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you’ve never met, maybe even someone long dead.

And it’s as if a hand has come out and taken yours.

Hector, The History Boys

/phil

Be ready

Perhaps we cannot raise the winds. But each of us can put up the sail, so that when the wind comes we can catch it.

E.F. Schumacher

/robin

Be authentic

Don’t feel stupid if youd do not like what everyone else pretends to love.

Patrick Mimran

/robin