Me with my sons, Charlie and Sam.
Lebe dein Leben so, wie es vorgesehen war. Live your life as it was intended.
You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as though a fire were raging in your hair.” – Taisen Deshimaru
A talisman is an object believed to hold magical or spiritual powers, intended to bring good luck, protection from evil, or positive influence to its owner, often by being inscribed with symbols, prayers, or astrological signs. While similar to an amulet (which passively protects), a talisman is often considered an active tool designed to attract specific outcomes, like wealth or health, by harnessing natural or divine forces, differing in its specific purpose.
I wear three talismans around my neck every day, bound together by a simple cloth cord. One is a billion year old piece of basalt I found on a kayaking trip in Lake Superior over 20 years ago. The other two are simple copper coins inscribed with the Latin words, “Memento Mori” – remember you must die and amor fati which means to love one’s fate. All remind me of what will be my insignificance in the whole scheme of things while each reminds me that today could be my last. They prod me to try to make a difference every day. However, sometimes I fall woefully short.
Kindness and love are the protein of the soul, the building blocks of goodness. Random acts of kindness, doing the right thing, smiling at a stranger, or giving a friendly wave to your neighbor are among the foods that nourish the soul. They may at first blush seem simple but they are equally as powerful as if you gave thousands of dollars away. Money burns up but kindness and love live on. So nourish your soul with the good food.
Some look in the mirror and see themselves as a human being with all the warts and blemishes. Others look in the mirror and see a god. One is a mirror that reflects humility and truth while the other reflects vanity and egoism. One day there will be no reflection in the mirror, just a memory of what used to be. The memory you leave behind is yours to make.
What a glorious world we live in! Every day is a gift, an opportunity to discover the undiscovered, to listen to the unheard, to give to the ungiving, to touch the untouched, to share of the fruits we have been given. What will I do with the fruits of my life…will I share their sweetness or will they spoil in the bowl?
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” -Seneca
With my Grandaughter Eloise