Thoughts . . .

June 18-24, 2000, - Vol. 3, No. 16

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QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.
--Louisa May Alcott, (1832-1888) American author

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Our aspirations give us hope. We should set them without any regard for limitations. They provide a beacon for us to follow. If we fall short in reaching them, we still will have traveled far and learned much. The journey that we traveled will have given us experiences that we might never have had if we accepted less than our passions dictate. And we may achieve our highest aspirations, so why not set them among the stars.

Often, when we dream of better things, brighter days, new horizons, we see it as just a foolish dream--something unattainable. We look upon it as some unachievable fantasy. We listen to the words of others who tell us to be realistic. They ask us who do we think we are in thinking such things. They tell us that those successes are for others with more talent, more brains, more strength, certainly not us. But we hear a voice within telling us that we can achieve what others say is unachievable. We feel a passion that burns to be set free. We know we can do it. Whom will we listen to? Whom will we believe?

A famous quotation states, "To thyself be true." Listen to your inner voice. It is always the voice of wisdom. Follow your passions. That does not mean you abandon responsibilities or neglect your mental and physical health and well being. Instead it means that you honor and embrace all these things. You welcome the challenges and in doing so you always keep your eyes turned upward toward your highest aspirations. You look for ways to overcome the obstacles. You are fully alive in your journey and you learn and grow on your path. True you may not reach your aspirations, but then again . . . you may. Just remember that by having high aspirations, " . . . [you] can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead." Never lose sight of your highest aspirations. Looking up at them will keep you standing tall.