Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Be Fertilizer

I just found this cool quote through my wise friend Desi. Desi has the unique gift that few possess of being able to radiate happiness to others. It's contagious. I am fascinated by people like this that feed on optimism, and are able to keep their chins up despite what difficulties may be going on around them. They give people more than a listening ear to vent and complain to. By their sheer attitude on life, they inspire hope and joy. It's impossible to feel discouraged around them.

"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change."-Thich Nhat Hanh

I'm thankful for Desi being fertilizer when I needed it in graduate school. She made me want to work harder to be fertilizer too.

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