Kinder Garden

Day 192

“Live each day as if it’s your last; that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that? What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn’t practical. The trick of it, she told herself, is to be courageous and bold and make a difference. Not change the world exactly, just the bit around you. Go out there with your double-fist, your passion…and work hard at… something. Change lives through art maybe. Write beautifully. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved if at all possible.”

– David Nicholls

When I thought of what I was going to write to catch up on my backlog a few days ago, I wanted to share a message of peace and love, and that made me think about the book “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten“ by Robert Fulghum.

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Blog Beats: ABC by Jackson 5

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Today, I planned to share his poem by the same name, and perhaps some personal insight related to this idea. I had no intention to share quotes, but when I went looking for my feature quote, I found that many people had also summed up what they’ve learned about how to live life. And you know what? They all said the same thing in their own way:

Be kind. Pursue your dreams. Help others. Live. Live well. Live large. Live and let your light shine as bright as you can.

Carpe Diem.

“If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that nobody is here forever. You have to live for the moment, each and every day…the here, the now.” – Simone Elkeles

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” – William Arthur Ward

“Do anything, but let it produce joy.” – Walt Whitman

“No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.” – Regina Brett

“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.” – Émile Zola

“Whoever uses the spirit that is in him creatively is an artist. To make living itself an art, that is the goal.” – Henry Miller

“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” – Michael Landon Jr.

“Live as big as you can, with what you’ve got.” – Jill Shalvis

“I don’t know how one should live – but I know that one should live…” – Glen Duncan

“You weren’t born to be a spectator of others while they live life to the fullest. You too were born to make the world a better place, so put your talents into good use.” – Gugu Mona

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
by Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life –
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

When we live as well as we can and strive to be the best we can be, we help to make this world a kinder garden.

Tend your garden, and live – a lot.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!