Dept. Of Hope

[kaffy_r]

A Monday Thought That Strengthens Me

Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind, you have failed. -Jan de Hartog, playwright and novelist (22 Apr 1914-2002) 

This was thanks to A Word A Day, Anu Garg's wonderful site. It made me feel better, because the error is not simply common among the young. We oldsters suffer from that misapprehension as well.

It's like the Doctor said (although I wildly paraphrase); just because you can't get rid of the big pile of bad things in someone's life, doesn't mean you can't add to their pile of good things.

If you can't save the world, you save one person. If you can't save one person, you try to make their life at least a little better. And when we do those things, we triumph, even if we don't always win. 

So there you go. And I may find some other good things to think about throughout the day because I think we need to remember good things as much as possible. 

Comments

[heliopausa]

Thanks for this; for me, it's timely.

[kaffy_r]

It was my pleasure. I noticed in your last post that you were, as you put it, "at sixes and sevenses" so you were in my thoughts this morning. I hope things even out for you.

[heliopausa]

Thank you.

[kerravonsen]

Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind, you have failed. -Jan de Hartog, playwright and novelist (22 Apr 1914-2002)

Even God can't save the whole of mankind.

[liadt]

*hugs* Lovely thoughts.

[kaffy_r]

Thanks - and that is a lovely icon, with my favorite color.

*hugs back to you*

[maruad.livejournal.com]

Thanks for adding to my pile of good things today.

[kaffy_r]

You are most welcome, my dear.

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Beautiful thought. ♥

[kaffy_r]

It is; and I'm working hard on remembering it!