A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

约翰·多恩《告别词》
JOHN DONNE (1572-1631) A VALEDICTION: FORBIDDING MOURNING

AS virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say,
"Now his breath goes," and some say, "No."

So let us melt, and make no noise,
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move ;
'Twere profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love.

Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears ;
Men reckon what it did, and meant ;

But trepidation of the spheres,
Though greater far, is innocent.

Dull sublunary lovers' love
—Whose soul is sense—cannot admit
Of absence, 'cause it doth remove
The thing which elemented it.

But we by a love so much refined,
That ourselves know not what it is,
Inter-assurèd of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss.

Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to aery thinness beat.

If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two ;
Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if th' other do.

And though it in the centre sit,
Yet, when the other far doth roam,
It leans, and hearkens after it,
And grows erect, as that comes home.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,
Like th' other foot, obliquely run ;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And makes me end where I begun.

尚德之人安祥地去了，
向自己的灵魂轻声地作别，
有些朋友哀伤地说：
“他已经离开”，有些说没有。

让我们默默地消受吧，
没有滔涌的泪滴，也没有狂暴的叹息，
我们的爱情何必为俗人所知，
用以亵渎那神圣的欢愉。

动人的地球带来灾难和恐惧；
人们估测它的运动，及运动的方向；
忧伤与焦虑覆没了球面，
地核之心却是天真与无邪。

月下的爱人了无生趣
（它的本质是感官）不能承受
月亏，因为亏缺就意味着
裂变与解体。

但我们的爱千锤百炼，
不同于凡俗所感，
它们在精神中坚守，
漠然而视眼、唇、手的局限。

两个灵魂就此合而为一，
虽然我终将远离，忍受必经的
分离，我们的爱会不断扩散，
如同金光，在节拍中轻快地起舞。

哪怕灵魂一分为二，它也牢固
如圆规的两只尖足；
你的灵魂是固定的针脚，毫无
动的迹象，若非随同另一个的步调。

它虽坐定中央，
一旦另一个稍稍远足，
它就倾身而听，
脚步归来时，又顷刻直立。

对我，你正是如此，我就象
另一只规脚，倾斜着运转；
唯有你的坚定，我才画得出
终点回到起点的，圆周.

Message of Wisdom from Dr Lee Wei Ling (Lee Kuan Yew's daughter)

In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the National Neuroscience Institute, I wrote: 'Whilst boom time in the public sectoris never as booming as in the private sector, let us not forget that boom time is eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the public sector is always less painful compared to the private sector.

'Slump time has arrived with a bang.

While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit hard, perhaps this recession has come at an opportune time for many of us. It will give us an incentive to reconsider our priorities in life.

Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy especially, but also the middle class in Singapore , have had it so good for so long, what they once considered luxuries, they now think of as necessities. A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who you are, not just a piece of equipment for communication. Hence many people buy the latest model though their existing mobile phones are still in perfect working order.

A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol. For millionaires who wish to show the world they have taste, a Ferrari or a Porsche is deemed more appropriate.

The same attitude influences the choice of attire and accessories. Is till find it hard to believe that there are people carrying handbags that cost more than thrice the monthly income of a bus driver, and many more times that of the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun, risking his life to construct luxury condominiums he will never have a chance to live in.

The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious consumption. Perhaps it is good to encourage people to spend more because this will prevent the recession from getting worse. I am not an economist, but wasn't that the root cause of the current crisis - Americans spending more than they could afford to?

I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don't believe in the supernatural beings and I don't think I have a soul that will survive my death. But as I view the crass materialism around me, I am reminded of what my mother once told me: 'Suffering and deprivation is good for the soul.'

My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be frugal. My parents and I live in the same house that my paternal grandparents and their children moved into after World War II in 1945. It is a big houseby today's standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the point of being shabby.

Those who see it for the first time are astonished that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's home is so humble. But it is a comfortable house, a homewe have got used to. Though it does look shabby compared to the new mansions on our street, we are not bothered by the comparison. Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the economic downturn. We have been told to tighten our belts. There will undoubtedlybe suffering, which we must try our best to ameliorate. But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for many Singaporeans, especially those born after 1970 who have never lived through difficult times.

No matter how poor you are in Singapore , the authorities and socialgroups do try to ensure you have shelter and food. Nobody starves in Singapore . Many of those who are currently living in mansions and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle will probably still be able to do so,even if they might have to downgrade from wines costing $20,000 a bottleto $10,000 a bottle. They would hardly notice the difference.

Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market economy. Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour is one's prerogative and I have no right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously. But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end to wanting and hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An Aston Martin? After the Hermes Birkin handbag, what can one upgrade to?

Neither an Aston Martin nor an Hermes Birkin can make us truly happy or contented. They are like dust, a fog obscuring the true meaning of life, and can be blown away in the twinkling of an eye.

When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will we regret the latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did not acquire? Or wouldwe prefer to die at peace with ourselves, knowing that we have lived lives filled with love, friendship and goodwill, that we have helped some of our fellow voyagers along the way and that we have tried ourbest to leave this world a slightly better place than how we found it?

We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our power to make that choice.

In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of the year thathas just ended, let us again try to choose wisely.

To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own control, and we should not follow the herd blindly..

The writer is director of the National Neuroscience Institute.

Tango

"No mistakes in the tango, not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, get all tangled up, just tango on." - Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade from "Scent of a Woman"

The Power of Less

"Simplicity: Identity the essential. Eliminate the rest". - Leo Babauta

Insight

"Owners of capital will stimulate the working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized and the State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to Communism."

Karl Marx - Das Kapital 1867

My note: Extreme capitalism is really at the crossroad, but perhaps not to the extreme of leading to communism. A frugal capitalism with strong social responsibilities largely based on self regulatory initivates by various players in the market would be ideal.

小喜小悲

人生是一个不断渐进变化的过程，每件事放在人生的长流当中就没有绝对的喜或悲。一件喜事，久了就是某些悲痛的因；一场悲剧，久了就是某场盛宴的因。如此轮回不断，世俗人生，不外如是。

故遇大难而能定如泰山，遇大喜却仅拈花一笑，乃大智慧。

What is "Love"?

What is "Love"?

The best definition I heard so far is by M. Scott Peck:

"Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth"

I was thrilled when I first read this powerful statement.

The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck

Recently I came across a very good personal development book called "The Road Less Travelled" by M. Scott Peck. It was first published in 1978 but didn't become a bestseller until 1983, and is extremely popular over the past 25 years. Go ahead and buy the book, read the first page and you will know the reason behind. It is a master piece indeed.

The very first paragraph:

"Life is difficult.

This is the great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."

So true.

谈“生活”

这许多年来到处奔波，结识了许多各国的同学，同事，朋友。深感世界虽大，文化各异，但人们生活中的酸甜苦辣，喜怒哀乐，挣扎奋斗，基本上都是一样的。

上两星期有个欧洲的客户到上海观展，我受欧洲的同事所托，当了半天的导游。这客户的家族企业传到他已是第八代了，非常之不容易。但这十多年来欧洲经济低迷，生产成本高涨，于是他决定到上海来探个究竟，寻找商机。我和他天南地北的闲聊，分享我们各自对欧洲，印度，中国的经济和全球化机遇的见解。从他身上可以明显的看出来欧洲企业家对他们国家，经济和工业能否维持竞争力的强烈危机意识。由于亚洲新兴市场的崛起，欧美国家许多工业都面临倒闭，重组，员工下岗的危机。近距离的交流，感觉这种异国忧虑特别的急迫真实。上星期到芬兰出差，连续两天参加了一家名列世界一百强企业的供应商大会。在会议中，该企业详细的介绍了他门的全球战略，如何持续不断的降低全球各地的生产和采购成本。欧美和南韩的生产基地将逐步的被中国，印度和东欧的工厂取代。随后我到公司总部和高层开会，谈及行业内的重组大趋势和各同行的种种大刀阔斧的改革计划及一系列的财务目标等等。这些事在商业社会里当然都是最正常不过的，但数字的背后也确是一些实实在在的人和他们将被深受影响的日常生活。后来到布鲁塞尔和一个潜在合作伙伴洽谈，股东兄弟俩人经营着一家十几年的企业，面对的机遇和挑战基本上和任何一家亚洲的中小企业没啥两样，运营成本的管理，现金流，EBIT率，市场竞争，未来战略等等。老二近来还离了婚，私人生活正处于低潮，估计压力不小。傍晚时我一个人在布鲁塞尔大广场附近溜荡，繁忙的街道上人来人往，偶尔看到几名年轻的中东女子带着孩子跪在地上乞讨。比利时曾经在非洲拥有大量的殖民地及许许多多的钻石矿场，到今天布鲁塞尔依然是世界最大的钻石交易中心，这些历史因素导致今天在布鲁塞尔任然能看到大量的非洲移民和犹太人。从布鲁塞尔北站乘火车到布鲁塞尔机场的路上，我留意到郊区的荒凉和陈旧，和偶尔一两栋在某些时候被遗弃的工厂废墟。在赫尔辛基万塔国际机场转机，机场内人山人海，圣诞的气氛甚为浓厚。直飞到北京，上海和广州的三趟航班，基本上都是座无虚席。机上坐在我身旁的是两个波兰籍的小伙子，一路上兴致勃勃讨论他俩期盼已久的神秘东方假期。。。八个半小时的行程比想象中来的短，凌晨六点多钟，飞机刚飞过北京的上空，我透过机窗往下望，熟悉的北京夜景竟然一目了然，那万家灯火的景观和我在三年前的某个夜晚从莫斯科机场起飞时从机窗往下望的夜景非常相似。两个都是世界古都，而两个城市的老百姓估计在那时候也做着类似的梦。

回到上海后，我到公寓附近的保健中心做足疗。闲来无事，就和做足疗的小姑娘闲聊家常。小姑娘来自重庆的边沿小镇，几年前和哥哥到广东打工，短短两三年就呆过广州，深圳，东莞，惠州好几个地方。一年前她只身来到上海，由于在上海举目无亲，到了火车站后就打车到陌生的旅店住下，然后再挨门逐户的找工作，直到第三天总算在一家保健中心安定下来。由于保健足疗这行业收入不稳定，良莠不齐，不规范的保健中心较多，小姑娘在短短的一年里竟然换了六七家店，一直到这家正规的保健中心。在广东上海“闯荡江湖“几年，小姑娘的阅历似乎不浅。她表哥一家五兄弟在黑道上混，以前是军人，现在打架，砍人，坐牢，离婚等事乃家常便饭，但听说现在在北京过得不错。小姑娘说绝大多数做足疗的都是外省人，来自安徽，青海，湖南，湖北等五湖四海，如果干得不错的一个月能挣个人民币两三千元；虽然是正当职业，但大家一般都不太愿意和家人说是干这行的，免得家人误会，再怎么解释也没用。说着说着，小姑娘想起小时候在乡下雨天放牛的趣事，和村里小朋友们一家一家串门游戏的愉快童年，冬天时和家人围在一桌吃重庆火锅时的香辣温馨，那用家里自个腌制的酸菜所煮的酸菜鱼和自家养的猪做的香肠的惹味。啊。。。有几年没回家了吧？小姑娘自言自语的说，过两天请假，回家看看去。。。

上海的冬天还是挺冷的，我漫步在回家的路上，阵阵凉风把我吹得有点颤抖，稍作停顿，把风衣拉紧，微微低头眯了眯眼，再继续往前走。。。

世界上的某个角落，我的生活，你的生活，他的生活。

2007年12月2日

谈“生死”- 长生梦，不朽身。

柏拉图说，哲学就是“学死”，或“学习如何面对死亡”。无可争议的，“死”是人生大事。相信每个人都曾经想过“自己总有一天要面对死亡”这个问题，不一样的可能只是思考的频率，深度和广度有所不同而已。这个千古命题，基本上到了今天还是没有一个普世的答案，有的只是不同的观点和立场。其实对“死亡”的解读确实是有很重要的现实意义。史蒂芬·柯维/ Stephen R. Covey 在其所著的“高效能人士的七个习惯 / Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People”里提到的第二个习惯：“以终为始 / Begin with the end in mind”，建议读者从自己死后的观点来回顾自己一生，以此深入探讨自己灵魂深处的终极价值取向，然后再依据这些价值观来规划自己的人生。但是自己死后的观点，则取决于你的“死亡观”。即你对“死亡”的解读。故如果没有看透“死亡”，或对“死亡”没有经过深思熟虑，在理论上是你是无法生活得充实，豁达，或用比较功利的说法：无法生活得更有“效率”。所谓“必先死而后能生”，也可以从这角度来理解。

佛教认为宇宙一切事物生命都是“四大”（是梵文“Aturman_abnuta” 的意译，也叫“四界”，即地、水、火、风四种元素）的暂时集合体，随因缘合散而生灭，故皆为幻像，也既是四大皆空。人生是“苦难”的，“苦难”的原因是“无明”，“无明”的原因是不了解“宇宙的本质”，故对因缘汇聚而产生的幻像依恋执着，而有了“贪嗔痴”的念头。“贪嗔痴”种下“恶因”，“恶因”造出“恶业”，“恶业”引来“恶果”，“恶果”又带来“恶因”，如此轮回，故苦海无边。解脱的方法是看清宇宙的本质和法性 （Dharmata：义为「如是」、「事物之真实本性」、「事物之如如真相」），从这个幻像中超脱出来，从而断绝轮回 （Samsara：依因缘而存在的存在形式。作者注：狭义来说，轮回可解释为今生在喜怒哀乐间的轮回。广义的解释是指在宇宙各界间的轮回），达到涅磐状态（Nirvana，完全证悟时所达到的境界）。故佛家视生死为无，获得“究竟菩提心”（Absolute Bodhi Citta - 完全觉醒、见到现象之空性的心）而彻底觉悟后的死是高级的无。

基督教主张人的灵魂（精神）来自天国，现在只是借助父母给的肉身暂居人间。人通过上帝之子耶稣基督而认识和信奉上帝的教诲，从而找回自己的根。死后灵魂最终的归属是回到上帝的天国，得到永生，达到不朽的目的。故基督教视生死为有，而认识和信奉上帝后的死是高级的有。基督教的主张和哲学里的唯心论（Idealism）有相通之处。唯心论者认为唯物论者（Materialism）所描述的纯物质世界是永远无法圆满解释为什么纯物质的人会有灵魂（精神）生活的渴求。他们觉得宇宙间应该有一个精神本质的根本来源，而人的灵魂（精神）来自那里。但各流派唯心论者所指的“宇宙间的精神本质”，在概念上不一定和基督教上帝的概念相等。

我认为儒家对世界万物本质的观点可能也是倾向于唯心论的。论语里常提到的“天道”，“天命”，和唯心论者所指的“宇宙间的精神本质”似乎有相同之处。但儒家对“天道”，“天命”则抱着敬畏，不可知和保留的态度，也就是说儒家不对“宇宙间的精神本质”问题穷追不舍。论语第十一章，先进篇，第十二节：季路问事鬼神，子曰：“未能事人，焉能事鬼？”曰：“敢问死？”曰：“不知生，焉知死？”。此文表达了儒家所主张的现世观/入世观。孔孟认为死亡是必然的，死后的世界也是不可知的，既然是不可知的，也就没有必要/理由去依赖死后的世界来赋予现世生活的意义。反之，既然已经活着，生活意义就应该在现世生活中去寻找，去验证。

西方哲学中的唯物论认为世界万物的本质是物质，生命是物质高度进化的结果，本无所谓意义与否。比较积极乐观的唯物论者，如卢梭 / Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712—1778)，就说过 “生命本身没有意义，你必须赋予它意义，而其价值也透过你所选择的意义而彰显出来”。卢梭在对“通过选择的价值赋予生命意义”的主动性立场上，则和儒家的现世观/入世观很相近，主要区别可能在于“如何对生命赋予意义？”这课题的价值取向和实现方法。

儒家对于如何保持生命不朽有自己一套的说法。中国近代著名哲学家冯友兰在其所著的“一个人生观”一书里提到，人虽难免一死，但儒家认为人能通过“立德”，“立言”，“立功”达到精神在世间不朽的目的。当然严格来说，此“不朽”和基督教谈的“不朽”并不相同。前者的“不朽”是指活在人们脑海里，记录在历史里，当事者也许知，也许不知。后者的“不朽” 指的则是实在的永生。

道家/老庄是中国哲学里对形而上问题探讨得较深入的一门学说。道德经/老子第一章里开宗明义：“道，可道，非常道”，所谓“道”，可以理解为万物的本原或终极原因，也就是亚里士多德 / Aristotle（BC 384 – BC 322）讨论的形而上/ Metaphysic 课题。老庄似乎是更纯粹的唯物论者，主张崇尚宇宙自然规则。人是宇宙的一部分，人的生死只是宇宙自然生灭的一环，故从“道”的超脱观点来观生死，则无所谓生死，因为宇宙的本质，也谓“道”，是不变的。

“生死观”百花齐放，“人生路”各取所需。 以此杂文纪念我一位好朋友刚过世的父亲。

注1：此文的思想结构（思路）基本上沿着周国平对生死的精辟分析为蓝图。一些对儒家，道家，佛教，基督教和西方哲学间异同的论点部分是我自己粗浅的分析，不可认真。粗黑体字的句子是周国平先生的原文。

注2：由于人类永远不可能通过经验来认识宇宙的整体面貌，故宇宙的本质是物资还是精神，这是超验问题，无法证实或证伪，属于信仰范围问题。

注3：《形而上学》是古希腊哲学家亚里士多德 / Aristotle（BC 384 – BC 322）的重要的哲学著作。由吕克昂学园第十一代继承人安得洛尼可（鼎盛年约公元前４０年）编成。由于在亚里士多德的著作集中，本书排在有关物理学著作的后面，故名为“Metaphysic”，意思是“物理学之后”。本书所讨论的问题基本上都是重要的哲学问题，如存在的根本原因和本原问题等。中文译名“形而上学”取自《易传》中“形而上者谓之道，形而下者谓之器”一语。(Source: http://rwxy.tsinghua.edu.cn/rwfg/ydsm2/smjj/0042.htm)

2006年12月2日

Good and Evil

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke

看似简单的道理：三个圆圈

黑幼龙：

对最近上海有一句话叫“成为一个可爱的上海人”

我在想我们自己不一定都要为别人生活, 应该是双赢的我自己也快乐, 别人也觉得我是可爱的, 这二个加在一起。我就想, 怎么样才能自己也快乐, 别人也喜欢我觉得我可爱呢? 大概可以归纳成三点, 三个圆圈, 希望这三个圆圈吻合度越多越好。

第一个圆圈我们电视机前面的观众也可以想一下，现在你做的工作是不是你最喜欢的工作？我最喜欢主持节目，我最喜欢教书，我最喜欢做工程师。兴趣最喜欢的，如果你抓住你最喜欢的工作的话，你一定比较快乐。

第二个圈圈是你觉得你工作是不是你最擅长的？你看我数学闷了一天做不出来一个题目，比如说给我一个同学，他二三分钟就写好了。如果我拼命要去做一下数学家，做工程师，大概勉强也可以，恐怕很痛苦。我回想我过去，我常常喜欢写作喜欢分享跟人家谈话喜欢演讲，这是第二个圈圈。

第三个圈圈，你觉得你做的工作是最重要的吗？如果排优先秩序, 你做的工作是不是觉得对别人贡献最多的？或者做完了以后最有成就感的？或者做了二十年以后，回顾这个工作我真的还小有成就？

把这三个加起来，我们每隔几年都要想一想。过去我们可能都没有资格想，因为都在奋斗，都在为生活为生存去奋斗。 有工作就做了还挑什么挑？现在不一样，现在我觉得我们慢慢很快就要进入你可以考虑这三个圈圈了。考虑几后你会觉得你好快乐，你做的事情做的也比较好。本来要五天才可以做完现在一二天就做完了。 而且做得也不会觉得累，你做这个节目如果录影，如果熬夜，你通通都不会觉得累，主持人对这个很感兴趣。

但愿我们每个人都能这样。在上海，每个人都成为一个可爱的人让自己也快乐。

价值观

今天午饭时在杂志上读到这段冯仑语录, 觉得挺好:

'我想, 一般的人和成功的人的差别, 成功人有独特的对世界的看法, 这就是哲学观念.这些东西引导他们和普通人的思维有所不同, 促使他们处理任何一件小事情, 细节的事情都跟大家不一样. 这样积少成多, 就成功了. 成功是由价值观堆起来的.而普通人用普通的价值观应对生活, 这就是平凡与伟大差别的由来.'

Aug 25, 2008

你是人间的四月天

《你是人间的四月天》
作者：林徽因

我说你是人间的四月天；
笑响点亮了四面风；轻灵
在春的光艳中交舞著变。
你是四月早天里的云烟，
黄昏吹着风的软，星子在
无意中闪，细雨点洒在花前。

那轻，那娉婷，你是；鲜妍
百花的冠冕你戴著；你是
天真，庄严；你是夜夜的月圆。
雪化後那片鹅黄，你像；新鲜
初放芽的绿，你是；柔嫩 喜悦
水光浮动着你梦中期待的白莲。

你是一树一树的花开，是燕
在梁间呢喃；你是爱，是暖，
是希望；你是人间的四月天！

July 11, 2008

The Paradox of Our Time

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

By Dr. Bob Moorehead (NOT written by George Carlin)

Aug 04, 2008