Friday, March 31, 2006

Left Foot, Right Foot, Left Foot, Breathe

The Dalai Lama once said that when awful things are happening, it must mean that something wonderful is trying to be born.

In that spirit, I ask you to do this:

Tell your friends you love them. Not in the standard, offhand meaningless, "Luv ya" way.

Mean it. Have it come from your heart. Look at your closest friend, straight in the eye, and say these three words from the most compassionate part of you:

"I love you."

Feel your chest break wide open.

Breathe.

And remember something else the Dalai Lama said, which I recited to myself again and again after 9/11: "A broken heart is an open heart, a broken heart is an open heart."

I also give you words from The Genius of Our Time (I mean that. Seriously.) Stevie Wonder:

When was the last time
That they heard you say
Mother or father, I love you
And when was the last time
That they heard you say
Daughter or son, I love you

Ones you say you cherish everyday
Can instantly be taken away
Then you’d say I know this can’t be true
When you never took the time
To simply tell them I love you

When was the last time
That they heard you say
Sister or brother, I love you
And when was the last time
That they heard you say
Darling or best friend, I love you

The one for whom you’d give your very life
Could be taken in the twinkling of an eye
Through your tears you’d ask why did you go
Knowing you’d didn’t always show
Just how much you loved them so

These three words
Sweet and simple
These three words
Short and kind
These three words
Always kindles
An aching heart to smile inside

I know a family
Who hasn’t a cent to their name
And yet the joy and love they have between them
They always claim
And when one’s called from life
The survived mourn the lost
And will never be the same
Yet they rejoice
In knowing they gave them their all

These three words
Sweet and simple
These three words
Short and kind
These three words
Always kindles

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