Encouraging messages on serviettes

A colleague recently shared such a beautiful tradition they practice as a family. Their children have a habit of writing encouraging messages on serviettes and putting them on the dinner plate before dinner. I thought this was such a wonderful little habit. It’s not only heart-warming, but allows for a different perspective when we feel too close to challenges and problems. Having children’s perspective does not only provide a bit of much-needed humour, but their perspective of things and in life is something we ought to remember as well. Not all of us here would be living with little humans so I though I would send you some encouraging reminders, through Rupi Kaur’s words, taken from her collection of poems, The sun and her flowers and also from Cheryl Strayed’s collection of quotations, Brave enough.

when the world comes crashing at your feet

it’s okay to let others

help pick up the pieces

if we’re present to take part in your happiness

when your circumstances are great

we are more than capable

of sharing your pain

• community rupi kaur

This isn’t a spotless life. There is much ahead, my immaculate peach.

• Cheryl Strayed

We don’t reach the mountaintop from the mountaintop. We start at the bottom and climb up.

• Cheryl Strayed

this is the recipe of life

said my mother

as she held me in her arms as i wept

think of those flowers you plant

in the garden each year

they will teach you

that people too

must wilt

fall

root

rise

in order to bloom

• rupi kaur