Quote of the Day

"Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."

Nicolo Machiavelli
(1469-1527)


The universe sends us the answers if we care to listen. Often, to our own peril, we choose not to listen and plow recklessly forward. We learn the hard way more often than not and it is our "people" who help us pick up the pieces. And, while it might be safer to be feared than to be loved, I can't imagine that its very satisfying. I'd rather be loved -- the real kind of love. The stuff you can count on to take you through the good,the not-so-good, and the truly terrible times.

The love of friends and family is such an amazing comfort. Your "people" are the ones who stand by you when your world falls apart and you might not be very lovable. And, they come to your Pampered Chef and Tupperware parties. They are as much a part of your family as a brother or a sister. An added bonus is that they aren't required by birth or any other obligation to love you. They just love you for some unfathomable reason. You share between you the bonds of friendship.

The hard times make visible the blessings of true friendship and the certain knowledge of who our "people" are. I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I have "people" and they love me when I'm very hard to love. It takes a really special kind of person to do that. Kindred spirits are rare and I've been fortunate to have found many. So, today, I am grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life.