each object is imbued with invisible fibers of light that reach out into the universe and are connected and related to all things, and the song that the maker sang when making the object still hangs in the air.

there was once a fellow who saw everyone around him as his enemy • his view was that his kids gave him nothing but problems, his wife was constantly cross with him, the people he worked with were a bunch of morons, and the government was even worse • he constantly complained that just about every person around him seemed to be out to get him • finally he began praying to have a different life: day after day, week after week, and year after year • eventually, even god became his enemy, for why would a loving god give him such a miserable life and never answer his prayers? after he died he was complaining once again to god • finally god said, "my son, you kept praying for a different life and I kept sending you teachers to teach you what you needed to be happy • i sent you your children to teach you understanding, patience, and perseverance • i sent you your wife to teach you how to listen with the heart • i sent you countless people to teach you how to forgive, and even more to teach you how to be of service and make a difference • in your next life, please pay attention to the teachers i send you and it will go much more smoothly than this last time around."

fall seven times • stand up eight.

1. never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
2. never trouble another with what you can do yourself.
3. never spend your money before you have it.
4. never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
5. pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6. we never repent for having eaten too little.
7. nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. how much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
9. take things always by their smooth handle.
10. when angry, count ten before you speak. If very angry, count one hundred.

lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

if, every day, I dare to remember that I am here, that this house, this hillside, these minutes, are all leased to me, not given, I will never despair • despair is for those who expect to live forever • i no longer do.

...and then i asked him with my eyes to ask again yes
and then he asked me would i yes...
and first i put my arms around him yes
and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes
and his heart was going like mad
and yes i said yes i will

the real measure of our wealth is how much we'd be worth if we lost all our money.