Nelson Mandela on education

"Education is the great engine of personal development" (Nelson Mandela)

rainbow

"If you want to see the rainbow you have to put up with the rain."

...so true...so easy to forget...

two proverbs

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
Interesting.

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself." (Chinese Proverb).
Grateful for all the fabulous teachers in my life!

Thomas Corneille

"If you don't get
what you love,
you'd better love
what you've got."

Be brave to catch your dreams!

Uskalla unelmoida

Maailmassa ei ole rakennettu vielä
mitään Pilvia Hipovaa
ennen kuin joku on uneksinut,
että sen pitäisi hipoa,
joku uskonut,
että se voisi hipoa ja
joku päättänyt,
että sen täytyy hipoa.

Happiness

"Happiness is not that you get and you give.
It's just what you feel in your heart
and what you grow in your heart."

So true.
A Japanese saying (?) on a beautifully calligraphed card, sent to me from Spain by a Russian lady. What's not to like?

from "Up on Poppy Hill"

If you hold the past too tight, how could you hug the future?

Led Zeppelin

"Then as it was,
then again it will be.
Though the course may change sometimes,
rivers always reach the sea."

the purpose of life

"Our prime purpose in this life
is to help others.
And if you can't help them,
at least don't hurt them." (Dalai Lama)

the purpose of travel

"Sometimes you have to travel around the world
to find yourself."

Bauernregel

Ein Sonnenstrahl bringt mehr Gras hervor
als zehn Hagelwetter.

"Everything is possible if you believe."

A Nurse's Prayer

"Lord help me to bring
comfort when there is pain,
courage when there is despair,
Acceptance when the end is near,
A touch gentle with tenderness,
patience and love."

Kamadeva by Mihai Eminescu

1. With the balm of lover's torment
Dreaming thus my soul to heal,
I, to Kama, god of India,
Kamadeva, did appeal.

2. And he came, the child imperious,
Riding on a cockatoo,
With a winning smile capricious,
On his lips of coral hue.

3. Wings he had, and in his quiver
For his arrow did he keep
Naught but scented poison flowers
From the Ganges wide and deep.

4. Setting in his bow an arrow,
At my breast he arm did take,
And since then for ever weeping
Do I lie the nights awake.

5. Thus it was a poisoned flower
Deep within my breast did send
India's child of purple heavens
And illusions without end.

a finnish poem (?)

Halki
kesä niityjen
joissa
auringon säteet
lämmittävät
perhoset lentelevät
kukkaset kukkivat
metsämansikat tuoksuvat
linfuset laulavat
toivon tiesi kulkevan
sinut ihanuuteensa
sulkevan

(marleena ansio)

I would be delighted if somebody could help me figure out what it means! :-)

smile!

"A smile is the cheapest way to change your appearance"

(Flemish quote from Belgium).

On envy

"Envy is the basis for most competition" (Pushkin)

St. Augustine

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

sent to me from Romania.

Christof Meckel

Hoffnung ist eine Art
von Bequemlichkeit.
Liebe Freundin, sie blüht ohne Grund
und hat keinen Garten.
Die unerwartete sucht dich heim.
Was du nicht brauchst kommt zu dir
ohne Absicht der Täuschung
und täuscht dich nicht.
So bist du unbequem
doch vor Überraschung nicht sicher
wenn Laub der sterbenden Pappel
als Gold erscheint
im Oktobernebel, und ist kein Gold.
Der schöne Schein lässt nichts erhoffen
aber du freust dich an dem Bild.

a little funny poem by Tom Burton

Life isn't easy
for the Pin Cushion Queen.
When she sits on her throne
pins push through her spleen.

Oscar Wilde quote

Today, I received a lovely postcard from Canada, with a quote by Oscar Wilde. Touched a soft spot.

"Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and to listen to silence. To have no yesterday and no to-morrow. To forget time. To forgive life. To be at peace."

lullaby

Deep in the meadow, under the willow
a bed of grass, a soft green pillow.
Lay down your head, and close your eyes.
And when they open, the sun will rise.

sent to me from the Czech Republic.