Courage and character

You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.

Epicurus

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

PAINTING by JF

Being ordinary.

I had a nightmare:

    all people became famous,

    all people became very successful,

    all people became very rich,

    all people reached their goals and …

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NONE OF THEM WAS HAPPY!

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 I took a cold shower, then turned on my PC and found two quotes below:

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“Do not ask your children

to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
― William Martin

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“And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfillment in being ordinary. For the joys that last have little relationship to achievement, to standing one step higher on the victory platform. What is the adventure in being ordinary? It is daring to love just for the pleasure of giving it away. It is venturing to give new life and to nurture it to maturity. It is working hard for the pure joy of being tired at the end of the day. It is caring and sharing and giving and loving…”
― Marilyn Thomsen

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I read the quotes, signed happily, drank a glass of warm milk and immediately fell asleep.

PAINTING by JF