Tag Archives: life

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The Road of Wisdom


I have been thinking about the words of wisdom which many people have shared with the world over the generations. So many voices have spoken out with truth about humanity, spirituality and cultural issues such as racism, peace and sexism.

Many of these people are dead and often not the type of person you would expect to hear words of wisdom. Dr. Martin Luther King was a man from whom we expected wise thinking. King Solomon was also a man gifted with the ability to be wise.

There have been others who have an unexpected wisdom. Not great religious leaders, not academics, or even politicians. Some of the wisest thoughts I have heard came from left field. The rock star, John Lennon, the comedian, George Carlin, and Reggae singer, Bob Marley. I understand that this is unexpected but they have spoken out about peace, racism, love, and equality. I am hearing their words more often since they have passed over. So while they were the best in their chosen fields, they have left incredible words which can continue to inspire and motivate us to live the very best way that we can in every moment.

” Who are you to judge the life I live? I am not perfect and I don’t have to be! Before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean.”
—Bob Marley

These words and all of the wisdom which preceded them are so very on target. Not said the way a preacher or a politician would say them but they go to the center of a person’s heart. The perfect bulls-eye for the twenty-first century. We must come to young people today in ways they can respond to and change themselves and our world in the ways that are needed.

We have one world, one life and one destiny and it is shared by the 7 billion + human beings on this planet. We have to hear and we have to share the wisdom that will save the world.
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For She is the Tree of Life


Photo by Barbara Mattio

Here we are two days from Mother’s Day and I have blogged about the original mother. Today I wish to pay homage to the Nanas, grandma’s, Bebe’s, and Grams in the world. Many of us benefited from the comfort, wisdom and succor of our grandmothers. I remember both of my grandmothers clearly.
One was English and we would have high tea in the afternoons. We would play bingo with her friends and I always won. I remember the toy box in the closet off of the dining room. She came over on the boat from England with her husband and 6 children to find a better life. I have two pieces of furniture she brought to America. I feel her spirit every time I look at them. She was a brave woman who did not find America’s roads paved with gold. I think I get courage from her and I am grateful for what she has added to my life

My maternal grandmother was the anchor in my life. I called her “gramcracker” and she took it with great humor. In my eyes, the sun rose and set on her yet I was aware she wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t either and we loved each other just as we were. She was a night person, a trait I inherited from her. She would sit in her chair and fall asleep. I would creep out of bed and sneak behind her chair and watch TV until the station signed off .( I am fairly old.) I am sure there were times she realized I was there and she never said a word. I learned unconditional love and acceptance from her.

Both of these women influenced my life and taught me to put roots down. This is something I do even when my life is in flux. When life changes, I move my roots. I wanted to share the importance of these women, who though in the twilight of their lives, enriched my life more than words can describe. What I learned from them is worth more than any amount of  money. They were the trees which gave me reflections of  who I really was despite anything else happening in my life. The love they gave to me taught me how to love others and that I was loveable.

Thank you to all of the grandmothers who have influenced the lives of their grandchildren. I hope I am half as good of a nana to my nine grandchildren.

 

“The very commonplaces of life are components of its eternal mystery.”
——Gertrude Atherton