Philosophical ideas to get through hard times

This made me think...

Better the cold breath of winter, than the hot breath of the pursuing elephant. Eastern, but not sure of the derivative.

Heretoday when this isolation was first announced, I was bitterly sad. It isn’t that I am forever going out, in fact I sometimes spend whole days on my own quite happily. But it’s the knowing that I can’t CHOOSE to do that now, and that all the possibilities have been shut down: the visit to a gallery, lunch in a restaurant, a concert in the evening, coffee with friends. So, I am spending my days now enjoying little things in my suddenly small world: the sun on my face, a walk in the park, green shoots in my plant pots, a nice lunch, a glass of wine in the evening. And, once restrictions are lifted, I will never take the cafes, the concerts and the galleries for granted. And how sweet it will be to hug my grandchildren!

I always used to be very busy. Much too busy to feed and nourish friendships. Then I retired and am less busy. But still my day was perfectly structured. Simple and self isolating in terms of communicating with friends. Now I am in forced isolation, my structure gone. I feel I am drifting. But in truth, I am still the same. The only difference being I don't like being told what to do. Strange I fear what I have lost, but I have lost nothing. What I gained is time to consider other things, which without the imposition caused by a virus I would not have otherwise done so. I guess we humans are curious creatures. There is a philosophy in there somewhere.

My granny used to say

God doesn’t pay his debts with money

Fabulous thread. Keep it going please encouraging words

I have

There is a crack in everything thats how the light gets in on my bathroom door

I also like The love you take is equal to the love you make
Paul McCartney

Beautiful ..

Something my husband wrote to me when we were first married: ‘The love that I have is all that I have, and all that I have is yours’

“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth”
― Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

Great input Juliet and Trisher

That gave me a smile just before bed Trish. It reminds me of

He is a man with a nose and two big toes.

Sleep well as best we can whilst
Sleeping the sleep of the just. Anon.

As a bit of light relief I always liked Adrian Mitchel's poem Celia-
When I am sad and weary
When I think all hope has gone
When I walk along High Holborn
I think of you with nothing on

^I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains."
- Anne Frank ^

Dawn22 that's not one I was aware of but on a sunny spring day like today was it's so relevant

Dora Marr
Thanks a mil. Just trying to apply old wisdom with what is happening in the world as we speak. And only just have real good things on it.
I will indeed look up that poem and find meaning in it as that is what gives me hope.
Hope you pop back in. It all helps.
Dawn xx

*Dawn, this is a lovely thread, thank you. Do you know “The Darkling Thrush” by Thomas Hardy?

"If you make happiness your goal you are not going to get it. Better to aim for an interesting life."
- Dorothy Rowe.

Wonderful freeing words. Happiness is being redefined now. Change and lower our expectations.

Sleep well in

Sleeping the sleep of the just.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann.. www.desiderata.com/desiderata.html

I love the whole thing but this is pertinent....

........And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Beautiful message Granny Laine.
So true.
Easy to feel down these days as we face into new uncertain times.

Simply put
"Where there is life there is hope."
Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Life is mainly froth and bubble
Two things stand like stone
Kindness in another's trouble
Courage in your own.

If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need.

-Marcus Tullio Cicero

Yes it must be that line of thinking that we need now.

"Philosophy is the highest form of music."
Author unknown

We can still dream our dreams. We can still implement our hopes. We can still make our plans; even plans within plans.

Sleep the sleep of the just. Anon
Dawn xx.

My all time favourite poet

twitter.com/rockysburd/status/1241325881253126144/photo/1

The wisest have the most authority.
- Plato

Let us use our deeply held wisdom to circumnavigate around instead of straight through this situation. All l can currently do are very small things for myself and others. Also l have accepted that this is the new normal. None of us are happy about the world we live in currently but we must walk hand in hand with it; resisting will cause more strain.

Take care today wherever you are.
Dawn xx

Hopeful and apt words for our time Chestnut.

I don't want to be alone; but l want to be left alone.
- Audrey Hepburn
At this time of such rampant change it appears that we are less able to be ourselves and have less control in our lives than ever. I try and remember my essential self but need at times to be alone similar to Hepburn above. As my mind adjusted to it; it seemed somewhat of an attack.

Sleep well tonight all wise people as we try and grapple with our defining moment in history. Wisdom will console, inspire and strengthen us.

Sleep the sleep of the just.
-Anonymous.

“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; it's choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.”

Brene Brown