There is a LOT of wisdom in the world. I mean, we can learn from both ends of the spectrum, and everything in between.
There are very insightful people who have given us great words of wisdom. One that comes immediately to mind, is from Ernest Hemmingway.
“Before you talk, listen.
Before you react, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.”
― Ernest Hemingway
On the other end of the spectrum… we see the pitfalls to avoid….
I could place many quotes here, to demonstrate. Nonetheless.
Sometimes we find wisdom in places we’d never expect. Like, in a movie. Where there is a lot of singing, and whirling about. There’s a would-be nun, a really rich guy, and seven snotty brats. Oh, and don’t forget the Nazis. The movie had Nazis, too.
But there it is. Like the pearl in the oyster. The banana in the peel. The bulls in the eye….
The Sound of Music. I’ll tell you… those hills ARE alive. If we listen very closely, they may speak to us directly. Yep. In no uncertain terms.
- Knowing what to do in life… is all a matter of just knowing what to do in life. Thanks for pointing this out Maria. From the Do-Re-Me Song
When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything…
…. and there you have it. When you know what it is your are supposed to do… you can do most anything. The trick though, if figuring it out. Fa. La. Te. Do. -
Okay… more on knowing what to do in life. They say it in bigger terms here…. from the Climb Every Mountain Song
Climb every mountain, Search high and low, Follow every byway, Every path you know.
Climb every mountain, Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, ‘Till you find your dream.
Search high. Search low. Drive a Ford Truck across the stream… but whatever you do… find your dream.
- On Karma. Or The Golden Rule. Or “Doing the next right thing.” It is all connected… in the Something Good Song
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good -
At some point in the movie, I think they sing the Inchworm Song. If they didn’t …. they should have. It tells us that we live our life in quantifying our days. But through that mundane process of measuring our lives out in coffee spoons, we should take time to notice the beauty which abounds. Our everyday blessings… from the Inchworm Song.
Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Seems to me you’d stop and see
How beautiful they are -
Finding our inner selves, our hope… our peace… in the Sound of Music Song
To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray
I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I’ve heard before
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
And I’ll sing once more
Like a lark who is learning to pray. That’s beautiful. My heart will be blessed with the sound of music. That’s even more beautiful.
6. Oh This. This… cannot be ignored. No introduction needed…
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
brown paper packages tied up with strings,
these are a few of my favorite things.
Whiskers on kittens… how much more do you need than THAT?
- Finally.. the best advice of all. From the Edelweiss Song. For each an every one of us. We are as unique as every falling snowflake. And then we unfold….
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Today. Bloom and Grow.
And Then. Do it forever.