Thursday, April 29, 2010

"DON'T BE SORRY FOR YOURSELF"! One summer,many years ago on the island of Jersey on a cliff overlooking the harbour,I came upon an old moss covered bench,a long time ago,when Victor Hugo was in exile,ill,persecuted by his beloved France.It was here that he climbed every evening and,gazing into the setting sun in meditation,at the end of which he would rise,selecting a pebble of varying size-sometimes small,at other times large-he would cast it with satisfaction into the water far below.This action did not escape the notice of some children playing nearby.One evening a little girl asked him:"Monsieur Hugo,why do throw the stones into the water?"The great writer was silent;then he smiled gravely."Not stones,my child.I am throwing self-pity into the sea.Herein lies a powerful lesson for the world of today.So many of us,despite our many advantages have developed an inordinate degree of feeling sorry for ourselves,ever alert to find cause for personal grievance in the working of our lives.We dwell on the negative in our lives.The danger of such thinking may be found in the words of Seneca."In thoughts of self-commiseration,will deteriorate and with this,will grow an indifference towards all people"..