Category: Thought for the month

On Friendship

‘When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that is is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.’

Henri Nouwen

‘We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice.’

Pema Chödrön

‘According to Bruce Tift, ”Sanity is a counter-instinctual process.” And at first, it certainly feels counter-instinctual to turn towards what is painful and terrifying. Shouldn’t I be running in the opposite direction? But the counter-instinctual move turns out to be tremendously empowering. If we can face our worst fears, then maybe they won’t continue to secretly run our life. And where does real confidence come from if not from knowing that we can handle whatever experience comes our way?’ Tami Simon

‘What fascinates me so much is that every time we decide to be grateful, it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for. Gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love.’

Henri Nouwen