The Philosophy Bulletin Board
When I visited Verona, Italy, the setting for the Shakespeare love story Romeo and Juliet, the most memorable experience besides the feeling that I had just walked into the 15th Century, was discovering the Love Board, where people posted notes to friends, family and the world.
Here in Athens Greece bulletin boards are part of the youth hostel environment. I am sitting in the common room in the Pagration Hostel doing my morning online work. In front of me and behind the TV and the “games” table is the Friends of the World Bulletin Board where people post their favorite pictures, usually selfies or photos of themselves and friends on the beaches of sparkling islands, or partying late at night in hostels or restaurants. On the wall to my right is the Thank You Board where visitors display their praise of the hostel. And to my left is the Our Athens Panel, a collage images of Greek towns, sublime coves and tall mountains.
In this hostel, where the wifi pass-word is Socrates, I wasn’t surprised to find a Love of Philosophy Bulletin Board. On it, the word philosophy is written in 24 languages. I’ve been glancing at it from time to time for inspiration, while doing my work. I’m going to share its wisdom with you, written by travels and up and coming sages from the world over:
“Without ‘love’, our breath is just like a clock ticking with no direction.”
“Have “patience” in “matters” and in “manner”. Mistakes are often the product of haste and regret is the relative of the rash decision.”
“A great “revolution of character” is just a single individual making a change for the positive.”
“In this Earth, in this Field, in this Clean Farm, let us say nothing but the seeds of kindness.”
“How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.”
“The concept of time is simply a “yardstick” for measuring another feature of our world.”
“Enjoy every moment of your life. Be present, don’t let your thoughts control you or determine who you are. You are bigger than your thoughts. You are the essence of life and life itself.”
“Ain’t got time for the future or the past,
Live for the moment and make it last.”
“Those who don’t take the time to rest, need to trip and fall to find out the color of the sky and what in life is best.”
“I’m from New Zealand and we love nature. We take care of it, and it takes care of us. We have clean air and fresh water and we know that our environment will be beautiful for generations to come.”
“All we are is “dust on the wind”, dude, dust on the wind.”
“Everyone you meet is your teacher and your student.”
“Home is where the heart is,
But when the heart is made of stone?
You’ll have a house to live in,
But always be alone.”
“Every man is free to rise as far as he is able or willing,
It’s the degree to which he thinks he can that determines how far he’ll go.”
“The art of flying lies in learning to throw yourself on the ground and miss.”
My favorite words of inspiration is the chart with pictures of two people: the one on the left is in a business suit and surrounded with the words:
Hate, Inferiority, Gossip, Inadequacy, Tension, Fear, Poverty, Prejudice,
Illness, Judgment, Self-pity, Failure, Criticism, Envy, Worry, Temper,
Greed, Resentment.
The one on the right is dressed in a long flowing robe and is ensconced in a
halo of these words:
Love, Ability, Power, Peace, Faith, Abundance, Brotherhood, Truth, Health, Goodwill, Service, Success, Praise, Thankfulness, Joy, Trust, Patience, Forgiveness.
What words to you have to add to the Philosophy Board? Please post hear your comments.
And here’s one more for you to ponder as you ply through your day:
It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work,
and that when we no long know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings!
From Wendell Berry
