Bus 9 To Paradise

I discovered the late, great Leo Buscaglia when I was still in high school. I was so inspired by this man’s perspective on life that  I read every book he wrote, and ended up writing a research paper on him. Today I own most of his books, though I haven’t read many of them in years. Still, they have seen me through my share of difficult times. Bus 9 To Paradise is the title of one such book. It speaks to the concept that paradise can be experienced, not as some distant, far-off destination, but in the here and now journey of life, no matter the circumstances, if we live with a passion for what we love. If we love with a passion for which we live. We are responsible for creating our own paradise, each and every day.

He sums up the essence of his philosophy of life nicely here and it is this which both inspired this blog and inspires my life:

“It’s not enough to have lived. We should determine to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely. Only you will be able to discover, realize, develop and actualize your uniqueness. And when you do, it’s your duty to then ‘give it away.’ ” – Leo Buscaglia

What do you determine to live for?

What unique gifts do you have to share with the world?

What is your vision of paradise?

I was recently blessed to return to one of my favorite “paradise” places on earth, Cape Cod, and that trip gave me great insight into what some of my concepts of paradise are. The ocean, for me, is a home for my heart and soul, like no other. In fact, being on, in, or near the water always calms my heart and soothes my soul. Water is what I seek out when I need to regain my balance; whether it be going for a row on the lake, a quick swim, or simply a walk by a waterfall. I may not have ocean nearby now, but I am lucky to live now in a beautiful natural landscape lush with waterfalls and creeks and streams and a beautiful lake nearby to row and play on.

What piece of your paradise can you find in your life now?

 

The Optimist Creed

I promise myself:

• To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
• To talk health, happiness, & prosperity to every person I meet.
• To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
• To look at the sunny side of everything & make my optimism come true.
• To think only of the best, to work only for the best, & to expect only the best.
• To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
• To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
• To wear a cheerful expression at all times & give a smile to every living creature I meet.
• To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
• To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, & too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
• To think well of myself & to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
• To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.