Bus 9 To Paradise
by m
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?
I can attest to the fact that you talked about Leo Buscaglia ALL the time in high school! Usually in Mr C’s room.