Wisdom Via Email

Sometimes wisdom comes in our email inbox.  Often times, the words are added at the end of something long, a bunch of pictures that someone snatched from the internet without wondering or worrying about the original photographer. 

It's sad, really, that so many photos, animations, and words are passed along without any thought about the person who labored over getting them to be just right. 

We'll never know how long it took for the words to be written.  It could have taken hours or days or weeks.  And they're never sent with an author's or photographer's name attached, even if the sender has permission to share. 

Sigh.  I've written about this before.  Whose Work Are You Stealing?

The email I received today had a picture of a squirrel in slippers and using a walker.  It was called a "Florida Squirrel" by one of my Florida friends.  I don't know who thought to put slippers and a walker on a squirrel's picture, so I won't share it here. You can use your imagination.

At the bottom of the page were these words:

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone

you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

To me, those words were more important than the silly picture of the squirrel.  Even so, I hesitated to share them, since my quick Google search didn't come back with a name to attached to the quotation.  I hate that.

My same Florida friend sent another email forward, and at the end were these words:

Life is too short for drama and petty things,

so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly

and forgive quickly!

That's good advice, especially the part about forgiving quickly.

Tidbits of wisdom can be found almost anywhere and everywhere.  They're often added at the end of emails, like the ones above.

Wisdom quotations can be found at any of the sites specifically created for discovering wise quotes like these:

The joy that isn't shared dies young. - Anne Sexton

The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.  - Allan K. Chalmers

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.  Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. -Mark Twain

And wisdom can be found in the Bible:

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  Proverbs 16:3

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.  Proverbs 21:5

 Where have you found wisdom today?