Author Archives: Laura Dobson

To the Pine Tree, translation from Anishinaabemowin “on first seeing iton returning from EuropeThe pine! the pine! I eager cried,The pine, my father! see it stand,As first that cherished tree I spied,Returning to my native land.The pine! the pine! oh lovely scene!The pine, that is forever green.Ah beauteous tree! ah happy sight!That greets me onContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 31st January”

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” Mahatma Gandhi, assassinated on this day in 1948

“Whatever is my right as a man is also the right of another; and it becomes my duty to guarantee as well as to possess.” From Rights of Man by Thomas Paine (1737 – 1809), born on this day

“People tend to misunderstand solitude and sometimes it is seen as being selfish—but it is not. It’s not being socially awkward, not being anti-social, not being entirely withdrawn and not being lonely or sad. Solitude is something more than these misconceptions and if you feel like being away from the crowd, go, take steps away,Continue reading “Thought for the day, Tuesday 28th January”

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust “I really see no other solution than to turn inward and root out all the hardness there. I no longer believe we can change anything in the world until we change ourselves. That seems to be the only lesson to be learned.” EttyContinue reading “Thought for the day, Monday 27th January”

International Day of Clean Energy “Climate change is not just another issue. It is the issue that, unchecked, will swamp all other issues. The only hope lies in all the countries of the world coming together around a common global project to rewire the world with clean energy. This is a path to peace –Continue reading “Thought for the day, Sunday 26th January”

“For ourselves, who are ordinary men and women, let us return thanks to Nature for her bounty by using every one of the senses she has given us; vary our state as much as possible; turn now this side, now that, to the warmth, and relish to the full before the sun goes down theContinue reading “Thought for the day, Saturday 25th January”

“It was part of her discernment to be aware that life is the only real counselor, that wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a part of the moral tissues.” From Sanctuary by Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937), novelist, born on this day

“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” Django Reinhardt (1910 – 1953), Jazz guitarist, born on this day

“Alchemy may be compared to the man who told his sons that he had left them gold, buried somewhere in his vineyard; while they by digging found no gold, but by turning up the mould about the roots of the vines procured a plentiful vintage. So the search and endeavours to make gold have broughtContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 22nd January”