Author Archives: Laura Dobson

“The world is a very puzzling place. If you’re not willing to be puzzled, you just become a replica of someone else’s mind.” Noam Chomsky, polymath, born on this day in 1928 – Happy Birthday Uncle Noam!

“This day was honored centuries ago as the feast of Saint Nicholas, progenitor of Santa Claus. Whatever your stance toward mythic Christmas figures, Nicholas also deserves notice as the patron saint of weavers, bakers, and sailors – all people who work with nature intimately, shaping it to their own ends. Weavers take the raw fibersContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 6th December”

“Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,this is the best season of your life.” Wu-Men, Chinese Zen Master (1183 – 1260)

“A very great vision is needed, and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky.” Crazy Horse, Lakota leader (1840 – 1877), born on this day

“I say religion isn’t about believing things. It’s ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.” Karen Armstrong, founder of the Charter for Compassion, quoted in Fragments of Holiness for Daily Reflection

“For though my faith is not yoursand your faith is not mineif we are each free to light our own flametogether we can banishsome of the darkness of the world.” Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and being alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You have to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. AndContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 1st December”

“Spiritual space, silence, the emptiness from which things can be born – these spaces worry us. We are fretful to fill them. As Christmas approaches, we can be pulled into cycles of gift-buying, into hectic socializing, and so abandon the empty spaces that our soul needs so badly… Creating spiritual space is an art. ConsiderContinue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 30th November”

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People “A true Arab knows how to catch a fly in his hands,”my father would say. And he’d prove it,cupping the buzzer instantlywhile the host with the swatter stared.In the spring our palms peeled like snakes.True Arabs believed watermelon could heal fifty ways.I changed these to fit theContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 29th November”

“Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth. I feel that a man may be happy in this world. And I know that this world is a world of imagination and vision. I see every thing I paint in this world, but everybody does not see alike. To the eyes of aContinue reading “Thought for the day, Tuesday 28th November”