Prayer

"May peace dwell in you. May you know and trust that you are exactly where you need to stay. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that arise through the faith in yourself and in others. MAy you use your gifts, and pass to others the love that you've received. May you be happy to be the person you are, as you are now, in this moment. Let this awareness to penetrate to your bones and give to your soul the freedom to sing, dance, pray and love. All this is here for each and all of us. "

Thanks Martina for sending to me this prayer. I want to share it because it’s a treasure.

To be useful

Some days ago I had a talk with a student of mine and her words reminded me of our need to make ourselves useful. I think it’s a very noble aspiration, but we risk the sacrifice of ourselves: how we can decide if a behaviour is "service" or not? Are a doctor, an hospital attendant, a teacher, a social worker, a psycologist... always in “service” of somebody? And a road-sweeper, a painter, a trader, a bus driver, a manager, an office-worker, a singer are not?
We need to pay attention to the others to be happy? I think so. And I think it’s important that other people pay attention to us too (I’m thinking about a song: I need a friend to be happy). But does this attention consist only in some activities and not in different ones? I think no. Well, if I’m lying on a beautiful beach and I’m enjoying the sun, my attention could be less evident. But also relax and self-care are essential to our lives. If I’m exhausted, I’m not so helpful. Indeed if I devote myself with passion to what I’m doing, to what I have to do and to what gives me satisfaction, I’m building the presuppositions of my utility, making myself happy.