I end each of my posts with: Remember that no amount of money can purchase grace, wisdom, and humility. What do I mean by this and why do I feel it’s worth repeating? According to The American Heritage Dictionary, grace is the “seemingly effortless beauty of charm of movement, form, or proportion. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.” Wisdom is the “understanding of what is true, right, or lasting. Common sense; sagacity; good judgment.” Humility is the “quality or condition of being humble; lack of pride; modesty. Being humble is to show a deferential respect; lacking high station; lowly, unpretentious.”
These qualities are not innate, although being born “nice” is innate. The cliché that children are taught to hate is true. Those who have acquired grace, wisdom, and humility have done so over time. There is no monetary remuneration involved.
So what does it matter? It matters in the sense of your perspective about the world or your small corner of it. It matters in thinking what could be accomplished with these qualities or what could be destroyed by their lacking. It matters as Americans try to recover and cope with all the mass shootings; a breakdown of government; and other world issues. It matters as we try to right the world and stop going up the down staircase (Up the Down Staircase, Bel Kaufman, 1965) as we progress into the year 2013. It matters because you can’t buy these qualities. It matters because these qualities are acquired over time. It matters for January, 2014. And most importantly, it matters that one believes that it matters above all else. So remember…
(c) 2013 Linda Stone Cohen All Rights Reserved
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