The Shelter of Each Other
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we are celebrating Irish wisdom by sending out our weekly column a day earlier than usual. The Irish are known for their pithy words of wisdom, which we believe are relevant to this column's wellness focus. In no particular order, here are a few of our favorite Irish sayings. Read them carefully and consider for yourself just what each might mean for you in your life.
May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far.
You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your parents were.
A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.
It's easy to halve the potato where there's love.
A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns.
Your feet will bring you where your heart is.
You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.
And here's our favorite one of all:
It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.
We invite you to share your favorite Irish saying or blessing with us by replying to this email or posting on our Facebook page.
In addition to their wise sayings, the Irish are also known for their blessings. We close with a beautiful Irish blessing that speaks to the many kinds of shelter we can offer to one another when we are generous and loving.
May you always have
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire.
This week's Wellness Compass podcast expands on several of these Irish sayings, talking about what wisdom they provide for our well-being. You can listen to the podcast HERE.
Making It Personal:
Which of these Irish says speaks to you the most?
What does the idea that, "it is in the shelter of each other that the people live" mean to you?
Is there another piece of Irish wisdom, or perhaps wisdom from your own culture, that speaks to you about well-being?