Happy 2016!

Jan. 1st, 2016 07:35 am
eldritchhobbit: (Tecumseh)
[personal profile] eldritchhobbit
At the dawn of each year I revisit this quote. I think it is worth repeating...

Sunrise at Redmires, Sheffield

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about their religion;
respect others in their view,
and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.

Seek to make your life long
and its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song
for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing
a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food
and for the joy of living;
if you see no reason for giving thanks,
the fault lies only in yourself.

Abuse no one and no thing,
for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear
of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray
for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different
way; sing your death song and die like a hero going home.


- attributed to Tecumseh* (1768?-1813), Shawnee Nation


Happy early birthday to [livejournal.com profile] the_cornettist, [livejournal.com profile] milkybarbiatch, [livejournal.com profile] delwyncole, [livejournal.com profile] jpsorrow, [livejournal.com profile] gryphonrhi, [livejournal.com profile] impishtubist, [livejournal.com profile] called_daughter, [livejournal.com profile] brighteyed_jill, [livejournal.com profile] scribblerworks, [livejournal.com profile] mjolnir1964, [livejournal.com profile] altariel, [livejournal.com profile] pwilkinson, [livejournal.com profile] lukeski, [livejournal.com profile] seemag, [livejournal.com profile] heidi8, [livejournal.com profile] thrihyrne, [livejournal.com profile] astromachy, [livejournal.com profile] manonlechat, [livejournal.com profile] shalna, [livejournal.com profile] estellye, [livejournal.com profile] green_key, [livejournal.com profile] reynardine, [livejournal.com profile] arisbe, and [livejournal.com profile] dirtwitch. May all of you enjoy many happy returns of the day!


* (Note: The historian in me demanded that I add this footnote, just FYI. While researching and writing this I failed to find an adequate source for the above quote, so I suspect it has been enhanced and adjusted over the years, and might not even have originated with him at all. The sentiments, however, fit extremely well with more verifiable statements and speeches made by Tecumseh.)

Date: 2016-01-01 02:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jan-u-wine.livejournal.com
no matter how many times it is revisited, it remains so beautiful and wise. It is one of those things that makes you long, in your heart, to know the author.

Happy New Year!

Date: 2016-01-01 03:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] internet-sampo.livejournal.com
Happy New Year to you too!

About the *

I have the same problem ... a great quote of Jung, which everyone cites as by Jung ... isn't:

The greatest political act one can do is remove their shadow projects from others.

Best wishes for the new year!

Date: 2016-01-01 04:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scribblerworks.livejournal.com
It's a great sentiment to share on this day.

I may get back into using LiveJournal, more as social than just blogging. I haven't done much blogging at all last year, so I guess "more blogging" would be a New Year's resolution.

Date: 2016-01-01 05:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] byslantedlight.livejournal.com
Happy 2016 - may you have many lovely days!

Date: 2016-01-01 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] savageseraph.livejournal.com
I love your New Year's post every year, because this is so gorgeous and true.

Date: 2016-01-01 09:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jpsorrow.livejournal.com
Thanks for the birthday wishes!

Date: 2016-01-02 12:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] heidi8.livejournal.com
Thank you, and happy new year to you!

Date: 2016-01-02 02:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] northwestmagpie.livejournal.com
An eloquent and beautiful piece. Thanks. :)

Date: 2016-01-03 05:52 am (UTC)
rhi: tiger lillies in bloom (flowers)
From: [personal profile] rhi
Thank you for the poem, as always, and for the birthday wishes! May you have a happy and healthy year!

Date: 2016-01-03 08:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lindahoyland.livejournal.com
What wise words. Thank you for sharing.

Date: 2016-01-04 09:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] estellye.livejournal.com
Thank you, my dear and Happy New Year!

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