Alan & Brenda Leonard

1/14/03 10:05:

> Actually, one of my goals isn't NECESSARILY that my kids be happy. I
> pray that they will, but more than happy, I'd like to see them be
> good. By that, I mean, morally upright, with something of a work
> ethic, kind, gentle, respectful, humble, with hearts full of
> gratitude, capable of serving others, giving, patient, self-
> controlled. Now, my firm belief is, if they have these character
> qualities, they will be happy.

Hmmm. Interesting.

I guess I think that if my life, and my son's life is happy (happy in a
healthy way), that we WILL be morally upright, kind, gentle, respectful,
humble, giving, patient, and self-controlled.

I know that if I'm feeling happy and at peace about how my life is going
along, I'm more likely to do the things I'm not so fond of doing. Like,
take out the recycling and trash, scrub the bathroom, etc. I can do things
that give of myself, and I'm patient and self-controlled.

If I'm not happy with life; when I've struggled with depression, grief, or
whatever, I find it hard to do even the basic things I *do* enjoy, let alone
those things I don't enjoy. I'm selfish, rude, and lazy.

So my goal is that my son grow without the wierd emotional baggage so many
people seem to have that makes them want more STUFF instead of fullfillment,
to do destructive things to be noticed, etc. In other words, I hope that
he'll be happy.

brenda

yolswandass <[email protected]>

--- In [email protected], Alan & Brenda Leonard
<abtleo@e...> wrote:
> 1/14/03 10:05:
>
> > Actually, one of my goals isn't NECESSARILY that my kids be happy. I
> > pray that they will, but more than happy, I'd like to see them be
> > good. By that, I mean, morally upright, with something of a work
> > ethic, kind, gentle, respectful, humble, with hearts full of
> > gratitude, capable of serving others, giving, patient, self-
> > controlled. Now, my firm belief is, if they have these character
> > qualities, they will be happy.

I tend to think the other way around... If we are happy we tend to be
respectful and giving and loving. It's hard to be that way if we are
suffering and unhappy, because those emotions color our perception of
the world and our actions. Even criminals and such are suffering
people, not just happy and *bad*. It's the suffering that prompts them
to act violently or with no regard to others whatsoever.

Yol

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When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. The world is ruled by
letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.
-- Tao Te Ching
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