Sal's Reflections

I had a terrific professor in grad school George Vlahos who taught a very clear distinction between self worth and worthiness. Self worth fluctuates and how we see ourselves depends on so many variables. Our job may be difficult, the roof leaks, my neighbor is complain about my tree dropping leaves in her yard and a host of other variable daily happenings make the feelings volatile. On a scale of one to ten during the week we can go from zero to ten in a nanosecond. The difference is that worthiness is a constant. Our uniqueness as an individual has a value that can never be diminished. He believed that the very fact of our being a unique person endowed us with deserving love, respect and meaning. All the self worth up and downs never change that fact.

So much energy is often spent on comparing ourselves to others and wishing we had what they have. Certainly alright to want wonderful things but always being one down by focusing on what we don’t have blinds us to what we do have. Envy can be debilitating and despite what we see we know almost nothing about those we envy. Their concerns, fears and challenges are often beyond our envy and so I suggest we turn our attention to the value and uniqueness of who we are and what gifts we possess.

As one of his teaching assistants I heard many lectures that Viktor Frankl gave to graduate students at the International University. One that sticks with me is his. talk on the value of every human life. He asked the audience to picture a giant mosaic made up of literally a million pieces of tile. If one of the tiles was missing the mosaic would still be beautiful but it would be incomplete. Each of us is a tile in the mosaic of many other lives and without our caring the lives of others are incomplete. His conclusion was that we are vital and when our role becomes apparent.then we realize that greatness lies in service

Everyone goes through periods in their lives when engulfed in activities and responsibilities they fall into the trap of” someday”It would be wonderful if “someday “was guaranteed but those of us who have been around awhile know there are no guarantees that tomorrow will be a sure thing.” Carpe Diem” is not just a slogan, it is a reality that we should embrace.Today is the day that is available and we should seize it with joy and vigor.

Received some copies of the new novel today so hope the Amazon distribution is now working. Please leave a review for the new one as well as Hitler’s Priest. The reviews create a buzz that leads to speaking opportunities. A special thank you for all those working to bring me to their town or city.

Had breakfast with a nurse who had just come from the 50th reunion of the Freedom bus riders who went to Mississippi . She told me that the group had aged well ,and their commitment to Civil Rights for all in this country was as strong as the days when they boarded those buses. At one point in the festivities one person started to sing “We shall Overcome” and everyone joined in .I still marvel at the courage those persons had, and they were largely responsible for the changes that woke up the American conscience.