In the year 1994 a book by Theodore Zeldin, “An Intimate History of Humanity,” was published.
“Theodore Zeldin CBE, President of the Oxford Muse Foundation, is a Palestinian philosopher, sociologist, historian, writer and public speaker. Zeldin was first known as a historian of France but is today probably most famous internationally as the author of “An Intimate History of Humanity”, a book which probes the personal preoccupations of people in many different civilizations, both in the past and in the present; it illuminates the way emotions, curiosities, relationships and fears have evolved through the centuries, and how they might have evolved differently. Since then he has focused on how work can be made less boring and frustrating, how conversation can be less superficial, and how individuals can be more honest with one another, putting their masks aside.”
I have always been fascinated with this one quote from the book which is from the book “Boswell’s Life of Johnson.”
‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I look upon every day lost in which I do not make a new acquaintance.’
In many ways, the quote became a mantra for me (In addition, of course to my TM Mantra!). I love people. I love meeting people. I was a successful salesperson. I gave speeches in New York City in front of hundreds of people. But thinking about this quote, this idea, and hearing a Holy Man recently say “Get out. Share your love. Share your light.” That’s it! and thus, I was struck with the quote turned around.
Now I don’t get out as I once did when I was commuting to New York City from Western Massachusetts; meeting people, giving speeches, visiting museums. But it dawned on me today that I enjoy social media because it affords me the opportunity to meet people and more importantly, and I do mean more, to share love, light and beauty through photography–I do believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography expressed with love and light. I am, in fact, letting my love light shine.
Pictured here is Vanessa, a young woman Susan and I met at a recent family gathering–a new acquaintance.
Young. Old. We can learn from every person we meet. And we can, we should, let our love light shine.
Susan and I were sitting at one of the many picnic tables at the family gathering. We were eating chips with onion dip and enjoying what some people say is the cocktail of the summer; a Hugo Spritz–a delightfully refreshing spritzer with fresh mint, lime, elderflower syrup, Prosecco, and sparkling water!
Vanessa walked near us. I was struck by her style and seemingly confident manner.
“What’s your name? I asked.
“Vanessa.”
“My name is Bruce and across from me is my wife, Susan.”
Vanessa said, “I love your necklace, Susan. And Bruce, I love your hat.”
Vanessa bowed and “It was a pleasure to meet you. See you two later.”
I recently read the following:
“Happiness grows best when adequately nurtured and nourished through interpersonal sharing. When we endeavor to bestow upon others a degree of the joy we ourselves feel, we ensure that our own positivity has a chance to blossom into lasting feelings of goodwill and satisfaction. Seeing others develop a mood of high spirits can inspire similar feelings within us, adding fuel to the fire of our mounting joy. The simplest way to ensure that we can spread our cheerfulness is to endeavor to make each social situation we take part in an event to be savored. As we do our best to ensure that our loved ones, colleagues, and confidants can share in our gladness, our good humor will thrive accordingly. You will feel truly wonderful today when you encourage feelings of happiness in others.”
Thomas Merton said:
“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.”
Love. Light. See. Share.
Here are a few portraits for you to enjoy. Every picture, every portrait, tells a story.
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