Blog 1961 – 02.06.2021

The Ugly Duckling

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The Ugly Duckling

Today’s retold classic children’s tale, first written by Hans Christian Anderson and reimagined by many authors including Jan Lewis, is a favorite. We have all, even the most outwardly beautiful among us, felt like an ugly duckling at one time or another in our lives, but the true beauty within us always finds a way to shine through no matter what.

I spent sometime recently considering the phrase, “I Mirror You” trying it on for size as a possible short mantra. This is what appeals to me most about it. If we could keep that phrase in mind when we see someone exhibiting not their best behavior, but something less than their best, I think we might be able to see through those behaviors to the their true inner beauty, if we just keep in mind that everyone and everything in this wide Universe is but a mirror reflecting back to us some image of ourselves.

The great Oklahoma Cowboy/Indian philosopher Will Rogers is famous for many quotes. One of my favorites is, “I never met a man I didn’t like” which I take to mean that he never met anyone that he could not find something to like about. I think that was possible for Will because he had come to love himself and realized that everyone was a reflection of the Universal Self and therefore worthy of worship and love.

Some years ago, I first heard the greeting “Namaste” and learned it means something like, “I worship or bow to the deity in you.” I really like that and think it explains what the shorter phrase “I mirror you” means to me. No matter who is saying it, me, you, or the Universe itself, I believe it to always be true.

The Psalmist David wrote, “Even if I descend to Sheol (Hell) you are there.” Many who do not like themselves or their situation try running away from their problems only to find that wherever they go that the real problem and the same unappreciative people are there waiting for them when they get there.

One more quote and I conclude, this one from famous playwright Billy Shakespeare, “Be true to thine own self and thou canst be false to no man” that mirror thing again staring back at each of us. Try taking a long and loving look.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uE8qP3jDtjBavSK3dVSbop-VF4csZR_6/view?usp=drivesdk

Fall In Love With Me