>>>>Jane Through The Seasons

Several insightful things have been said on the benefits of being liked, yet not so much on the merits of being disliked. Seneca who offered some very profound thoughts on friendship also said “what difference does it make, after all, what your position in life is if you dislike it yourself?” ( Letters from a Stoic . Trans. Robin Campbell. London: Penguin , 2004 , (Letter IX) p. 53). And in my view, this ought to be the standard for all relationships. For the sentiment that is most worrisome doesn’t come to us from external sources, but from within. It can be put simply as: do you like yourself? To answer affirmatively is wonderful but it also takes courage to answer in the negative. Knowing the answer to this question helps us understand how we relate to others and helps us judge the weight of their feelings for us. For instance, if you don’t like yourself you may establish a habit of befriending others through whom you can punish yourself.  Or if you like yourself , you might hav

Le bouquet par Jacques Prévert Pour toi pour moi loin de moi près de toi avec toi contre moi chaque battement de mon cœur est une fleur arrosée par ton sang Chaque battement c’est le tien chaque battement c’est le mien par tous les temps tout le temps La vie est une fleuriste la mort un jardinier Mais la fleuriste n’est pas triste le jardinier n’est pas méchant le bouquet est trop rouge et le sang trop vivant la fleuriste sourit le jardinier attend et dit Vous avez le temps! Chaque battement de nos cœurs est une fleur arrosée par le sang par le tien par le mien par le même en même temps. --- The Bouquet (trans. by J. A. Odartey) For you for me far from me near you with you against me my every heartbeat is a flower watered by your blood Each beat of my heart yours each beat of your heart mine in all seasons at all times Life is a florist death a gardener the florist isn't unhappy the gardener isn't unkind the bouquet too red and bloo