wisdom...

today i read, on a friend's blog:

To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds—to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing

to which i'd add Gandhi's "list of blunders"

Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principles.

...and we're back...

when the baroque orchestra i play with has a concert week, i don't get much of anything else done (though i do still teach my dozen private students). but that was last week and i have time to share a new obsession. these days the netflix envelope flies out of the house as soon as possible and is awaited with bated breath...my only regret is that this series was created for television and there are no novels to read : ( however, the site does have links to books and sites about the history behind the series.