khalil gibran - old school inspiration

self portrait & muse: 1911

Each artist, each writer, each designer can single out a handful of individuals that led them or lead them on their own path of creativity; i have a few of my own & Gibran is a constant. As a self taught Lebanese Christian (immigrating to the US in early 1900) Gibran affected humans world wide through the purity of his vision. Listed as the 3rd most read poet & artist, i'm not alone in my admiriation - so i'm throwing props back this time to Gibran, an old school inspiration for artists today & those to come.

The Prophet - Gibran's most recognized literary work - excerpt:

I have found a truth

Say not, "i have found the truth," but rather, "i have found a truth."

Say not, "i have found the path of the soul." say rather,

"i have met the soul walking upon my path."

For the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line,

neither does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

Your Children are not Your Children

They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.

The come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

always,

nic.

Must Read:
How to Re-Imagine The World

How To Re-Imagine The World is an excellent read for those looking to see the world as a glass half full. It talks about planting seeds, sparking people's creativity, and thinking bigger to achieve more. It's efforts are to impact social transformation, but can easily be related to any idea you have for change, whether personal, political, or physical. The book is relatively small compared to others that discuss these issues, and this is because it gets straight to the point and explains things in a way that is simple to understand...minimal examples and fluff. Swing by Amazon.com to grab a copy of How To Re-Imagine The World by Anthony Weston.

-Doni W