Unique Moments

Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the Universe, a moment that 
will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two 
and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also 
teach them what they are?

We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. 
You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another 
child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move.

You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the 
capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you 
then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, 
to make the world worthy of its children.
                                                                                         ~ Pablo Picasso

When my children were small, I would often tell them how wonderful they were. Reminding them they are unique human beings is a responsibility I take very seriously. I mean really, it's my job to instill into their psyche confidence and a deep sense of self. Along with this is the idea that all life is sacred. Even those people we may not like or agree with ~ they are unique, sacred, and an essential part of the nature of the universe.

The major tenet of Yoga is Ahimsa, non-harming. Many great Yoga teachers and gurus proclaim it to be the basis for all other attributes. If we do no harm, we can co-create a place of harmony and joy. Of course, non-harming must begin with our self. Each act of kindness toward self or other will affect our perception of the world. It will transform how we experience the world. 

How do we "make the world worthy of its children"? It starts by practicing Ahimsa and recognizing we are all in this together. We are connected. We are ONE.