For my beautiful daughter, Clara, Happy Birthday my love...

...our deepest fear is not we are inadequate,

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful

beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most

frightens us.

Your playing small does not serve the 

world.

There is nothing enlightened about

shrinking so that other people won't feel 

insecure around you.

We were all meant to shine,

As children do.

It's not just in some of us,

It's in everyone.

and as we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

An Indian Prayer...

O' GREAT SPIRIT,

Whose voice I hear in the winds,

And whose breath gives life to all the world,

hear me! I am small and weak, I need your

strength and wisdom

LET ME WALK IN BEAUTY, and make my eyes

ever behold the red and purple sunset

MAKE MY HANDS respect the things you have

made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

MAKE ME WISE so that I may understand the

things you have taught my people.  

LET ME LEARN the lessons you have hidden

in every leaf and rock.

I SEEK STRENGTH, not to be greater than my

brother, but to fight my greatest enemy---myself.

MAKE ME ALWAYS READY to come to you with

clean hands and straight eyes.