A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. —H.D. Thoreau—
Conscious, careful selection of those activities, situations, or people to whom we’ll devote attention is all that separates centered, serene people from harried men and women. All of us are bombarded by myriad requests from some form of personal involvement. The temptation is great to attend to first one thing and then another, passively and superficially. However, our lives are enriched only when we commit ourselves to a deeper level of involvement, and to the few,
rather than many. The talent given each of us shines forth if it’s been nurtured, coddled, encouraged. We must become immersed enough in a project or an experience to lose self-conscious reservations if we’re to discover the real weight of our talent. We know ourselves fully only when we’re able to let the talent within define the posture without. I can’t be all things to all people today if I’m to be the person I need to be for me.