Inspire Me Today

By Dr. Bernie Siegel

Love is a weapon and I prefer to kill with kindness and torment with tenderness.

When we do this our natural tendencies towards aggression are utilized in creative ways through work, sports, games and hobbies and not through destructive behavior. A child's brain wave pattern up to the age of six is like that of a hypnotized individual. So your messages can stay with them for a lifetime. If they are mottos to die by, and the child does not make a conscious effort to eliminate and abandon them, it does lead to their illness and early death. A study of Harvard students showed that of those who felt loved by their parents while attending college, only one fourth had suffered an illness by midlife, while almost one hundred percent of those who didn't feel loved had suffered a major illness by midlife. The addictions and self destructive behavior are not an accident.

To quote a woman who said her mother always belittled her efforts and only dressed her in dark clothes, "My mother's words were eating away at me and maybe gave me cancer." The cancer motivated her to be born again and redirect her life: re-parent herself, find self love and buy a red dress. So curses can became blessings as castles can be built out of the mud.

Centuries ago Maimonides wrote, "If people would take as good care of themselves as they do their animals they would suffer fewer illnesses." So get some pets and treat yourself and your children as you do your beloved pets with love, affection, trust, respect, consistency, discipline, exercise and a reverence for life. Those bits of advice actually come from veterinarians. So when in doubt WWLD; just ask yourself, What Would Lassie Do?

If your children have any questions just remember love is my answer. My Mom's answers were, "Do what will make you happy." "Troubles are God's redirections and something good will come of this." And my Dad's, "Material things are to make life easier and when you are happy you are a success." And if you want to live forever; love someone.