Foreword to the Tenth Anniversary Edition
My dear friend and esteemed colleague, Harry Grether, first authored this original collection of personal stories ten years ago, as a way of coping with the death of his lovely daughter, Denise, to cancer. Harry, by nature, is one of the most giving, loving, and caring souls ever placed upon this earth. It will be through his loving nature and his caring words that these stories which you are about to read or re-read will touch the deepest parts of your Heart and Soul, perhaps changing the ways in which you believe, act and find hope within your own personal story.
This book has arrived within your Life for a specific reason. Perhaps it is meant to provide a bit of comfort. Perhaps it is to provide a few teachings or helpful lessons that will allow you to find the faith, comfort, and hope necessary to get you through a tough patch of daily living. Whatever the reason may be, be mindful of the wisdom, experience, and loving-kindness that you will find here.
Life lessons come to us when they are most needed and not a moment sooner. For it is during our darkest and most challenging moments that we take our time to listen closely with our eyes, ears and Hearts, learning to believe in these things that we may see, hear and feel, while suspending personal judgment along the way.
Sometimes, we must design a Life's plan of action on our very own. And although we may seek the expertise, guidance and help of others along the way, no one knows you as well as you know yourself. By quieting our mind's chatter, we may reduce our fears, self-criticism and the hurts that accompany many of Life's challenges. The stories contained within these pages provide us with guine examples of how we too may move forward in our most desperate days and times of loss, challenge, and hurt.
Lessons from an Imperfect World will ask you to look for and emphasize the infinite dignity found in yourself and each person that you will encounter upon your quest. The lessons contained here will help you find a quiet moment of strength, the will to move forward, and the gift of taking a deep breath during those moments when all of your breath has been physically and emotionally sucked from your person. Should I be speaking to you at this moment, I wish for you much peace, calm, and promise.
Your commitment to yourself and those whom you care most for in this world, brought you to this book at this very moment. Believe that you have within you the power to grow, change, learn and act in ways that may be new or simply need to be remembered. Seek to be inspired, give yourself the gift of hope and promise yourself to lead, speak, and act from your Heart.
As you begin taking care of yourself in all ways, you will see that small miracles begin to happen all around and within you. For it is only by taking great, kind and special care of yourself first that you will ever be able to assist or help anyone else. Remaining honest to You in all matters will be the touchstone necessary to pulling through, taking personal action and acting with conviction upon your newfound future.
Remember along the way: that the only sure thing in Life is change. Accept and become active with this knowledge. Consider all possibilities. respect yourself and all others in all matters. Always.
Thank you for your kindness and courtesy.
I wish for you much love, happiness and joy. I remain respectfully yours...
Thom Pepe, father of Travis Adam, whose young Life did his own hands take
This book has arrived within your Life for a specific reason. Perhaps it is meant to provide a bit of comfort. Perhaps it is to provide a few teachings or helpful lessons that will allow you to find the faith, comfort, and hope necessary to get you through a tough patch of daily living. Whatever the reason may be, be mindful of the wisdom, experience, and loving-kindness that you will find here.
Life lessons come to us when they are most needed and not a moment sooner. For it is during our darkest and most challenging moments that we take our time to listen closely with our eyes, ears and Hearts, learning to believe in these things that we may see, hear and feel, while suspending personal judgment along the way.
Sometimes, we must design a Life's plan of action on our very own. And although we may seek the expertise, guidance and help of others along the way, no one knows you as well as you know yourself. By quieting our mind's chatter, we may reduce our fears, self-criticism and the hurts that accompany many of Life's challenges. The stories contained within these pages provide us with guine examples of how we too may move forward in our most desperate days and times of loss, challenge, and hurt.
Lessons from an Imperfect World will ask you to look for and emphasize the infinite dignity found in yourself and each person that you will encounter upon your quest. The lessons contained here will help you find a quiet moment of strength, the will to move forward, and the gift of taking a deep breath during those moments when all of your breath has been physically and emotionally sucked from your person. Should I be speaking to you at this moment, I wish for you much peace, calm, and promise.
Your commitment to yourself and those whom you care most for in this world, brought you to this book at this very moment. Believe that you have within you the power to grow, change, learn and act in ways that may be new or simply need to be remembered. Seek to be inspired, give yourself the gift of hope and promise yourself to lead, speak, and act from your Heart.
As you begin taking care of yourself in all ways, you will see that small miracles begin to happen all around and within you. For it is only by taking great, kind and special care of yourself first that you will ever be able to assist or help anyone else. Remaining honest to You in all matters will be the touchstone necessary to pulling through, taking personal action and acting with conviction upon your newfound future.
Remember along the way: that the only sure thing in Life is change. Accept and become active with this knowledge. Consider all possibilities. respect yourself and all others in all matters. Always.
Thank you for your kindness and courtesy.
I wish for you much love, happiness and joy. I remain respectfully yours...
Thom Pepe, father of Travis Adam, whose young Life did his own hands take