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Archive for category Inspirations

Mattie Stepanek - Inspiration is Size S

Posted by Rathi S in Inspirations on May 23rd, 2006

"A heartsong doesn’t have to be a song in your heart, even talking about love and peace. It can just be your message. It can be your feelings. Some people might even call it a conscience, even though that’s not really what it is. It’s your message, what you feel you need to do. It’s the song in your heart that wants you to help make yourself a better person, and to help other people do the same. Everybody has one. People now are fighting over how our heartsongs are different, but they don’t need to be the same"

- Mattie Stepanek, a philosopher, a peacemaker and a 13-year-old poet who lost his battle with muscular dystrophy in March 2004.


But his messages of peace lives on through his series of poems called "Heartsongs," and continue to inspire millions across the globe, including me.


FOR OUR WORLD ' Mattie Stepanek

We need to stop. Just stop. Stop for a moment
Before anybody says or does anything that may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent. Just silent. Silent for a moment
Before we forever lose the blessing of songs that grow in our hearts.
We need to notice. Just notice. Notice for a moment
Before the future slips away into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be. Just be.
Be for a moment Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs, never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray, differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life, no chance for peace.


An excerpt from one of Mattie's interviews in the Oprah Winfrey show

Oprah: What do you know for sure, Mattie?
Mattie: That our attitude is a choice. I believe we can decide to be miserable, to roll ourselves in the dirt and say, ‘Hit me again.’ But when we do that, we’re missing out on so much! I know for sure that while it’s great to have role models, we should never try to be anyone but ourselves. I know for sure that when we use words, not bombs, we all get peace. I know for sure that there’s something bigger than the here and now?some people call it God, some call it Buddha, some call it Yahweh. I know for sure that we don’t need to be afraid of death, because we’ll be greeted by something better on the other side. And I know for sure that life is a gift to be treasured?and that we must always live it to the fullest.


Small, frail body, but an incredibly big and strong spirit that is Mattie If we could take just one leaf out of his book, wouldn't we all make better humans !

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