Sixteen years ago I was sitting at my kitchen table, hard at work. I was compiling a book of quotations from some of the world’s most admired and respected women. Rosie, my six-year-old daughter, was sitting quietly on the other side of the table, scribbling with crayons and paper.
“What are you up to?” I finally asked her.
“I’m writing quotes for your book,” she answered. “Here’s one.” And she handed me a piece of notebook paper. On it, she had carefully printed in green block letters this little thought: “If you love somebody, hurry up and show it.”
I didn’t say anything for a moment, I was letting her quote sink in. I liked it. It was just nine little words from the heart of a child, but I remember thinking, “Wow—what a world this would be if all of us actually lived by those simple words.”
Finally, Rosie looked sadly at me and said, “You hate it—don’t you?”
“No, Rose, I love it,” I assured her.
“Me too,” she smiled, and then she kissed me on the cheek and skipped off down the hall.
Rosie, age 6
Time flies. Sixteen years later, Rosie has now graduated from college, and one of Compendium’s most widely circulated books is in its 4th printing. The book is still called “Brilliance". It still features quotations from some of the world’s most admired and respected women. And there, on page 93, still nestled among the great quotations from Emily Dickinson, Margaret Mead, Mother Teresa , Maya Angelou and others is that same simple but beautiful reminder from Rose Zadra, Age 6: “If you love somebody, hurry up and show it.”
It’s true. Life is too short and too precious to keep our love to ourselves. Today, take a few moments to reach out and let your family, friends, neighbors and loved ones know that you love and care for them.
19 responses so far ↓
1 Robin 01.05.2010 | 4:04 PM
2 Julie Hill 01.05.2010 | 4:05 PM
3 Barbara 01.05.2010 | 4:05 PM
All the best!
4 Natasha 01.05.2010 | 4:44 PM
5 Kathleen Overby 01.05.2010 | 4:46 PM
enthusiastically tweet you every time.
Worthwhile stuff to spread around and encourage many. Thx
6 Deanna 01.05.2010 | 4:50 PM
7 Laurie Cross 01.05.2010 | 4:57 PM
8 jessica 01.05.2010 | 5:43 PM
i'm thrilled you have a blog now!
9 Sherri 01.05.2010 | 7:36 PM
10 A Liengboonlertchai 01.05.2010 | 8:13 PM
A-Simplicity Decor
11 Lindsay 01.05.2010 | 8:58 PM
12 Carolyne Taylor 01.06.2010 | 10:27 AM
13 cathy hunt 01.06.2010 | 11:19 AM
14 Elizabeth Hartigan 01.08.2010 | 11:10 AM
15 Tina from String-Ring 01.10.2010 | 8:51 AM
16 Stephanie 01.14.2010 | 12:58 PM
Thank you for sharing this little snapshot into the making of the book. I'm going to go check out that title now, by the way...
17 Karen Gilmour 01.21.2010 | 7:29 AM
18 secret agent l 01.24.2010 | 10:03 AM
i am absolutely in love with compendium products (in love, i tell you!), and use them in the secret agent l project often.
your company is an inspiration. i am honored to be connected to you. thank you for sharing this story and for sharing such love and kindness and inspiration in this world!
xoxo,
s.a.l.
19 Liliana 04.02.2010 | 9:24 PM
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