nothing good gets away

I have always associated John Steinbeck with high school... Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men...  reading classics because you had to. Now, some thirty years later, I am becoming a John Steinbeck fan. 

I am reading Steinbeck: A Life in Letters, and finding that reading someone's letters is a beautiful way to get to know them.

I like this part... eventually I will be so good that I cannot be ignored. But, I adore the last two sentences... Financially we are a mess, but "spiritually" we ride the clouds. Nothing matters.  (I added the smiling star to remind myself to always 'ride the clouds').


And then there is Steinbeck's letter to his son, Thom...

First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

….Lastly….

don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens —The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

Read the full letter online here. 


I plan to save those last lines for my own children as they grow... don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens —The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

What is perfect for you will come. Trust life and it’s myriad forces that operate behind the scenes.

Nothing good gets away.