My Struggle To Become A Person - Hugh Prather

If I had only...........

and it’s not too late

This is the first ’’note’’ of the book - Notes to Myself: My Struggle To Become A Person - by Hugh Prather. Reading this book I was interested in knowing more about the author & here is what I found :

Hugh Prather is the author of more than fourteen books. He is also a resident minister at a Church and has been called by The New York Times ’’an American Kahlil Gibran’’ His wife Gayle Prather is also a resident minister & counseller, they have been married for 34 years. For the past 20, they have conducted classes on relationships and parenting.

The book also describes Hugh’s early struggle to get his work published but all his poems, stories and articles were rejected. During this trying time, his wife Gayle fully supported him & hence Hugh could concentrate on his work. This book was a compliation of his daily thoughts and even though he was sure it would not be accepted or published by any editor, the book was immediately accepted by a publisher , who sent a midnight telegram to Hugh & since then his first book, ’’Notes to Myself, ’’ has sold over 5 million copies and has been translated into 10 languages.

This book is a collection of thoughts, that comes directly from the heart and have a touch of inner observation. Here are some of my favourite notes :

But it’s morning,

within my hands is another day.

Another day to listen & love & walk & glory.

I am here for another day,

I think of those who aren’t.

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My trouble is I analyse life,

instead to live it.

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I don’t need a ’’reason’’ to be happy.

I don’t have to consult the future to know how happy I am now.

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This : it’s such a chore to talk to Bill. Why is he such a drag?

Versus this : I make it such a chore for myself when I talk to Bill. How do I make it so hard?

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If you will tell me the way you see it rather than the way it ’’is’’,

this helps me discover more fully the way I see it.

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The heart loves but moods have no loyalty,

moods should be heard but never danced to.

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I want to support my friends - even in their mistakes.

I must be clear however,

it is the friend not the mistake I am supporting.

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Reading these notes make us look at ourself, reflect & ponder about what, why & how of our lives. Many are those little thoughts which we avoid to think over. It works as a self-help book.

The notes do not read like any of our regular diaries yet their meaning holds so true to our everyday life. Each note has something new and gives the reader lot of inspiration to get ahead with their life, in a positive manner & to become a better person.