That Annoying Tourist
Unexpected Wisdom: What My Son Taught Me About Perspective
Sometimes the greatest insights come from the smallest voices
I walked into the kitchen where my son was eating his breakfast the other morning and said, “Hi Tiger Tank” to him. I call him random things like my “little Pumpkin Spice Latte,” “Pumpkin Pie,” “Buddy,” and of course “Tyler.”
When I called him Tiger Tank, he asked me what a Tiger Tank is. I didn’t know myself since I just made it up on the fly, so I said, “Oh, you know, tanks are what armies use to fight the bad guys, and tigers are strong animals, so I thought I would call you Tiger Tank.”
A Moment of Clarity
He looked at me and considered my craziness and then said, “Hey Dad, sometimes the bad guys are stronger and kill the good guys.”
For some reason, I found that profound. It could have been the time of day, the fact that I hadn’t had coffee yet, or both.
The Wisdom of Children
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Children see the world without our learned filters. Their observations, though simple, often cut through our complex adult rationalizations to reveal truths we’ve forgotten or chosen to ignore.
It’s remarkable how children can push us to reconsider our assumptions with just a few words. Sometimes their perspective helps us remember that our simplified explanations often leave out the complexity and nuance of real life.
Join the Conversation
What surprising insights have you gained from the children in your life? How did they change your perspective?
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
A Timeless Poem of Comfort and Remembrance
Do not stand at my grave and weep is a poem written in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Frye. Although the origin of the poem was disputed until later in her life, Mary Frye’s authorship was confirmed in 1998 after research by Abigail Van Buren, a newspaper columnist.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
About the Poet
Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905-2004) was an American housewife and florist who, despite having no formal education or training in poetry, wrote this timeless poem to comfort a young Jewish girl who was unable to visit her dying mother in Nazi Germany.
The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its simple yet profound message that the essence of a person continues in the natural world even after death.
Cultural Impact
Funerals & Memorials
Frequently read at funeral services and memorial gatherings around the world
Literary Recognition
Voted Britain’s most popular poem in a 1996 poll despite its American origin
Legacy
Has been translated into many languages and set to music by various composers