When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
A good friend doesn't make you wonder if he or she is taking advantage of you. If you have to wonder more than once, ask yourself if you would want a loved one to have that kind of friend over the long term.
As Khalil Gibran once wrote, friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. Read more
Look at the people around you and consider which of them don't care how much money you have or don't have, what you've accomplished, or what you look like.
These are the people who should really matter to you. They're the ones you should think of the most and treat the best. You are highly unlikely to find anything better over the course of your life. Read more
If you dilute yourself trying to please everyone, you won't have anything substantial or powerful to offer anyone, including yourself. Be selective about where you choose to focus your energy.
To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to.
After 21 years, we made the difficult decision to bring our catalogue to a close. To stay connected with Dr. Kim's writings, please feel free to subscribe for free here: Dr. Ben Kim on Substack. Sending best wishes and thanks to all.