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James Baldwin was a Black, gay writer and activist who fought for social change during the mid-20th century. His masterful work often focused on the Black experience and inequalities he witnessed in America. In this quote, he recognizes that not every injustice can be made right, but unless weaknesses in society are faced, positive change will never come about. You must acknowledge a problem is present before you can ever begin to deconstruct it. His words encourage and promote hope for all those who fight uphill battles.

Born Siddhartha Gautama, the philosopher and spiritual leader who founded Buddhism lived sometime between the sixth and fourth century BCE, along the border of modern Nepal and India. In Sanskrit, “Buddha” means “awakened one,” and he devoted himself to teaching others how they could achieve a heightened sense of consciousness. This uplifting quote comes from one of the Buddha’s primary texts, “The Sutra of 42 Sections.” According to translator Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai, the Buddha began by explaining, “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.” Those who bring light into people’s lives will experience true joy. By contrast, those who benefit from good deeds will encourage further acts of kindness.

Best known for his book “Walden,” a series of essays about his time living alone in nature, Henry David Thoreau valued deep introspection over materialism. Rooted in his Transcendentalist belief in spirituality and simple virtues, Thoreau’s work often encourages the reader to be guided by their personal values, rather than societal expectations. It makes sense that what we value in others would already be present in us, be it kindness or courage. Thoreau reminds us that we are our own role models: In surrounding ourselves with people we admire, we realize the kind of people we are.

Attention residents due to lack of attendance there will be no BINGO played at the Forrestal Heights Community Room tonight. We will notify when BINGO resumes.

Thank you.,

BHA Management

American drama critic Alexander Woollcott is known for instituting the Algonquin Round Table, a literary luncheon (held at the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan in the 1920s) that hosted such luminaries as comedian Harpo Marx and writer Dorothy Parker. However, Woollcott’s life leading up to that point was remarkable: He went from a childhood in poverty to serving in the First World War to becoming a columnist for “The New Yorker” magazine. His surviving letters recount anecdotes from his life and the lives of his creative friends. His words here encourage us to see the value in the mundane, and to treat each day as part of the rich experience of life.

When Charles Dickens was 12 years old, he went to work in a shoe polish factory while his father was relegated to debtor’s prison. The experience stirred his lifelong zeal to expose the social and economic plights of the lower class in 19th-century London. Arguably the most popular writer of his day, Dickens published 15 novels before he died, including “Oliver Twist,” “David Copperfield,” and “Great Expectations.” His last completed novel, 1865’s “Our Mutual Friend,” contains a quote that speaks to anyone who has questioned their purpose. Helping others — especially those in need — is the path toward a fulfilled life.

One of the most beloved lines from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is this bit of wisdom, imparted from the wizard Gandalf to the young hobbit Frodo. In the first book, 1954’s “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Frodo inherits a cursed ring and realizes he must take a frightening journey to destroy it. After confiding to Gandalf that he wishes the task had fallen to someone else, the wizard reminds Frodo that no one gets to dictate what challenges they face. Rather than lamenting unavoidable hardships, time is better spent focusing on the choices within our control, and making our time on Earth (or Middle-Earth) meaningful.