Kila Mmoja Wetu Afanye Bora Yake
Viktor Frankl: We must still do our best
[Scroll down for the English]
KISWAHILI
"Kwa maana ulimwengu uko katika hali mbaya, lakini kila kitu kitakuwa mbaya zaidi isipokuwa kila mmoja wetu afanye bora yake."
- Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997) alikuwa daktari wa magonjwa ya akili wa Austria, mnusurika wa Holokosti, mwandishi, na profesa.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
“For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.”
- Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997), was an Austrian psychologist, Holocaust survivor, author, and professor
Kuhusu (About):
KISWAHILI
Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997) alikuwa daktari wa magonjwa ya akili wa Austria, mnusurika wa mauaji ya kimbari yaliyoitwa Holokosti, mwandishi, na profesa. Kutokana na ukatili aliona na alionea katika kambi za mateso, aliendelea kutengeneza mbinu ya kisaikolojia inayojulikana kama tiba ya kisaikolojialogo inaitwa logotherapy ambayo inasema nguvu kuu ya motisha ya mtu binafsi ni kutafuta maana katika maisha.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997) was an Austrian psychologist, Holocaust survivor, author, and professor. Drawing upon the brutality he saw and experienced in the concentration camps, he went on to develop a psychological method known as logotherapy, which says the primary motivation of an individual is to find meaning in life.
KISWAHILI: Asante na tutaonana tena,
Mmerikani
ENGLISH TRANSLATION: Thank you and may we see each other again,
Mmerikani
Chanzo (source): Frankl, Viktor E. Man's Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press, 1949, page 154. Kindle Edition.
Asante, Mmerikani.
I think I’ve beaten the cold. Walking that fine line between doing too much and self-care.
Exactly: ❣️
“Let us do the best we can in a way that we can sustain, so when really big, rarer moments in history or in life approach us, we can have energy and clarity for it. :)”
I have been mulling this over this week (and a bit too busy to post - sorry).
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At the beginning of each of my classes, I tell a short story. This week was about the carpenter who always did excellent work building houses. He always chose the best wood, and the glass was of the highest quality. He used he tools exceptionally well, so that in every house, the doors and windows opened so smoothly and quietly. He had a great reputation, and everything was fine. He was getting up in years, and one day, he made the decision to retire.
He went to his boss, and the boss understood, but asked if he would do the company a favor and build just one more house. The carpenter reluctantly agreed and went out to build the last house.
But this time, his heart wasn't in it, and so, he didn't choose the best wood or the best glass. He was in a hurry to finish, so he didn't use his tools well and in this house, there were squeaky doors and sticky windows. Eventually he went to let the boss know that he was all finished.
The boss said, "Let's go see the house..."
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The quote from Viktor Frankl says: “For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.”
I'd like to add "to the best of our ability at the time." It's not a cop-out or an excuse for shabby work, but an acknowledgement that we are human. We all have good days and bad days.
As I told the story this week, I was well aware of how tired I am and how much I wanted to finish quickly. I did the best I could under the circumstances, knowing that I also had to take care of myself (not catching the cold I felt coming on).
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When they were standing in front of the house, the boss said, "Over the many years you have worked for us, you have always done excellent work. We would like to say thank you by giving you this house." The boss handed the carpenter the keys to his new house, and the carpenter realized what he had done.
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We all make mistakes, we all - at times - want to cut corners. Maybe we have to cut each other a little slack, understand and allow for our "humanness".
Just a thought.