Start With Yourself

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in the Crypts of Westminister Abbey:

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

　　編者按：

　　在懵懂的童年時期，我們胸懷夢想，相信自己的力量可以改變世界。后來，我們漸漸長大成熟，經歷了生活的艱辛，明白了世無定事，感到了自己的渺小，我們的夢想也從“改變世界”降格成“改變家庭”，最終定位成“改變自己”。但我們實在不該低估自己，因為在我們改變自己的同時也潛移默化地影響著家庭，而作為世界的一分子，從某個角度來講，我們也正改變著世界。