Recently I was sorting through some boxes in my storage cupboard and I came across a book I used to collect poems and quotes that I found helpful or interesting. As I was flipping through the pages, I re-discovered this poetic quote from author Robert Fulghum.
“I believe imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe love is stronger than death.”
Re-reading this quote, I was reminded that I need to live with these words. In particular these are words I need to see in these days when I feel overwhelmed by the perpetual stream of negative news. It is all too easy for me to fall into a cycle of despair yet these words challenge me to reconsider the conventional wisdom of our age. Knowledge, history, facts, experience, grief and death are not as omnipotent as I permit them to be. This quote encourages me to look to imagination, myth, dreams, hope, laughter and love to find a better way of living.