PROLOGUE
CHOOSE TO LET SILVER LININGS
PUSH AWAY DARK CLOUDS!!!
GETTING THE VOTE
The importance of finding a purpose in life and developing skills is a blessing.
It is such a good thing to feel motivated and that one's projects are worthwhile, that they are worthy of other people's participation.
Appreciating the silver linings in life and feeling positivity helps develop the ability to dream and imagine. This makes it possible to achieve great objectives. There is reason, rhythm and rhyme which culminate in positive actions and everything works together to make sense out of disparity.
Look up to see the silver linings in the clouds you contemplate as sparkles of light shine like fleeting stars of happiness on the waves of a river as we pass in an imaginary speedboat. We laugh to see them pass and we just can't grasp onto any of them in our hurry to achieve our goals. My Dad used to say "one tends to remember the good". Gathered together this positivity makes sense out of life.
At the very least you will be much more proficient in English once you have read and practiced the three sections of this book: Silver Linings. Hopefully you will work on it with others and it will add something valuable to your life, helping to build your skills in the Art of Conversation.
Here are the lyrics of a song by Joni Mitchell about clouds (first translated to Spanish, then in English) which gives us much to think about. We can learn from experience and find comfort in the silver linings so as to build a better future!
Letra en español de la canción de Joni Mitchell, ¨Both sides now¨, (letra traducida)
Hileras flotantes de cabello de ángel,
y castillos de helado en el aire,
y cañones de plumas por todas partes.
He mirado a las nubes de esa manera.
Pero ahora, solo bloquean el sol,
hacen llover y nevar sobre todo el mundo.
Tantas cosas que hubiera hecho,
pero las nubes se interpusieron en mi camino.
He mirado a las nubes desde los dos lados,
desde arriba y desde abajo, y todavía, de alguna manera,
son las ilusiones (trampantojos) que forman las nubes,
las que vienen a mi memoria.
En realidad, no sé nada de las nubes.
Lunas y meses de junio, y norias,
la sensación al estar bailando de forma vertiginosa,
cuando cada cuento de hadas se hace realidad.
He mirado al amor de esa manera.
Pero ahora, es un espectáculo diferente,
se quedan riendo cuando tú te vas.
Y si te importa, no dejes que se enteren,
no te delates a ti misma.
Ya he mirado al amor desde ambos lados,
desde el dar y desde el quitar, y todavía, de alguna manera,
son las ilusiones que forma el amor
las que vienen a mi memoria.
En realidad, no sé nada del amor.
En realidad, no sé absolutamente nada del amor.
Lágrimas y miedos, y sentirme orgullosa
de decir "te quiero" en voz alta.
Sueños y maquinaciones, y multitudes de circo.
He mirado a la vida de esa manera.
Oh, pero ahora los viejos amigos se comportan de forma rara,
y niegan con la cabeza,
y me dicen que he cambiado.
Bueno, algo se pierde pero algo se gana,
al vivir cada día.
He mirado a la vida desde ambos lados,
desde el ganar y desde el perder,
y todavía, de alguna manera,
son las ilusiones que forma la vida
las que vienen a mi memoria.
En realidad, no sé absolutamente nada del amor.
Son las ilusiones que forma la vida
las que vienen a mi memoria.
En realidad, no sé nada de la vida.
En realidad, no sé absolutamente nada de la vida.
¨Both sides now¨, by Joni Mitchell, en ingles (English lyrics)
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions
I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
But now it’s just another show
You leave them laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away
I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions
That I recall
I really don’t know love
I really don’t know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange
And they shake their heads
And they tell me I’ve changed
Well something’s lost but something’s gained
In living every day
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose
And still somehow
It’s life’s illusions
I recall
I really don’t know love at all
It’s life’s illusions
That I recall
I really don’t know life
I really don’t know life at all.
