Roundworm-A Serious Zoonosis

A Reason for Being

Donald H. DeForge, VMD

24May2013

"No one lives on the top of the mountain. It’s fine to go there occasionally —for inspiration, for new perspectives. But you have to come down. Life is lived in the valleys. That’s where the farms and gardens and orchards are, and where the plowing and the work is done. That’s where you apply the visions you may have glimpsed from the peaks."

Arthur Gordon

Leo Buscaglia wrote a book in 1982-thirty one years ago.  The book is called The Fall of Freddie the Leaf...a Story of Life for All Ages.  Somewhere along the way, this book has been lost in the New Millennium.  Leo states in his Introduction: "this book is dedicated to all children who have ever suffered a permanent loss and to the the grown ups who could not find a way to explain it."  You must read this book.  It is a book that is full of visuals for your children and can be completed in about 15-20 minutes.  It is not only for kids it is also for you.  It is not a book about death but a book about life.

There is one part of the book where Freddie, a leaf, is talking to the other leaves and says: "I love being a leaf; I love my branch; my light leafy friends; my place in the sky; the wind that jostles me about; and the sun rays that cover me with soft, white shadows."  Freddie asked Daniel, the largest leaf of the tree, and who was there well before all the other leafs what was his purpose in being a leaf?  Freddie knew that Daniel was the wisest leaf and he definitely could supply an answer.  Daniel stated that all of the leaves had a purpose......"A Reason for Being"

That purpose, Daniel stated, was to make things more pleasant for others and that is their reason for being.  Daniel commented, "We leaves make shade for old people who come to escape the heat of their homes; we provide a cool place for children to come and play; we fan picnickers who come to eat with checkered tablecloths...these are our reasons for being."  Daniel was indeed a wise leaf.

As I sit and review Dr. Buscaglia's book, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, I think about the society that we are living in at this time and how flawed he would find it if he were with us today.  But knowing Dr. Buscaglia even though flawed he would never stop lecturing, writing, talking, and helping those who wanted to make it better....who wanted to make themselves better.

Leo Buscaglia was not an idealist.  He was a realist teaching in the 80's and 90's knowing that we could do better than what we are doing.  His message was simple..."we can only become happy when we give with open arms and ask for nothing in return."  He spoke about giving love...today that is defined as a final commitment between two individuals that want to spend their lives together....or at least believe this is what they want.  Leo's love transcends the romantic or the physical....it is a state of being.... a philosophy of giving....a commitment to living and being happy.

The love that Leo wrote and spoke about yesterday.... today has been replaced with disrespect, self-interest, ego, and personal gratification.  This same love has been replaced with stealing, cheating, and spreading rumors or lies for self benefit.  The joy of Leo's love has actually been replaced with a joy in hurting people.  The New Millennium finds pleasure not in helping but in destroying.  This is not a scenario of negativity but a description of the evening news that we visualize each and every day.

In the next week, keep a log of the strangers that you see coming out of grocery stores, coffee houses, gas stations, or public places you visit.  Look straight in their eyes and count the number of people that say "Hello" to you; or "Good morning/Good evening"; or smile and say, "Have a great day!"  I am not talking about the people behind the counters who are trained to say kind words by their employers.  I am talking about the person who is the stranger that enters your sphere during normal daily activities.  When you get to 25 encounters, you will find out that only one or two have initiated a kind word of welcome to you into their sphere.

Do we fear other people?  Have we placed blinders on ourselves not to let others enter?  Have we totally lost the values of two generations ago? Do we just not care?  Those are heavy questions and it is not for me to try to answer them in this short essay.  What I do know is that our society will continue to crumble in violence if we don't rethink the message that Leo Buscaglia spent over two decades teaching and communicating to all strangers........ he welcomed into his life.

Leo's Love was not for the young and not for the old.  It was for everyone.  He once commented, "Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying; more refreshing; more valuable; more appreciated and more intoxicating."

So when you see a person coming out of the market....for Leo....stop and say hello....for the aged having trouble reaching an article on a high shelf...for Leo...stop and help.....for your young child that wants the new electronic "toy"....for Leo....stop and do not buy it but sit down with them....read to them.....read with them....and supply love.  Share the mystery of Freddie the Leaf with your young child...make today the Beginning of love in their lives.  To bring love to others is a risk but it is a risk worth taking.

“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot
learn, feel, change, grow or love.
Chained by his certitude, he is a slave; he has forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.” 
― Leo Buscaglia

Donald H. DeForge, VMD

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24May2013