17 September 2002

This month's On Display topic is: "Thinking outside the box" has become a cliche. What's inside your box that's useful?

To think outside the box is to throw away one's preconceived notions and assumptions. But there are some assumptions that I'd rather not be without.

The most important things in life are the people you love, and the people who love you.

Though it is possible to do things that are wrong because of love, love itself is never wrong.

All love is unconditional. If you have to impose conditions on it, then it isn't love, but a lesser emotion.

Morality is relative, not absolute. What is wrong for one may be right for another. No person has the right to judge another's chosen lifestyle, though every person has the responsibility to keep their way of life from interfering with others'.

Life is not fair. It never has been, and it never will be. Would you really want it to be? Before you answer, think about all the people out there who may be more deserving than you. Good luck is nothing to be proud of. Bad luck is nothing to be ashamed of.

Extremes cannot exist without each other. There can be nothing beautiful if there is not also something ugly. There can be no good if there is no evil. There can be no sky if there is no ground. There can be no peak if there is no valley.

Everyone dreams. Everyone hopes. Everyone fears. Everyone loves.

Everyone has a box.

--Liz