KILLYHOMMON Primary School’s book of inspirational thoughts links twelve virtues: gratitude, love, hope, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, courage, happiness, beauty, integrity, faith and peace, as so eloquently explained by Sean Hoy in its foreword.

The fifth offering from staff, pupils and contributors provides words of wisdom for each month of the year ahead based on these virtues which form the meaning and purpose of our lives and are the recipe, as Mr. Hoy writes, “for a perfect life.” The importance of showing gratitude is examined in January, asking you how often you pause to appreciate what you have in your life, reminding you to pour your heart into the day, to practice compassion and to find out what gives you joy – and go there.

February, as you might expect, looks at the virtue of love with a stirring opening from Niamh McBrien on the words of William Shakespeare and mythology, writing: “We live one life, live it well, with someone who longs for you and you for them.” March is all about hope and how vital it is not to lose it, to always have faith, to take some comfort from the fact that trying times will pass, to put on smile, live through the pain and know it will pass.

The inspirational words of Martin Luther King begins April on the virtue of forgiveness: “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” This particular chapter looks at forgiveness and how you should look for ways that forgiveness might transform your life.

Five simple rules of happiness are included in May: Free your heart from hatred, free your mind from worries, live simply, give more and expect less. You are reminded to not find the things that make you happy but to create your own sunshine.

The virtue of courage is examined in June as you are asked to remember that you are stronger thank you think, that if you never try, you’ll never know and that nothing worth having comes easy.

July reflects on empathy, explaining – with the help of Elie Wiesel - that the greatest tragedy of human life must certainly be the indifference felt to suffering.

Kindness and compassion are outlined in August with the writer suggesting that at every level of society, the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion.

The words of C.S. Lewis begins September looking at the virtue of integrity and how it is all about doing the right thing “even if nobody is watching” while beauty is examined in October. One of the contributions reads: “Look for beauty in your working surroundings, on the journey to work, the flowers and trees, the beauty too of the others who share your working space.” November features the virtue of faith and includes this quote from Joyce Meyer: “Faith is the only thing I know of that is stronger than fear.” The book ends in December with a look at peace; reminding you that peace needs to be worked at, how inner peace makes us wise and how you should dedicate your day to doing good.

Eilleen McKenzie, the principal of Killyhommon Primary School, is thankful to all those who contributed to the book, including Sister Edel Bannon, Tim Flaherty, Sean Hoy, Sister Rose Marie Keenan, Rev. David Latimer, Regina Magee, Noelle McAlinden, Niamh McBrien Dr. Aideen McGinley, Fr. Jimmy McPhillips and many others.

‘Inspirational Thoughts 2015’, launched recently by journalist Denzil McDaniel, has been a huge success. To purchase a copy phone Killyhommon Primary School on 028 66 341 286.

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