"Love is always bestowed as a gift
freely, willingly and without expectation.
We don't love to be loved; we love
to love."
 |
Felice Leonardo Buscaglia
(31 March 1924 – 12 June 1998)
"The time to give the flowers in now...The time to make the phone call is now..."Τώρα είναι η στιγμή!
Ήταν επίσης ένας ακούραστος ταξιδευτής, που τον συνόδευε παντού η φήμη του περίφημου ομιλητή και καθηγητή, ενώ οι διαλέξεις του ακούγονται και σήμερα και -πιστεύω θα ακούγονται για πάντα- με ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον σε όλα τα μήκη και πλάτη του κόσμου. Σε όλα τα βιβλία του αλλά και στα πολλά τηλεοπτικά του προγράμματα ασχολείτο περισσότερο με τη δυναμική της αγάπης ως βασικός μοχλό στη διαμόρφωση μιας νέας ατομικής προσωπικότητας και κατα προέκταση στη δημιουργία μιας νέας, καλλίτερης, κοινωνίας. Ο Λέο Μπουσκάλια πέθανε ξαφνικά και σχετικά πρόωρα στο σπίτι του στο Glenbrook της Νεβάδα στις 11 Ιουνίου 1998 από καρδιακή προσβολή σε ηλικία 74 ετών, και η ανθρωπότητα απώλεσε μια προικισμένη και ακάματη φωνή, που μιλούσε και δίδασκε το πιο αγαπημένο και ταυτόχρονα το πιο κοινωνικά φλέγον ζήτημα. Την αγάπη. Βιβλιογραφία: Μια ανάμνηση για τον Τίνο. Προσωπικότητα και ολοκλήρωση. Η αγάπη. Άτομα με ειδικές ανάγκες και οι γονείς τους. Επτά ιστορίες χριστουγεννιάτικης αγάπης. Να αγαπάμε ο ένας τον άλλον. Ο δρόμος του Ταύρου. Να ζεις, να αγαπάς και να μαθαίνεις. Λεωφορείο 9 για τον Παράδεισο. Επειδή είμαι άνθρωπος. |
The following is excerpted from an article by Steven Short:
Buscaglia was teaching in the Department of Special Education
at the University of Southern California in the late 1960s when one of his
students committed suicide. She had been one of the sets of "kind
eyeballs" he always looked for in the large auditorium, because her
responses showed him that at least one student was hearing what he said, so the
news that she killed herself had a great impact on him. ["What are we
doing stuffing facts into people and forgetting that they are human
beings?"] This incident led him to form a non-credit class titled Love 1A.
There were no grades. (How could you potentially fail someone in this class?
That wouldn't be very loving!) The class led to lectures and a manuscript
loosely based on what was shared in those weekly classes. The book found a
publisher - and an author surprised to find that the simple title LOVE had
never previously been claimed, allowing him to say "I have the copyright
on LOVE!"
Buscaglia said he never taught this class, only facilitated
it, adding that he learned as much as anyone. Someone from a Public
Broadcasting System affiliate heard one of his talks and arranged to tape a
later presentation, eventually showing it during a pledge drive. The response
was so strong that it was presented to the national office for consideration.
There was great resistance, because a professor simply standing at a podium
lecturing was considered old-fashioned, something from the old days of
"educational television." Still, the message and delivery were so
compelling that they gave it a try, and Leo Buscaglia's warm presentations
touched viewers' hearts through the cool medium of television nearly as
effectively as they did in person. He has been called the "granddaddy of
motivational speakers" on television. His simple message delivered in a
dynamic style made him a popular guest on television talk shows, as well as on
the lecture circuit. At one time five of his books were on The New York Times
Best Sellers List simultaneously.
Leo Buscaglia was a cheerleader for life. "Life is a
banquet," he would say, quoting from the movie "Auntie Mame,"
" and most poor fools are starving to death." He was most closely
associated with the topic of love and human relationships, emphasizing the
value of positive human touch, especially hugs.
Born in Los Angeles,
Felice Leonardo Buscaglia (he later inverted the initials) was the youngest of
four children of Italian immigrants. He was raised Roman Catholic, and was
influenced by Buddhism in his adult life. The combination of physically
demonstrative love of life learned from his Mediterranean parents combined with
the inner reflection learned from travels and studies in Asia served him well.
The study of love
brought him to the study of life. "To live in love is to live in life, and
to live in life is to live in love." But this should never be done
passively. He wrote, "It's not enough to have lived. We should determine
to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others,
sharing what we have for the betterment of person kind, bringing hope to the
lost and love to the lonely." Only you will be able to discover, realize,
develop and actualize your uniqueness. And when you do, it's your duty to then
"give it away." *
* Full article by Steven Short can be read at www.buscaglia.com/biography
I do not remember the class or the name
of the professor but I never have forgotten being introduced to the delicious
writings and teachings of Leo Buscaglia.
It was in 1992 and I was blessed to be
able to watch him on public television and being interviewed on shows promoting
his latest book.
I read all his books and was forever changed
in a way that has continued to expand in scope since that time.
Leo Buscaglia was the personification of true love.
No I love you if or I’ll love you when...
Simply and Profoundly:
I love you because you are YOU.
PERIOD.
L. B., the doctor Love, is always alive in our hearts...
The art of being fully human
Bibliography:
A Memory For Tino
Personality And Integration
Love
People With Disabilities And Their Parents
Seven Stories Christmas Love
To Love Each Other
The Road Of Taurus
To Live, Love And Learn
Bus 9 To Paradise
Because I Am Man
L. B., the doctor Love, is always alive in our hearts...
The art of being fully human
The art of being fully human
Bibliography:
A Memory For Tino
Personality And Integration
Love
People With Disabilities And Their Parents
Seven Stories Christmas Love
To Love Each Other
The Road Of Taurus
To Live, Love And Learn
Bus 9 To Paradise
Because I Am Man