WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

August 11, 2024

Vol. 2, No. 32

MANTRAS AND MOTTOS

Over the past week, parents, grandparents, children, and others have continued sharing their fears and hopes for the school year. From school safety to being bullied to opportunities for new friends and new adventures, the conversations have given me pause. How can people from all walks of life have similar fears and hopes?

For all that divides us, there is much that unites us, not unlike “Mantras and Mottos.” A mantra is a sacred word, sound, or phrase derived from two Sanskrit roots; manas meaning “mind” and tra meaning “tool.”  Can a mantra also be a motto? Indeed it can, and mantra and motto are often used interchangeably. Both words capture a spirit, a purpose, or both.

The mantra for Bayles and Bruce is “Live, learn, love, read.” When founding Bayles and Bruce as a tribute to my late grandparents and my beloved granddog, I wanted a mantra to capture their essence. My late maternal grandparents traveled extensively, engaged in daily reading rituals, and shared many sweet notes between themselves and me. Adventures with granddog Bruce have been filled with love, learning, and living, often by simply curling up with Bruce to write and read.  

My grandfather used tools to focus the mind by reciting a phrase or sound. He also frequently shared stories about the people from the thirteen original colonies. When a single country was created from the colonies, the United States adopted the motto, “Out of many, one” from the Latin phrase, E Pluribus Unum.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Create a bookmark with a motto or mantra or read about the thirteen original colonies. Russell Shorto’s book, The Island at the Center of the World, provides a unique perspective of the role of the Dutch.

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[1] Copyright August 11, 2024. Winston Weekly is a weekly newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles and is available at www.baylesandbruce.com or by e-mail at baylesandbruce@gmail.com. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Alysen’s views are her own.