09/06/2025
🌟 Katharine Hepburn, in her own words 🌟
“Once, when I was a teenager, my father and I stood in line to buy circus tickets. Ahead of us was a family of ten — two parents and eight children, all under the age of twelve.
You could tell they didn’t have much money, but their clothes were neat and clean. The children were excited, holding hands, their eyes filled with wonder at the thought of clowns, animals, and dazzling acts. It was clear this was going to be the highlight of their young lives.
The father stood tall, proud, and smiling. The mother clung to his hand, looking at him like he was her knight in shining armor. When the ticket lady asked how many tickets they needed, he proudly said, ‘Eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets.’
But then came the price. The mother’s smile faded, her head dropped. The father’s lip quivered as he quietly asked her to repeat it. He didn’t have enough money. And the thought of turning to his children to say they couldn’t go in was heartbreaking.
My father saw it instantly. Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and let it fall to the ground. He bent down, picked it up, tapped the man on the shoulder, and said, ‘Excuse me, sir, this must have fallen out of your pocket.’
The man looked straight at my father, understanding the kindness without the sting of charity. With tears in his eyes, he squeezed my dad’s hand and whispered, ‘Thank you, sir. This really means so much to me and my family.’
We never saw the circus that night. The $20 my father gave was what we had saved for our own tickets. But as we drove home, we felt something far greater than any performance could offer — the joy of giving.
That day I learned one of life’s greatest truths: the giver is greater than the receiver.
If you want to be great, greater than life itself, learn to give. Love is not about what you expect to receive — it’s about what you give, freely and fully. 💖✨”
~ Katharine Hepburn