Slow Havamal: 121

In verse 121, Odin counsels Loddfafnir not to be first to end a friendship, or else sadness will eat up his heart.

We saw in last week’s verse that sharing joyful talk with a friend will brighten our lives, and that joy may even heal us in certain ways. If that’s true, then it makes sense that we would want to hang on to those friendships. But no two people can expect to get along at all times. We have a bad day, say the wrong thing, or suffer some unintentional sleight. When this happens, Odin warns us not to be hasty in our response. We’ll live to regret it. ( Read more... )