August 19, 2013

A great wind

"A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or headache."
     ~Catherine The Great~


     There are two ways we can approach times of turmoil and upheaval: as opportunities for new ideas and new actions or as excuses for withdrawing from life and avoiding risk.
     People with creativity and imagination often thrive in times of great change. People who don't consider themselves creative or imaginative tend to be concerned only with hunkering down and protecting themselves.

I won't let troubled times get the best of me. I'll treat them as a challenge to come up with new ideas.

August 10, 2013

Respecting Others

"It is terrible to destroy a person's picture of himself in the interests of truth or some other abstraction."
     ~Doris Lessing~

     Isn't the truth always best? When we're talking about ourselves, it is. But we don't need to hurt others in our desire to be truthful. 
     Maybe we're annoyed that our neighbor poses as an intellectual when he clearly isn't. Maybe we giggle when we see a woman who wants to be considered attractive but is dressed inappropriately. Maybe we know that an achievement a child is proud of means little. But we do no good by telling the truth in these circumstances. And we may do great harm.

Even when I'm short-tempered, I will respect others' self-esteem. I can argue without trying to destroy the self-image of those I argue with. 

August 8, 2013

Love Within Reach

"When we cannot get what we love, we must love what is within our reach."
     ~French Proverb~


     Learning to love what we have, rather than what we would like to have, is not a matter of giving up or compromising. It's a matter of maturing.
     We set our goals high, and we should. We work diligently towards our goals, and we should. But if we don't realize all of our goals, should we live our lives with bitterness and regret? How much richer would our lives be if we could appreciate the blessings that we already have?

I will love my life for what it is rather than regretting it for what it is not.

August 7, 2013

Self-disclosure

"If you do not tell the truth about yourself, you cannot tell it about other people."
     ~Virginia Woolf~

When we recognize our own flaws-and our own strengths - and can share them with others, we have more credibility when we assess the flaws and strengths of those around us. In fact, we have more credibility in all that we do when we are honest about ourselves with others.

I know what I do well and what I don't do well. I know the mistakes I've made in the past and the successes I've had. I don't need to paint a false picture to others. I can tell my story just as it is.

August 6, 2013

Laughing With Friends

"That is the best - to laugh with someone because you think the same things are funny."
     ~Gloria Vanderbilt~


     Friendships often are forged by laughter. Someone with the same sense of humor is likely to have other similarities we value.
     We look forward to getting together with longtime friends to enjoy a great roar of laughter. We know each other well enough, have spent enough time together, to understand each other's sense of humor. The funniest stories we share are those about ourselves and the things we've done together.

I will laugh today with people I love.

My thoughts: Best thing in the world right there. Laughing with someone you love to the point that your stomach hurts and you're gasping for air. Don't ever let a moment like that slip through your fingers.

August 4, 2013

Boredom

"Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; serenity, that nothing is."
     ~Thomas Szasz~


     It's all a matter of attitude: A day with nothing to do stretches in front of us. We get antsy, aimlessly wandering around the house, watching television, or flipping through magazines. We have a few big sighs, wonder what our friends are doing, and begin to beat ourselves up for being so lazy. Can't wait for the day to end.
     Or we can see the day as a gift. No responsibilities, no plans. We can savor the morning cup of coffee, take a long walk with no destination in mind, listen to our favorite piece of music, write an entry in our journal - all of the things we say we're too busy to do most of the time.

I don't need to be busy to avoid being bored. I will let myself enjoy just being.

August 3, 2013

Ingenuity

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
     ~General George S. Patton~


     We have expectations about how things are supposed to be done, and we want others to meet those expectations. Dishes should be stacked just so. Dust first, then vacuum (or is it the other way around?). No, don't take that road; it's too slow.
     When we force our ideas onto others though, we not only show that we don't respect them, we miss out on discovering new and interesting ways to accomplish things.

If I trust others to do things their way, I may find that their way is better than mine.

My thoughts: This seems to black-and-white to me. I believe that there are times when it is better, and perhaps safer, to follow what someone says. But more often than not, it is better to let people go and do it however they may. Enjoy the new and uncomfortable feeling!

August 2, 2013

Bringing Peace

"First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others."
     ~Thomas A Kepmis~

     We tell our friends to calm down, stop worrying, remember that life is good. But the admonitions don't mean much unless we can follow them ourselves.
     Finding a way to be peaceful, to accept our worries and our problems without fretting, is a constant challenge for all of us. Peacefulness is contagious, though. Once we find it, it has a way of spreading on its own to others.

I can create a moment of peace for myself every day, just sitting quietly and letting myself relax.

My thoughts: I think this society is really lacking an emphasis on loving who you are and that you are GOOD ENOUGH. You are enough just as you are. Knowing that will bring you so much peace that everything else will fall in place. It can be very hard to remember, though. Try to find things that make you feel good enough and keep them in your life because they will lift you higher. Have an amazing day, everybody!

July 31, 2013

In The Race

"I've got something inside of me, peasantlike and stubborn, and I'm in it till the end of the race."
     ~Truman Capote~


     We don't have to make elaborately detailed plans about how we're going to lead our lives (although it's good to do some planning along the way). We can simply set a course and pledge to hang in there, whatever comes. This, in the end, is the most courageous and powerful thing we can say.

I am here and I'm staying. Whatever life throws at me, I will not be stopped.

My thoughts: This is so important for many people. Too many people give up on things and it eventually leads to their unhappiness, whether they blame it on something else or not. You are responsible for your situation. Take control of the wheel and never let go. As long as you can see where you're going, you don't have to be able to see the final destination. :) Make today count! :D

July 30, 2013

Small Differences

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences we often cannot foresee."
     ~Marian Wright Edelman~

     There are so many problems in the world, how do we bigin to make a dent in fixing them? It's so easy to become discouraged when we think about how much there is to do and how little there is to do it with.
     But we can do something. If we can't afford to give $100 to a charity, $10 is better than nothing. If we can't volunteer our time every week, even a few hours a year helps. And if enough of us act this way, we can change the world.

Every day, I can do something to better the world, even if it's just offering a kind word to someone who needs it.

My thoughts: We're all in this together. Lend a helping hand, and do the best you can. Don't set out to build a wall. No, don't start there. Just lay one brick, just one, as perfectly as a brick can be laid. If you do that every day, eventually you will have a wall. 

July 29, 2013

Waiting For Success

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."
     ~Jonathan Winters~


     Too often we try to postpone our lives while we wait to reach one goal or another. We put off dating until we've lost a certain amount of weight. We wait to have people over for dinner until we can afford nicer furniture. We delay having children until we're more successful in our career.
     But life doesn't wait. It just keeps going, whether we're where we want to be or not.

I like the idea of throwing myself into life - success or no success.

My thoughts: I agree wholeheartedly with this. The moment will never be quite right, so whatever you wanna do, just go DO IT! Time is always ticking down, so you gotta take advantage of every moment you've got! Have an amazing day, everyone! :)

July 26, 2013

Being with children

"The soul is healed by being with children."
     ~Fyodor Dostoyevski~


     A good cure for being bored, frustrated, or depressed is to spend some time with children. Everything is new to them - and this fresh outlook can be catching. Walking with a child, we can see again. as if for the first time, the bright beauty of the flowers, the relentless diligence of insencts, the myriad shapes of clouds. 
     Children make us slow down, to match their gait. They ask questions - questions we may have forgotten we know the answers to. Their young eyes notice things we have not really looked at for years.

When I am with children - my own or someone else's - I'll pay attention to them and to what they bring into my life.

My thoughts: Children are so full of energy, hope, and blind trust! Be more like them! If you spend time with children, you WILL feel younger. Go be with them and enjoy that time! Have an amazing day!

July 24, 2013

Giving of Ourselves

"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
     ~Kahlil Gibran~


     When a charity asks for our help, it's easy to write a check. When a friend is ill, it's easy to send a card or gift.
     But it would mean a lot more - to the charity and to our friend - if we gave of ourselves instead of our money. It would also mean a lot more to us. We waste so much time in meaningless activities: watching television, gossiping, fretting about things we can't change. If we could devote just part of this time to helping others, we'd all be better off.

I tell myself I"m too busy to volunteer or to volunteer more than I do. But if I look at my schedule carefully, I can find the time.

My thoughts: Get out there and help someone! It truly is helpful to people to have someone there to rely on and help them, even if it's just for one day. Being a volunteer in any community is worthwhile. It'll make you feel better, too, not just the other person! Have an amazing day, my friends! Stay positive !! :D

July 23, 2013

Looking Around

"Do not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness."
     ~James Thurber~


     We look back in anger at the people who've hurt us, the furstrations we've felt, the bad luck we've endured. We look forward in fear at the possiblilty that we might lose our job, contract a disease, or suffer the death of a loved one.
     The place we need to be is right here, right now - not looking anxiously at what has been or what might be, but fully aware of what is.

I take a deep breath, knowing that I'm lucky to be alive. I have survived challenges in the past and will survive challenges in the future. Nothing need distract me from living my life today.

July 22, 2013

Taking Time

"No great thing is created suddenly."
     ~Epictetus~


     It takes time to build a relationship, a career, a house. If we try to speed the process up, we're likely to become frustrated. Worse, we may build something that is less than what we had hoped for.

As I put together the pieces of my life, I recognize that I cannot - and should not - hurry the important things. I want whatever I build to be sturdy and long-lasting.

My thoughts: This is so, so important to remember! It's not good to become discouraged when it doesn't all come together in one piece at one time. The greatest things in life will take a long time to build. This reminds me of a Will Smith quote. He said, "Don't set out to build a wall. You don't start there. Instead, say, I'm going to lay this one brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid. If you do that every day, pretty soon you have a wall." Don't be afraid to come back to something the next day! But right now is GO TIME! Go lay your brick today! :D Have an amazing day! :D

July 21, 2013

Progress

"Whenever you take a step forward, you are bound to disturb something."
     ~Indira Gandhi~


     The path of "true anything" isn't always smooth. Almost any aspect of our life can be disturbed as we pursue and accomplish goals that are important to us. Going to college may mean separating our parents. A promotion may mean a different relationship with coworkers. Marriage may mean losing - and gaining - friends.
     The only way to prevent such disturbances would be to avoid ever taking a step forward. But who wants to stand in one place?

I recognize that each time I step forward, I may stir things up. I can't avoid these disturbances, but I can accept them and move on.

My thoughts: Yeah! Absolutely! Change is an amazing part of life and we are truly blessed to see things change! Life would be so boring without change. Sometimes, it is very disturbing to us to see change, and in times like these, we must try to keep things  in perspective and realize that it may be for the better. 

Have an absolutely amazing day! :D

July 20, 2013

Desire

"If men could regard the events of their own lives with more open minds, they would frequently discover that they did not really desire the things they failed to obtain."
     ~Andre Maurois~


     We desire things we think will make us happy. Maybe it's something we want to own - a larger house, for example. Or maybe it's something we want to do - swim the English Channel. But often, fulfilling our desires is less satisfying than we'd imagined.
     Why is this so? Some of the things we think we want exist largely in our imagination. No reality could ever compete with teh fantasy we've created about the objects of our desire.

I will not let my desire for things I don't have keep me from appreciating those I do. There's a good chance I don't really want some things as much as I think I do.

My thoughts: I believe that we need to accept that the world is flawed and people are flawed, and that no matter how much we may want a certain thing or a certain person in our lives, sometimes it won't happen. It may not be a fault of their own, but of the circumstances around them. Movies sometimes put our standards too high because the script is set and the conditions are always perfect for them. We all know that's not true in life. All you can do is try your best and be the best you can be. That, by itself, should be enough to bring your desires to you.

July 19, 2013

A Leap In The Dark

"All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous, unpremeditated act without benefit of experience."
     ~Henry Miller~


     Our experience helps us make wiser choices, and making wiser choices allows us to take fewer risks. But we stagnate unless we take an occasional leap in the dark - without planning for it, without analyzing it in advance. We don't know exactly where we're going to land. We just know we have to reach out, take a chance, and see what happens.

I'm generally cautious, and that's a good thing. But I recognize that sometimes I just have to go ahead and try something new. Even if things don't go well, I will have learned something important from taking the chance.

My thoughts: GO FOR IT! :D Go take risks, be uncomfortable, learn new things! Especially if you're young. Don't ever learn to grow up. Growing old is inevitable, but growing up is optional. Learn to live with abandon and just do things you want to do just because; you don't need any other reason. GO! LIVE! :D Have an amazing day!

July 18, 2013

Charm

"A beauty is a woman you notice; a charmer is one who notices you."
     ~Adlai Stevenson~


     We admire the life of the party, the person who attracts others with his or her wit and wisdom. We envy the "looker", the person who attracts others with his or her beauty and physical attributes.
     But the people we really want to be around are teh ones who show an interest in us. When they ask about our likes and dislikes, laugh at our jokes, compliment our appearance, we feel good about them - and ourselves.

I won't worry about whether I'm having a good time at an event. I'll see what I can do to help others enjoy themselves.


My thoughts: It's all about love. The more we can learn to love one another, the more we will spread these wonderful feelings to each other. You won't have to worry about making sure you're having a good time at the party, because everyone else will be doing that for you, just like you're doing for them. There's a lot of love in that. Even if we can't change everyone, we can change ourselves, and sometimes, that's enough. :) Have a wonderful Thursday! I love you all!

July 17, 2013

Trying Again

"Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting."
     ~Christopher Morley~


     Few people simply leap to the top of their profession. Most get there incrementally - step by step, experience by experience, and even mistake by mistake. If we give up, we fail for certain. To have even a chance at success, we have to keep reloading and taking aim at our target.

Instead of complaining about how frustrating my failures are and how others seem to have it so much better than me, I will just keep plugging along towards what I want.

July 16, 2013

Blindness

"One may have good eyes and yet see nothing."
     ~Italian Proverb~


     Driving the same roads over and over, we stop noticing the people, homes, yards, and buildings along the way. We work with the same people for years but never see them as anything more than a reflection of the work they do. We've gotten so used to doing things a certain way, we can't see that there are better ways of doing these things - if we would just open our eyes.
     To truly see what's around us, we have to make an effort. Life is too short to take the world for granted.

I will deliberately open my eyes to see the world.

July 15, 2013

Opposition

"A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, not with, the wind."
     ~John Neal~


     We like it when other people agree with us. But we tend to make our biggest mistakes when no one offers any alternative ideas for what we're planning to do. Even though we don't like it much when others question our ideas, it's often what prods us to lok harder at those ideas, to refine and improve them.

I am glad that some people in my life are willing to argue with me, even when - or especially when - I'm convinced I know exactly what I'm doing. 


My thoughts: I agree with this. But be careful not to just argue with people all the time about whose idea is better or that will cause a lot of tension in your personal relationships. Have a great day! :D

July 14, 2013

Bad Luck

"Those that are afraid of bad luck will never know good."
     ~Russian Proverb~


     Life is a gamble. There's now way around it. You can't know good luck unless we're willing to risk having bad luck. And bad luck can come whether we take any risks or not. Clearly, we are better off taking an occasional risk - if we want to learn, grow, and become a better person.

I worry about what might happen to me, but I know I need to extend myself and take some chances if I am going to have a full life.

My thoughts: To me, this post is more or less saying that it is better to go out there and try instead of not. Which really speaks towards failure. Be willing to risk failure in whatever you are doing in the chance that you might succeed. As the quote goes, "You'll never know until you try!" It's all about experience in my opinion. :) Go out there and make some mistakes if you want! It's all part of learning and living life! :D

July 13, 2013

Through the Window

"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world."
     ~George Bernard Shaw~


     We perceive the world through the unique lens of our own beliefs and feelings. This is why we can see things so differently from our closest friend of the person who lives next door.
     Our perspective can enhance our experience of the world - or distort it. To see th eworld clearly, we must continually examine and test our beliefs and assumptions so that we are not blinded by the fog of prejudice or the darkness of ignorance.

I want to see the world clearly. I will not let my vision be dulled by apathy, prejudice, or ignorance.

My thoughts: Stay positive. Keep a positive mental attitude. :)

July 12, 2013

Summer's Song

"In summer, the song sings itself."
     ~William Carlos Williams~


     The sounds of birds chirping, insects humming, leaves rustling, rain falling, children playing, dogs barking... We may be stuck inside during he winter months, but summer blurs the boundaries between inside and outside.
     No matter where we live, summer is a special season. It's a time of richness, warmth, freedom, ease, and pleasure - a time when all of our senses are fully engaged.

I'm happy that it's summer. I want to drink in as much of it as I can.

My thoughts: This post sounds like someone's a little biased towards summer ;) Nah, but they do have a point. There are a lot of people that absolutely love summer. As much as we all complain about how hot it is, or how itchy our sunburns are, summer has more good than bad to it. There are beautiful birds singing, the sun is shining, flowers are in full bloom, the beach is a perfect destination, and things seem possible. All of us younger peeps love the summer because it means a chance to take a break and relax for a little while. Summer is a good season.

July 11, 2013

Room At The Top

"There is always room at the top."
     ~Daniel Webster~


     In a zero-sum game, no one can win without someone else suffering a corresponding loss. Fortunately, life is ont a zero-sum game, though there are some who seem to believe that it is. We don't have to push others aside to be winners. And we don't have to enjoy our successes alone. In fact, sharing our successes with others can make them much more meaningful and pleasurable.

I want to succeed - and to include other with me as I do.

My thoughts: Once again, I totally agree with this post. I think it's a very powerful thing to share experiences with others, and feel the power of a moment together. It helps keep things in perspective and also helps us work on a better feeling of community. :) Love your friends and accomplish things together. It's much more fulfilling. :) Have a wonderful day, everyone! :D

July 10, 2013

Asking For Nothing

"We never reflect on how pleasant it is to ask for nothing."
     ~Seneca~


     It can be very unpleasant to ask others for the things we need. Often what we ask for is given freely and with love, but we are still uncomfortable asking for it. We tend to feel weak or inferior when we have to ask others for help.
     What we rarely think about, though, is how pleasant it is not to ask for someone else's help. Not needing is a good feeling, but not needing to ask may be an even better feeling.

I will not be embarrassed about asking for help when I need it, but I will also appreciate the times when I don't have to ask for anything.

My thoughts: I think that the heart of this post is really saying this: "Trust yourself." You should know when you need help, and when you don't. Ya know? Don't be too proud to ask for help when you need it, but trust yourself that you can rely on yourself to get things done. I think this post should have more emphasis on the idea that it IS actually okay to ask for help. Too much of our society is closed off in a personal endeavor mental attitude, and I think it actually hinders progress versus help it. We are stronger together. Don't be afraid to ask for help :D Have a wonderful day!

July 9, 2013

Community

"There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community."
     ~M. Scott Peck~


     Most of us are hesitant when we first join a new community. Will we fit in? Do we want to let the other members of the community into our lives? What does becoming a member of the community say about us? These are important questions to consider.
     But we can't make the world a better place except by working with others. And we can't work with others if we merely stand in the background judging and withholding. We must be willing to risk vulnerability if we want to be an engaged member of a real community.

I am willing to risk being vulnerable because I believe in the power of community.

My thoughts: I absolutely love this post. I think it is a very real thing that everybody everywhere deals with, and if they don't, it's because they are stuck in routine. Everyone wants to be liked wherever they go, and I think it's engrained into us as humans based on our will to survive. We know that being in groups and having others to depend on makes it far easier to not just survive, but to thrive. 
     However, there are over 7 billion people on this planet, and I can guarantee you that you can find people to accept you as you are. I know that 'being yourself' is such a cliche thing to say, but it is for a reason. It is such a hard thing to do, but I think that if we can get to that point, everything becomes easier. I struggle with this myself as well. I wonder if my music is going to be well-liked or accepted by others, or if I look good, or if I wrote a paper that my teacher will like. The problem with this is that we start living to others standards instead of our own. We need to take accountability in our lives and let the people in our lives lift us higher instead of standing back and judging everything we do. The entire world truly is one big community. It's time that each one of us start acting like it. I'm here being vulnerable on this blog in a way. I love positivity, and I believe in it. Take it or leave it. :) (As an example.) So what do you love? Who are YOU? ...Great. Now go show the world.

Side note: I sincerely apologize for missing a couple days this weekend. I will work to be better about this. :)

July 4, 2013

Freedom

"You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free."
     ~Clarence Darrow~



     Great societies are founded on the idea that everyone's freedom is important. Not freedom for the wealthy or freedom for the powerful, but freedom for everyone.
     We don't always realize how we put our own freedoms at risk when we acquiesce to others losing theirs. "It won't happen to us," we say. "We're not doing anything wrong. We've got nothing to worry about." But history gives us many examples of freedoms lost, bit by bit, because people thought it couldn't happen to them.

I enjoy my freedom and know that it is something I need to protect. I will be as vigilant about protecting the freedoms of others as I am about my own.

My thoughts: Be thankful for your freedom! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE! :D

July 3, 2013

Laughing Together

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
     ~Victor Borge~


     Make someone laugh, and we've made a friend. We're drawn to people who are amused by the same things that amuse us. It's a sign of other common interests and a similar outlook on life.

I enjoy laughing with new people. It helps me get to know them.

July 2, 2013

 Keeping Quiet

"There's nothing wrong with having nothing to say - unless you insist on saying it."
     ~Anonymous~


     The people we dread sitting next to at parties aren't the silent ones. However reticent the person next to us may be, we can usually find something to say. Or we can at least sit there in quiet companionship.
     No, the people we dread are the ones who insist on filling every moment with the sound of their own voices. They babble on about everything while saying nothing, and we can't wait to find an excuse to get away from them.

I don't need to fill in every gap in every conversation. I can listen to others or just sit quietly. No one will think there's something wrong with me if I'm quiet - but they might if I insist on talking all the time.


My thoughts: I don't really like this post much at all! I think what they are trying to say is a very good point, but this was not said in a very good manner at all. I think what's more important is to realize that everyone is different and we should try to be compatible as much as we can with that instead of saying the other person is at fault and needs to 'shut up'. 

July 1, 2013

Experience

"Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him."
     ~Aldous Huxley~



     We all know people who have gone through experiences that should have made them stronger, more interesting, more confident, or more empathetic. Yet somehow they've passed through the experiences seemingly unphased.
     We should see such people as cautionary examples of what happens when we fail to actively engage in the world. Our experiences are not going to do anything for us unless we choose to do something with our experiences.

I will try to see every new experience as a chance to learn about myself and grow into a better person.

My thoughts: I think it is a very important thing to learn from experiences and allow them to shape you into a better person, but I think this post is a little too black and white for me to fully accept it. I don't believe everyone who isn't a 'better' person from their experiences isn't living. They may have had enough of whatever they're going through that they choose not to deal with it anymore. Or they've learned not to let something painful affect them. To say that someone is 'failing to actively engage in the world' is not entirely fair. Don't let this quote get you down! Everyone has their own way of interacting with the world :) It's up to you what kind of live you live. Experiences will shape you, and who you are is influenced by your past, but it's ultimately up to you. You choose your life, you choose who surrounds you, you choose what you do, you choose how you do it. Do something you're proud of. :)

June 30, 2013

Being Ourselves

"The easiest thing in the world is to be you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position."
     ~Leo Buscaglia~


     The urge to please is powerful, even when it pushes us to be someone we are not. When we try too hard to please, however, we usually fail to please anyone - not the person we were aiming to please and certainly not ourselves.
     If people can't accept us for who we are, then we have to ask ourselves why we would want to have a relationship with them to begin with. We should never have to be inauthentic to earn someone's love or respect.

I am who I am. While I can always improve, I will not let anyone try to make me what they want me to be.


My thoughts: I think the quote in this entry is a little out of perspective. I think that it has become very hard to be ourselves in this society. Everyone looks for acceptance and approval from others, and it's a natural human instinct. We need to learn where to draw the line before it becomes harmful to ourselves. It's important for you to accept yourself as you are. All your flaws, skills, talents, wishes, dreams, everything. Be happy with who you are. But don't be afraid to change for the better. Make sure it's on your terms though and not someone else's.

June 29, 2013

What We Eat

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are."
     ~Anthelme Brillat-Savarin~


     If we skip breakfast and grab fast food for lunch, what do we think of ourselves? If we eat a dinner of popcorn and soda while standing over the sink, what do we think of ourselves? If we repeatedly gorge ourselves on the comfort foods of our youth, what do we think of ourselves?
     What and how we eat says a lot about us - and how we feel. We do not have to treat ourselves badly, eating food that neither nourishes nor delights us. We can change what and how we eat - and, in the process, what we think of ourselves.

I will respect myself - and take care of my body - by eating appropriately and enjoying what I eat.


My thoughts: I don't think this is as black and white as this entry makes it seem. It's okay to eat bad food; just don't do it all the time. You should be able to enjoy what you eat. But you do only have one body, and the better of shape it's in, the better you will feel, and your quality of life will increase. Enjoy food, but don't become gluttonous. 

June 28, 2013

Finding Fault

"To find a fault is easy; to do better may be difficult."
     ~Plutarch~


     We all like to criticize, even if we have no idea how we would do any better than those we're criticizing. Sure, some people deserve to be criticized. But we could fofer our criticism with a little humillity, especially when we know that people are doing the best that they can and that we could probably not do any better ourselves.

I will try not to criticize someone unless I can offer a better solution.

June 27, 2013

Preparedness

"In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind."
     ~Louis Pasteur~



     Few people really "have all the luck". Most of those we envy have set the stage for their successes. They were ready for luck to come along because they'd studied or saved or watched for opportunities and then seized the moment. We can prepare ourselves for luck as well. In fact, we'd better, or we may find ourselves out of luck in the long run.

I can't be lucky in life if I don't create circumstances that will allow me to prevail.

Seeing beauty - June 26, 2013

Seeing Beauty


"I never saw an ugly thing in my life; for let the form of an object be what it may - light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful."
     ~John Constable~


     Beauty- and ugliness- really are in the eye of the beholder. We can dismiss things in our lives as flawed and ugly. Or we can choose to see them in a different light that reveals their strengths and beauty.

If I'm tempted to dismiss something - or someone - as not worth my time, I will give it  or them a second look, from a different perspective  I may have found someone uninteresting because I simply wasn't asking the right questions.

The web of deception - June 25, 2013

The Web of Deception

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."
      ~Sir Walter Scott~


     It starts with just a little fib: "Oh, we can't go to your party, sorry. Nothing serious, just a sore throat and a little fever, but we really don't want to spread any germs.  Now we've got the evening to ourselves, and we didn't have to hurt anyone's feeling by saying no. 
     But then the fib grows. Our friends send over some chicken soup. We get a phone call asking if we're feeling better. Someone who went to the party runs into us the next week and expresses sympathy over our illness. It would have been a lot easier either to go to the party or to simply say that we preferred to stay home. 

Even small lies get complicated quickly. I'm better off being as honest as I can be.

June 24, 2013 - Perspective of Age

Perspective of Age

"The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did as twenty has wasted thirty years of his life."
     ~Muhammad Ali~


     What adult over thirty doesn't like to be thought of as youthful? It flatters us when others assume that we're younger than we are. Being young at heart, though  shouldn't mean being young at mind. If your perspective on the world doesn't widen and deepen as we age, then we're squandering the most valuable asset life has to offer.


I loved my younger years, but I also love how experience has informed my judgement and made me a wiser person.

Stay young at heart and do a few some of this: Go ahead, take chances. Tell the truth. Date someone out of the blue. Say no. Spend all your cash. Get to know someone random. Be random. Say I love you. Sing out loud. Laugh at stupid jokes. Cry. Apologize. Tell someone how much they mean to you. Tell a jerk what you think. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Live Life. Regret Nothing.

June 23, 2013 - The Gift of Friendship

The Gift of Friendship

"A friend is a gift you give yourself."
     ~Robert Louis Stevenson~



     Friends give us their friendship and all that goes with it: laughter, support, loyalty  trust, companionship, sympathy, new interests. When we give friendship, we get friendship in return. It truly is a gift we give ourselves. Unfortunately, it's easy to become so busy, self-absorbed, or cautious that we shut ourselves off to the possibility of making new friends. Sometimes we even shut ourselves off to friends we already have. Opening ourselves to friendship takes time and commitment, and it involves some risk- but oh, the possibilities!

I will try to be open to new friendships, maybe even unlikely friendships.

June 22, 2013 - Seeking Goals

A note from the blogger: Hello, everyone! I must apologize for becoming lazy with this blog and not keeping it up! I found my book the other day and realized I should start this again. So here it is, starting with this quote for June 22 about seeking goals! I know where I'm headed! I'm dedicated to putting up the quote every day! :) Hope that you guys will share this blog! :D 

Peace, Kyle

Seeking Goals

"If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him."
     ~Seneca~


     It's surprising how easy it can be to just let life send us careening this way and that, as if our boat has lost its rudder. We complain every step of the way, of course, about how bad our luck is, how nothing is turning out the way we want. How can we be disappointed about where we land when we didn't know where we were going in the first place?


If I want my life to make sense, I need to start with a mental map of what direction I want to go.

March 30, 2013 - Dancing Every Day

Dancing Every Day

"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance."
     ~Oprah Winfrey~


     When opportunity presents itself, we need to be willing to stand up, take a breath, and commit ourselves to it wholeheartedly, even at the risk of looking a little silly. Life is short. Let's engage it as passionately as we can.

I want to dance today. And so I will. Maybe I'll dance by myself, or maybe I'll grab someone I love and have them dance with me.

HAPPY

Oh, and I forgot all the happy sloths!

Admit it.. you liked it.

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We always think we have time

Life is shorter than you think. Stop wasting time on things that don't matter. Love everyone and spend time with those that are closest to you. Never take people, events, materials, or most of all, time, for granted. Time is always running out.

March 29, 2013 - Being Satisfied

Being Satisfied

"You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy."
     ~Eric Hoffer~


     More. We always want more. More possessions, more money, more popularity - whatever it is, we think we don't have enough of. If we just had more, we'd be happy.
     We should know better. If what we have of something right now isn't giving us any happiness, why should more of it give us happiness? More of nothing is still nothing.

Today I will find satisfaction in things I already have. Before I look for more of something, I'll make sure that it is something I know brings me happiness.

March 28, 2013 - High Inspirations

High Inspirations

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow them."
     ~Louisa May Alcott~


     We set simple goals for what we need to do today or this week, writing them on a to-do list: buy groceries, pick up the dry cleaning, wash the car. It feels good to accomplish these things, but they aren't the kind of goals by which we hope to define our legacy.
     Our long-term goals should reflect our highest aspirations - goals that we can reach only if we stretch ourselves, do the best we can, and be the best that we can be.


I will write down my long-term goals and put the list where I can see it easily to remind me of what I hope to accomplish in my life.

March 27, 2013 - Positive Attitude

Positive Attitude

"A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."
     ~Patricia Neal~


     We don't understand entirely why positive thoughts impact our bodies in positive ways, we just know that they do. Research has shown that people who are sick improve more quickly when they have a positive attitude rather than a negative attitude. And we all know the power of the placebo effect.
     A positive attitude by itself may not cure an illness, but at the very least it helps us cope better. If a positive attitude can help us when we're sick, how might it benefit us when we're not sick?

I can face whatever comes today with a positive attitude.

March 26, 2013 - Politeness and Friendship

Politeness and Friendship

"It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanism of friendship."

     ~Colette~

     Friends are the people we can just kick back with. We don't have to treat them special; they'll love us anyway. So we take them for granted. No need to clean up, watch our language, or listen to them respectfully. That's the kind of stuff we save for the people we don't know very well.

     Why is it we so often treat the people closest to us with the least care? We're polite to the waitress who beings us coffee, but we can't spare a happy smile for our best friend because we're in a bad mood.

I'll experiment with treating my closest friends just as nicely as I treat the many strangers and casual acquaintances in my life. My friends may be surprised at my sudden politeness, but I'll bet they like it.

March 25, 2013 - The Cost Of Anger

The Cost of Anger

"Anger can be an expensive luxury."

     ~Italian Proverb~

     Ever notice how many mistakes we make when we let ourselves get angry? We drop a dish while cleaning the kitchen, back the car into a pole while we're trying to park, yell at a person who didn't do anything wrong. Such mistakes just make us angrier - only now we're angry at ourselves as well.

     We can decide not to be angry in the first place, or we can release our anger as quickly as possible. This doesn't mean that we have to let others take advantage of us. It simply means putting things in perspective so we can act calmly and constructively rather than angrily.

I don't have to get angry, even if it seems justified. Instead, I can think about why I'm upset, whether there's something useful to do about it, and what steps to take next.

March 24, 2013 - Doing Our Best

Doing Our Best

"'I have done my best.' That is about all the philosophy of living one's needs."

     ~Lin Yutang~

     We don't always do our best. Sometimes we rush through an unpleasant taks, put in a half-hearted effort on a menial task, or fail to finish a task we weren't required tod o. We know when we're not doing our best, and it tends to make us feel bad.

     Our lives are very complicated. Maybe we can't always do things perfectly. But we can try to do our best, even if we're the only ones who know it.

I may not always be able to do things as well as I would like, but I can still try to do the best I can, given the time and priorities I have.

March 23, 2013 - Our Potential

Our Potential

"There are admirable potentialities in every human being. Believe in your strength and your youth. Learn to repeat endlessly to yourself, 'It all depends on me.'"

     ~Andre Gide~

     Young or not, we can believe in ourselves and in our ability to get things done. The alternative - to be convinced that whatever we do makes no difference - gets us nowhere.

     Positive self-talk, like that of the locomotive in The Little Engine That Could ("I think I can, I think I can") can be surprisingly effective. Just as surprising is how often we forget this.

I will keep telling myself that I can make things happen, that what I do is important, until I believe it.

March 22, 2013 - Perspective

Perspective

"We are all something, but none of us are everything."
     ~Blaise Pascal~


     Do we think too much of ourselves - or too little? We may have tendencies towards one end of the spectrum or the other. Or we may go back and forth between two extremes, convinced of our importance one day and our insignificance the next.
     We all have a place in the world that is significant; we all matter. The trick is not to think that we matter more than anyone else in the world.

I can be happy with my place in the world, without distorting it one way or another.

March 21, 2013 - Friends' Recognition

Friends' Recognition

"The best mirror is an old friend."

     ~George Hubert~

     Those who've known us the longest can tell us the truth about ourselves - even when it's truth we might not want to hear. They see us clearly - the good and the bad - and they recognize when we are being phony or overly impressed with ourselves. We need to see our true selves reflected this way.

I'm lucky to have longtime friends who know me and aren't afraid to tell me the truth about myself.

Stay Happy!!

Stay Happy!

March 20, 2013 - Trying To Be Happy

Trying to Be Happy 

"If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we'd have a pretty good time."

     ~Edith Wharton~

     We can spend a lot of time, money, and energy trying to make ourselves happy - eating fancy meals, going on expensive vacations, throwing big parties, buying nice clothes. We think these things will bring us happiness but often our happiness is short-lived, lasting about as long as it takes to get heartburn from eating too much, return to work from vacation, clean up after the party, or realize that we don't look as nice in our clothes as we'd hoped we would.

      If we could learn to find happiness from moment to moment  in the small things of life, we'd always have a pretty good time.

I don't need something outside of myself to make me happy. Happiness is a choice I can make under almost any circumstances.

March 19, 2013 - Making Decisions

Making Decisions

"Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The  spring will come."
     ~Robert H. Schuller~


     When things are going wrong, we want to change them right away. So we buy something that we don't really need. Or we throw away something that we really do need. Or we decline an opportunity because we're afraid that something else might go wrong. Or we make the same mistake again, thinking we'll do better this time.


If I'm in a bad mood, I will put off making important decisions until my outlook and judgment improve.

March 18, 2013 - A Sense Of Humor

A Sense of Humor

"A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done."

     ~Dwight D. Eisenhower~

     Being able to laugh at ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in is a highly desirable quality. We don't need to conceal our sense of humor in our public life, keeping it under wraps until we're safely surrounded by family and friends. The ability to approach problems with equanimity and good humor makes things easier not only for ourselves, but also for anyone else lucky enough to be part of our life.


Stand-up comics can make the most ordinary things seem funny. I don't have to be this clever, but if I can see the humor in everyday life, I'm going to be a much better companion to myself and others.

March 17, 2013 - Opening a Hand

Opening a Hand

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist."

     ~Indira Gandhi~

     We sometimes have to act polite towards a person we dislike or who has hurt us. Sao we put on a fake smile and do what we need to do to make things okay.

     Instead of putting on a fake smile, though, what if we tried smiling for real? Is there something we might like about this person if given a chance? Do we really have a good reason to dislike the person in the first place?

     Maybe we won't become great friends. But we'll never know unless we open ourselves to the possibility.

The next time I encounter someone I don't particularly like, I will be genuinely interested in what the person thinks and says. This may show me a new side of the person.