better with age

I have quite a few friends who have birthdays in September/October, so I've spent a lot of time looking at cards lately. I liked the quote on one that I bought:

"The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been." -Madeleine L'Engle

It's true-- every year brings a new adventure...but you get to carry with you the memories, wisdom, and stories gained from all your other years of living. It's kind of a cool thing. Maybe that's why it doesn't really bother me that I'm turning 30 in a couple of months...because I know, somewhere in my heart, there's a part of me that is still 14.

Have a wonder-full day.

hope revisited

Yesterday was not such a good day...it was a Monday in every sense of the word. I totally should have worn my "I'm having a day" shirt. But, I'm a look-on-the-bright-side kind of person, so here's the quote for today:

". . . hope is a renewable option--we use it up by the end of the day, but we can still get up the next morning and put it on again and start over." -Barbara Kingsolver

So regardless of what kind of day you had yesterday or today, tomorrow, you can wake up and put on your hope shirt.

Have a great one.

shoes

I'm so glad it's Friday...when I woke up this morning, I thought I heard a faint chorus of "halleluiah"...of course, maybe that's because the realization hit me that it was a casual dress day.

Since it is a fun, casual Friday, I thought we might go with a lighter quote today:

"Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? ...He's a mile away and you've got his shoes."~Billy Connolly

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

a thorn in your Thursday?

"In all life one should comfort the afflicted, but verily, also, one should afflict the comfortable, and especially when they are comfortably, contentedly, even happily wrong." -John Kenneth Galbraith

It's not always bad to be the thorn in someone's side....especially if that person needs a thorn in the side...if you know what I'm sayin'...

Be happy...it's Thursday...and you know what that means? Tomorrow is Friday :)

this day

It is an absolutely gorgeous Wednesday. I love this season...the weather is perfect, the air is crisp, and autumn colors make me happy.

I'm in a very "seize the day" kind of mood, so here's your quote:

"It is hard to remember that this day will never come again. That the time is now and the place is here and that there are no second chances at a single moment." - Jeanette Winterson, The Passion

Enjoy this amazing day!

magnificent

". . . there's something else I want you always to remember. There are magnificent beings on this earth, son, that are walking around posing as humans. And I don't want you to forget that. You hear me?" --Fannie Flagg, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café

Today, look for the magnificence in others...and have a terrific Tuesday. :)

that's the question...

"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions." -Mahfouz Naguib

Don't worry so much about having the right answers...think, instead, about asking the right questions.

And if any of you can tell me how to pronounce the name of the person who gave us this quote, I would be thoroughly impressed. Of course, I wouldn't be able to tell you if you were right.

Have a great Monday!

the gift of giving

"What I spent is gone; what I kept, I lost; but what I gave away is mine forever." –Ethel Andrus

So I bought a keychain the other day that simply says, "Give more." Two little words, but to me, they said so much. I started to think about all the different ways I could give more...

Give more...time to my friends and family
Give more...money to help support organizations and causes I believe in
Give more...encouragement to people around me
Give more...thanks to those who help me
Give more...smiles to people I encounter every day
Give more...hugs

What do you have to give?

Give more.

And I promise that you will find yourself richer.

balcony people

I'm running a little late on the QOTD today, so maybe this will be some inspiration (or a little study break) as you are working on homework:

"Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you have individuals in your life who challenge you to be a better person-- people who encourage you to greater heights? Or better yet, are you this person to others?

My mom calls these kinds of people "balcony people." I'll explain later...

In the meantime, ponder, and enjoy the rest of this rainy Tuesday!

hope

It is Monday, and it is September 11th, but it feels like a better day. Renewed hope is a beautiful thing...

In light of today's anniversary, I have chosen the following quote from one of my favorite orators in history:

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." -MLK Jr.

And we press on...

the heart

Have you ever felt like there was a tug-of-war going on in your heart? That's been my week...well, ok, my last three weeks, but who's counting?

"Few people know so clearly what they want. Most people can't even think what to hope for when they throw a penny in a fountain." -Barbara Kingsolver

Sometimes, defining the hopes and dreams of our hearts can be one of the most difficult things. What do you wish for?

Ponder, and have a fabulous and restful weekend...

just try

"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it." -Pablo Picasso

Try something new.

And have a great day.

the little things

So yesterday was super-hectic, and I completely flaked on the quote of the day-- I didn't even realize it until I ran into Ellie yesterday afternoon. My brain is fried--I worked from 8am until 11pm, and today is looking like a long day as well.

So, how about something inspiring? I know I could use it...

"I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced that they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another." -Ellen Goodman

Sometimes, we may be tempted to think that our lives are small, or we may wonder if what we are doing really matters...or even if we really matter. And the answer is, yes. Little things can make a big difference. The power of one is a reality. We aren't required to move mountains-- but we are called to consider what we can do, with what we have, where we are. So, I challenge you to think about something you could do today...one simple, small thing...to make a difference.

And have a wonderful Wednesday!

ecstatic

Today's quote must stand alone...my time is limited, because I'm leaving at 1:00 to drive to Chattanooga for the long weekend...

"The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience." –Emily Dickinson

Have yourselves a merry little labor day weekend, and grab on to those ecstatic experiences!