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Ever since my grandmother put her hand on my head and said, “Dickie, whatever you are be that. Whatever you say be true. Straightforwardly act, be honest, in fact, but be nobody else but you,” I have been intrigued by witty sayings, quaint aphorisms, words of wisdom, and humorous words to the wise.
Perhaps my grandmother’s gesture was an omen regarding my life as a speaker and writer, for it is precisely those reasons that have both prolonged and intensified my interest. It just proves the validity of the aphorism, “I finally have my head together . . . now my body is falling apart.”
My early examples of sayings came from my parents. One aphorism that stood out from all others was “What is worth doing is worth doing well”—a quotation from the Earl of Chesterfield (Philip Dormer Stanhope) in a book called Letters to His Son (1774). I’m probably more of a perfectionist than what is good for any person; however, looking back on my life I realize that I internalized this quotation as a core value. It pushes you toward perfection.
Living according to a quotation from your parents is like many of the things you learn from them, you pay little attention to it when it is conveyed, but suddenly and unexpectedly you realize it is guiding your life. It is easier getting older than it is getting wiser.
All through the raising of our four children, one of the predominant quotations was, “Life is unfair; deal with it!” This was a response to our children’s attempts to level the playing field. When one received an opportunity not shared by the others, the question was always, “Why does so-and-so get such-and-such, and I don’t?” In general, we found that raising teenagers was like nailing Jell-o to a tree.
In raising kids you always have to keep in mind that today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground. And, in looking back, it is clear that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
Witty sayings have been incorporated into my writing simply because they add interest, entertainment and, hopefully, assist memory. A saying that I used in one of the speeches published in Vital Speeches of the Day, was selected for inclusion in Reader’s Digest. From there it was picked up by Garborg’s of Bloomington, Minnesota, for inclusion as a saying on one of their “Cherished Thoughts” eternal calendars. Finally, it was chosen as the chapter-opening quotation in a wonderful book on humor by Edgar E. Willis entitled “How to be Funny on Purpose: Creating and Consuming Humor” (Amazon.com, 2005). The quotation reads, “One of the best things people can have up their sleeves is a funny bone.”
Of course, once a quotation finds its way to the Internet, it gets around quickly, and I discovered the quotation, sometimes with proper attribution and sometimes without, at a wide variety of locations including “Cool Quotes,” “Quotes-Famous Quotes,” “Laughter Heals Foundation,” “My Quote Page for Cancer,” and “Thoughts on the Business of Life - Forbes.com” to name just a few. One source attributes it to Robert Weaver.
Why did I visit these sites on the Internet? Because laughing helps. It’s like jogging on the inside. So I went jogging on the Internet! Maybe it wasn’t for the laughter, maybe it was because my mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves me completely.
Early in my teaching career, I would tell my students “Be a sponge for knowledge,” which is a condensed version of Jim Rohn’s motivational quotes which reads, “Be like a sponge when it comes to each new experience. If you want to be able to express it well, you must first be able to absorb it well.”
I became so enamored with quotations that I would purchase books of them. Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations is probably the most popular, but there were many others like Jampolsky and Cirincione’s Wake-Up Calls, Maltz’s Thoughts to Live By, Peter’s Quotations, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, Prochnow’s The Complete Toastmaster, Adam’s Encyclopedia of Humor, Petty’s Apples of Gold and her Wings of Silver as well, and this barely touches the surface.
And what did I do with all the quotations? I would put the relevant ones at the bottom of the examinations I gave. I instructed students that the quotations were for added interest only, and they did not have any direct bearing on the content of the examination questions. If students chose to, they were told the quotations could be avoided altogether.
Because of the numerous requests for the quotations, I compiled a handout that included just the quotations. On a regular basis, I had to reprint these handouts because of the extensive requests. Many were motivational such as Henry James’s “It’s time to start living the life you’ve imagined,” or Abraham Lincoln’s, “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
There have been several related quotations that have driven my teaching style and approach. Henry David Thoreau said, “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” William James, in a closely related quote, said “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” And the culminating quotation that, for me as a teacher, served as the catalyst for these, is Johann W. von Goethe’s statement, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.”
My speaking and writing is replete with keys, steps, approaches, and ideas for growth, development, and change. Thus, this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, for me, became a self-motivator as well as a motivator of others: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” True, but how do we get there? “The important thing is this,” said John Lembo, “to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”
Mark Twain captured this best when he said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
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At Life’s Lesson , Randy has a lesson in “Learning Through the Ages (Thanks Marlene G)” for ages from 5 to 85 that are enjoyable and reflective. They are just short quotation-like statements, but they can really make you think. Delightful.
At Marc and Angel Hack Life , there are practical tips for productive living. At the website mentioned here, they have listed “26 Life Lessons Learned by Age 26.” Also, they list other essays in the right margin that I have not read, but that look interesting. Some of these titles are, “50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do,” “How To Walk On Water,” “21 Keys to Magnetic,” Likeability,” “70 Things To Do Before Having Children,” “The 30 Most Satisfying Simple Pleasures Life Has to Offer,” “The 7 Habits of Highly Happy People,” “10 Reasons You Are Rich,” and “8 Means for Living Below Your Means.” This is just a sampling.
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Copyright April 2009 by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.
Hey folks, it's here! SMOERs is available from Amazon.com for only $14.95. And, too, check out the new website: smoers.com Day 92 of the book reads, "Do not judge books by their covers." And here is a delightful warning for you: On the cover of the book SMOERs---Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules: Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living there is a picture (thanks to Aime Inman-Cox) of a delicious s'more. Despite this tempting morsel, this is not a recipe or cooking book. It is not an instruction book about how to make s'mores, nor is there a single prescription, formula, or blueprint inside for the perfect s'more. There are 365 reminders and over 1600 quotations, and we know that once you read just a single day from the book, you will definitely want s'more!
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Thursday’s essay, “Life’s lessons: Explore, dream, discover,” is an essay that celebrates our new SMOER’s book. We’ve saved it for more than three years just for this moment! It honors the role that anecdotes, phrases, quotations, and sayings play in our lives.Share your link. Have you written anything on the effects of anecdotes, phrases, quotations, and sayings? How about material on the role that these play in your life? Any personal experiences? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.
Click here to LINK your And Then Some story
Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Life's lessons: Explore, dream, discover
by Richard L. Weaver II
Excerpt:
Witty sayings have been incorporated into my writing simply because they add interest, entertainment and, hopefully, assist memory. A saying that I used in one of the speeches published in Vital Speeches of the Day, was selected for inclusion in Reader’s Digest. From there it was picked up by Garborg’s of Bloomington, Minnesota, for inclusion as a saying on one of their “Cherished Thoughts” eternal calendars. Finally, it was chosen as the chapter-opening quotation in a wonderful book on humor by Edgar E. Willis entitled “How to be Funny on Purpose: Creating and Consuming Humor” (Amazon.com, 2005). The quotation reads, “One of the best things people can have up their sleeves is a funny bone.”
And Then Some Works - see you Thursday!!
by Richard L. Weaver II
Resolutions don’t work! There are many reasons. There’s a great ezine article on “Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work,” by David Henning. They’re made to stop or lose something; they reflect a lack of planning; they describe a result without referencing behavior; there is no date for completion; there is no consequence for failure; they are made at the last minute; they are vague and too big; they have little support to carry them out; they are not written down; there is no commitment behind them; they offer no flexibility; they push toward perfection; and they often require miracles. Because resolutions don’t work, all they are are empty promises to yourself. So, what’s the answer: no resolutions, then what?
The answer is to get your house in order: secure your foundation. But, this is easier said than done. But isn’t everything? If resolutions are not the route to growth, development, and change, then how do you secure your foundation? Ten steps that begin with a single kernel: believe in yourself; you can do it, but you need to start here, and you need to start now.
First, get your finances in order. “Recession-Proof Your Finances, by Erin Huffstetler, at About.com is a worthwhile essay. Create a budget that covers housing, food, and transportation. After these basics, list your other expenses. Take out your bills and credit-card statements and find out where your money goes and what changes need to be made. Organize your resources. Tough economic times require tough decision making.
Second, know what you value and believe in. Debra Moorhead has a terrific essay on “Determining Your Values." It’s your values and beliefs that may help guide your financial decisions, but they will affect many other factors that make up your foundation as well (e.g., who to befriend, causes you support, organizations you join, or where you choose to volunteer).
Third, build friendships and other support groups (e.g., clubs, organizations, churches, temples, synagogues, business associations, and other groups). At “How to Have More Social Success,” the essay entitled, “How to Make Friends And Get a Social Life,” is especially informative. These friendships and associations are often those people who offer us sounding boards, viewpoints, alternatives, and judgments that assist. They provide people who are there in times of trouble.
Fourth, continue your education. At ehow, there is an essay by the ehow education editor entitled, “How to Continue Education,” that offers some specific suggestions. Never stop learning. Keep informed by reading, listening, and asking questions. Advancing your knowledge and understanding adds strength to your foundation and helps you build credibility. Your integrity depends on whether others can trust you, rely on your judgment, and have faith in your dependability.
Fifth, establish strong family ties. Coach Kathy, in an essay, “Establish strong family ties,” has written a brief essay that discusses marriages that suffer “because of strained relationships with relatives and in-laws.” By bridging any gaps and voids developed through history, you build connections and re-establish important relationships, interdependence, bonds, and associations that buttress the foundation. These are attachments and tie-ins that will make certain the substructure and underpinning of your foundation are rooted in sturdy bedrock.
Sixth, don’t forget your health. At the Federal Citizen Information Center website, there is a terrific essay on “What you can do to stay healthy.” When you eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep, you can be more certain that you are making better decisions, facing the world in a more vigorous manner, and confronting problems and difficulties in a robust way with all your faculties operating at their peak capacity. Listen to your body, and give it what it needs.
Seventh, find causes to believe in and support. When you fight for issues that are bigger than you are, and you put your time and effort behind other causes than self-promotion, it prompts you to look beyond immediate concerns, promotes a vision that supercedes egocentrism, and results in more universal (broader) concerns and interests. Causes will help you stay connected with the outside world and help you avoid isolation.
Eighth, build habits of optimism, encouragement, and a positive outlook. Read about “The benefits of optimism” in the excellent and well-written essay by Elizabeth Scott. It is easy to look at the world’s problems and become depressed. If you are not a hopeful, cheerful, and buoyant person then find people who are and connect with them, associate with them, form friendships with them, and benefit from them. Teach your mind to think in positive terms.
Ninth, volunteer. Some of “the benefits of volunteering” are discussed at essortment. You learn about yourself when you give yourself to others. Also, you may learn a new skill, become part of your community, get motivated and develop a sense of achievement, boost your career options, develop new interests and hobbies, provide new experiences, meet a diverse range of people, and give others real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Just from this list alone, think how much potential there is for you in volunteering.
Tenth, keep realistic. At Qurve, there is an excellent essay, “Achieve Your Goals by Setting Realistic Ones,” that will help you clarify your long-term and short-term goals. There are a number of ways to maintain balance and realism in your life. One thing you don’t want to do is build a squishy base that will not last nor support a substantive structure above it. First, fight negative and unrealistic thinking. Your attitude is likely to be your biggest barrier to taking care of yourself and taking charge of your life. Pace yourself; this is a marathon, not a sprint.
An e-zine article, “How to be secure in an insecure world,” begins by saying, “Most of us believe that our happiness and security are dependent upon our relationships, work, income and the external events that take place in our lives. When things are going well there is a sense of well-being and safety. We sleep well at night, wake up feeling refreshed and have the sense that the world can be managed — that we are in control. However, this kind of security is fleeting. As people and events are constantly changing, we are often edgy about what's coming down the road.” This is true, but, if your foundation is strong, you will be vigilant, prepared, and resilient. It takes time to build a solid foundation, but it’s worth the effort in the strength it provides.
Don’t get overwhelmed. Always remain in the present — one day at a time. Tomorrow will be here soon enough. You can plan for the future, but you can’t worry it into submission.
Once the foundation is established and is strong, then you can stretch out, dare to dream, go against the flow, and make your dreams come true. You have established a foundation that now lets you go beyond your current boundaries, exceed your expectations, and excel, shine, be the best and then some.
At Thinkpositive.net, the featured essay is “Work-Life Balance: Positive Practices for Hard Times,” written by Molly Gordon. Gordon writes a positive, uplifting essay that focuses on exercises you can do to improve your resilience and your hopefulness and acquire solid, positive, thinking skills.
At Abafrance-do.org, there is an essay entitled, “5 Proven Ways to Safely Make Positive Life Changes,” that focuses primarily on risk: 1) define your present situation, 2) what will you gain if you change your present situation?, 3) how can you limit the “down side” if you take a risk and make the wrong decision?, 4) be smart by seeking the advice of experts, and 5) have a fall-back position.
©
Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC
Thursday’s essay, “Secure your foundation: Forget resolutions,” is a New Year’s Day essay, and it doesn’t stop with trashing resolutions as a method for change. It offers ten specific methods for securing your foundation..
Share your link. Have you written anything on Christmas? How about material on Santa Claus, families at Christmastime, gift-giving, or the holidays? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.
Click here to LINK your And Then Some storyThursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Secure your foundation: Forget resolutions
by Richard L. Weaver II
Excerpt:
Resolutions don’t work! There are many reasons. They’re made to stop or lose something; they reflect a lack of planning; they describe a result without referencing behavior; there is no date for completion; there is no consequence for failure; they are made at the last minute; they are vague and too big; they have little support to carry them out; they are not written down; there is no commitment behind them; they offer no flexibility; they push toward perfection; and they often require miracles. Because resolutions don’t work, all they are are empty promises to yourself. So, what’s the answer: no resolutions, then what?
And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!
