“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” ~Oscar Wilde My mother often quoted the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for, because it might come true.” Years later, that bit of wisdom still resonates. I thought of it again when I ran across today’s quote from Oscar Wilde. Sometimes the things we hope for aren’t good for us. Sometimes the decisions we make don’t work to our advantage. Sometimes we don’t make the right choices. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from our regrets — and not repeat our mistakes. ~CL

“Don’t make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements So many misunderstandings are rooted in lousy communication. Sometimes other people neglect to express themselves clearly, or they give us the silent treatment, leaving us confused or hurt. And if we don’t ask for clarity, we resort to making assumptions. Sometimes the wrong assumptions. Good communication is a two-way street. Today’s quote says it all, reminding us to speak with courage and clarity. ~CL