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The keys to discovery
“When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” ~Alexander Graham Bell Have you ever been so stuck on a frustrating problem or project that you missed a few good opportunities in the meantime? Sometimes we have to accept the fact that something isn’t working — whether it’s a product that isn’t right for us, a career we’ve outgrown, or a dead-end relationship. Giving up on something after you’ve given it your best effort doesn’t always mean you’ve failed. As today’s quote reminds us, great inventors like…
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Friendship lessons from the Forest
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” ~A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh Today’s quote is an old favorite of mine — and it merits repeating. Each time I read it, I recall another friendship lesson I’ve learned through trial and error. Years ago, when my son was a kid, we’d socialize periodically with the parents of his friends. We’d have family potlucks and parties in our homes, with most of us taking turns to host. After a while, some of the parents stopped hosting, though they’d happily attend when other parents initiated a gathering. Eventually, the…
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Confiding
“But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one’s deepest as well as one’s most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely.” ~Dinah Craik, British novelist It’s always wise to weigh our words carefully before we speak. We don’t want to spread harmful gossip. We don’t want hurt or offend anyone. And given today’s volatile political climate, most of us wisely avoid discussing hot-button topics when we’re unsure of someone else’s viewpoints. That said, I was thinking recently about the gift of knowing a few trusted friends with whom I can speak freely about any topic. When…
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Your grass is green enough
“Get busy taking care of your own grass, and you won’t notice whether it’s greener elsewhere.” ~Karon Waddell Whenever I’m fully engaged in my own life, I’m practically oblivious to what’s going on around me. Some psychologists refer to this state as being in the flow. Whatever it’s called, I’m happiest when I’m focusing on my own stuff — and free of competitive impulses. Jealousy and envy tend to sprout when we’ve lost confidence in our own abilities and gifts. That’s when we look over our shoulders to see what others have. That’s when we start comparing ourselves and feeling “less than” — even when we shouldn’t. The remedy? Be too…
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How big is your world?
“The world only exists in your eyes. You can make it as big or as small as you want.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald Look around, and you’ll notice that the happiest and most interesting people are those who stay fully engaged with the outside world. I’m talking about the ones who get out of the house, stay physically active, make an effort to expand their social circles, and indulge their curiosity. They’re not sitting on the couch waiting for someone to call. And you’ll rarely catch them randomly scrolling for social media updates on their cell phones; they’re so busy doing something that they simply don’t have time. Today’s quote suggests…
