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How we see things
“We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.”~Anais Nin Our experience and circumstances shape how we perceive things, as French memoirist Anais Nin reminds us in today’s quote. If I’ve had a bad meal in a restaurant, for instance, I’m unlikely to try it again — even if my dining companions enjoyed everything they ordered. Whenever I find myself offended, annoyed, or angered, I’m tempted to adopt the stance of self-righteousness. That’s when I absolutely need to stop and consider the reasons behind another person’s actions or opinions. And that’s when a little empathy comes in handy. Have I taken time to understand what that…
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Beginnings
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” ~Fred Rogers Earlier this week I drove past a row of maples that were just beginning to show blushes of red. At that moment, the reality of summer’s end struck a melancholy chord on my heartstrings. As much as I love fall, it also signals the end of carefree summer days — and I can’t help but think of autumn as a metaphor for aging. Several people I know have lost loved ones over the past year, which only adds another somber note to my reflections. How many seasons do any of us…
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Whose life?
“Whose life are you living, yours or the one somebody prefers for you?” ~Vanita Oelschlager, Write with Me By the time we reach middle age, we’ve established our own patterns, preferences, routines, and habits. We’ve made some difficult choices; traveled a few paths; tried many different things. We like to believe we’ve designed our own way of living — even our own style. In reality, each of us is a unique combination of influences — parents, siblings, partners, relatives, teachers, peers, and popular culture, just for starters. Who are your strongest influences? Which ones suggested, or even dictated, the life you’re living now? Are there any changes you’d make if…
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Things are looking up
Everyone I know has at least one ongoing problem or nagging issue that defies resolution, whether it’s chronic physical pain, a career crisis, or a social conflict that’s a chronic pain in the ass. It’s hard to make peace with something that you can’t make peace with, no matter how hard you try. Today’s quote is a perfect reminder to step back and enjoy the weekend without giving a thought to the annoyances and grievances that will be there on Monday. ~CL
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Embracing the unknown
“The unknown is where all outcomes are possible; enter it with grace.” ~Message on a Yogi teabag I’ve always struggled with the unknown. The unknown is the gray area; a state of uncertainly; a question mark dangling over the future. The unknown leaves us hanging. The unknown leaves us alone with an overactive imagination. If I’m waiting for the results of a medical test, for instance, I envision all sorts of worst-case scenarios. If someone doesn’t answer my email or a text message, I tend to assume something is wrong. Of course, life is jam-packed with uncertainties, large and small. So when I read the above message on my teabag…
