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What is real … and what isn’t?
“As you follow your own way of integrity, the effect on everyone and everything around you may be greater than you imagine.” ~Martha Beck, The Way of Integrity What’s the difference between fact and fiction? Does anyone care anymore? Today’s photo is a still life showing real fruit mixed with ceramic fruit. If you viewed it quickly on your cell phone, maybe you didn’t notice the difference between the fake and the real. Here’s the sad reality: Whether you’re talking about politics, medical topics, or Hollywood gossip, some people misinterpret fake news or rumors as the absolute truth. Remember those old grocery store tabloids that featured absurd cover stories about celebrities…
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Take a breather
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” ~Etty Hillesum Are you the person who needs to be running 24/7 in order to feel valuable or relevant? Are you ever ashamed to admit you need a nap? Is your conversation typically peppered with references to how “busy” you are? Does silence make you uncomfortable? Rest is good for body and soul, and wonderful things happen when we allow ourselves to unwind. Our muscles recover, our stress levels drop. We’re more receptive to fresh ideas when we sit still, breathe deeply, and welcome the silence. When we’re relaxed, we’re also more…
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The dead-end road
“Self-pity is a dead-end road. You make the choice to drive down it. It’s up to you to decide to stay parked there or to turn around and drive out.” ~Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things At some point, we’ve all been thrown off course by sudden changes in plans, a head cold, bad weather, and other disappointments. Then again, we’ve also faced some major challenges and losses with considerable bravery — and moved forward with grace. The road of life isn’t always smooth for anyone. But today’s quote reminds us that every single one of us has a choice when encountering road blocks. We can feel sorry for ourselves and…
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Please help yourself
“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” ~ George Carlin I’m excited to introduce the Self-Help Book Club, a new fall program I’ve created for the Blair Memorial Library in Clawson. This unique book club is designed to help lift our spirits and broaden our perspective while providing practical tools to help us manage the challenges of daily life. Each discussion will focus on the key takeaways of a pre-selected (and highly rated) self-help book. Enrollment in the Self-Help Book Club is limited to 12 attendees per meeting, and advance registration is required for each…
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Light on the subject
“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” ~Thomas Edison Every time I visit a science museum, I’m amazed at what human beings are capable of discovering or inventing. It’s humbling to consider that some people manage to spin a 24-hour day into a miracle — while the rest of us can spend the same amount of time doing … not so much. Thomas Edison insisted that the mother of invention is perseverance. Historians can’t agree on how many times he failed in his attempts to invent the light bulb — was it 1,000 or 10,000? The point is, he kept on…
