Adventure and exploration
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Deep thoughts
“To find yourself, think for yourself.” ~Socrates The simplest truths are rarely as simple as they seem. Today’s quote from the philosopher Socrates is a case in point. “Thinking for yourself” is tricky when you’re under the influence of family and friends, popular culture, and social media. There’s always a cacophony of voices sharing views on everything from business to fashion; from politics to religion. So, every once in a while, it’s worth questioning: Am I following my own heart? Are my choices really my own? Or am I simply re-spinning a “brand” I’ve borrowed from someone else? ~CL
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Is that normal?
“What makes us normal is knowing that we’re not normal.” ~Haruki Murakami, novelist When we were kids, we assumed “normal” was everything our parents did. Their normal was what their families, culture, or religion dictated. If we looked at our neighbors and saw they weren’t following the same program, we probably labeled them as odd or eccentric or … abnormal. We were oblivious to the likelihood that the neighbors thought we were weird, too. The longer I live, the more I question what’s “normal” and what isn’t. And here’s the thing: When you venture out of your usual comfort zones — and meet a variety of other people — you…
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When you’re feeling stuck
“You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.” ~Abraham Maslow If you’re feeling “stuck,” it could be that you’re a little too cozy in your comfort zone. You don’t have to look hard to find examples of being stuck. For starters, you’re stuck if you never speak out when something is wrong — because you’d rather appear “nice” and avoid conflict. Staying stuck is when you remain in a career you don’t like because you fear the uncertainty of something new. And on it goes. Psychologist Abraham Maslow, who famously explored and named the concept of self-actualization, reminds us in today’s quote that we…
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Embrace your age
“Every year brings you closer to expressing your whole and healed self. I celebrate that. Honor it. Hold it in reverence. And I’m grateful for every age I’m blessed to become.” ~Oprah Winfrey The key phrase in today’s quote is “your whole and healed self.” In one way or another, all of us suffer deep emotional wounds throughout our lives. Nobody escapes this world unscratched. But as Oprah reminds us, one of the gifts of growing older is finding our own path to healing and self-actualization. If you’re interested in exploring similar aging topics, I welcome you to join “Aging with Grace & Courage” — a monthly journaling and discussion…
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Good or bad luck?
“Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.” ~Roald Amundsen Today’s quote is a handy piece of advice from the famed Norwegian polar explorer who led the first expedition to the South Pole in 1911. Amundsen understood that success isn’t a whim of fate or chance. There’s really no such thing as “good luck” or “bad luck,” after all. If we look ahead, anticipate the pros and cons, devise a plan, and map out our own course, we’re more likely to reach our goal or…
