Motivation
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The right tools?
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” ~George Herbert Procrastination is so easy to justify. We convince ourselves that we can’t begin (or finish) a project until we’ve acquired the right workspace, a totally clear calendar, or a special set of tools or equipment … Or until the stars align perfectly in our personal universe. That’s when the tools we need the most are motivation, a can-do attitude, and the sheer will to start or finish the project. What have you been…
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The telling tale
“Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.” ~Oprah Winfrey Everyone has a defining story or two. When you think of friends or family members, for instance, which roles or stories immediately spring to mind? There’s the middle child, the kid brother, or the devoted wife and mother. There’s the risk taker, the organizer, the shy one, the needy one, the artist, the generous one, the stingy one, the drama queen, the bossy one, the reliable one, and the genius — just to name a few. Some of us base (or blame) our personal narratives on a life-altering…
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Take a risk
“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” ~John Assaraf Talk about taking a risk … This scrappy little pansy found its way between two brick pavers on our patio and managed to bloom on a chilly spring morning. As soon as I spotted it, I got the message: When we push past our so-called limitations, we can accomplish anything. Photo by Cindy La Ferle
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Make it work
“No more excuses. No more self-sabotage. No more self-pity. No more blaming. No comparing yourself to others. Time to step up. Take action right now and start living your life with purpose.” ~Anthon St. Maarten Photo by Cindy La Ferle
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“Make music of what you can”
I always knew I wanted to be a writer. When I was a kid, I perched in the gnarly apple tree in my backyard and scribbled my own adventures in a ruled notebook. In college I majored in English and journalism, but it took years before I found the courage (not to mention the income) I needed to begin a real writing career. The long path that led me here was marked with detours and littered with excuses. The poem below is the wake-up call I needed more than 35 years ago — but Charles Rafferty hadn’t written it yet. Today I keep it in my back pocket and read…
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