Sitting
comfortably in an overstuffed chair next to a roaring pellet stove
with my computer in my lap, thus the name 'laptop' I would assume, I
am surfing the web, checking up on the latest news, sports scores
and other somewhat meaningless pieces of information.
A
very quiet “ding” tells me that someone has just sent me an email
or posted something to my Facebook page. Most of the time the instant
communication we now have with others, with the world, allows to to
react and respond at our own pace, in our own time. Should I look now
or wait until later? What if it's something important?What would I
have done twenty years ago before computers or email. I think I'll
wait and look a bit later.
While
on my surfing expedition, I found several pages of 'best quotes”
and sayings, not necessarily by famous people, more from just
ordinary, common folks like you and me.
As
I scrolled down through the list I found some to entertaining, humor,
serious and the….I just don't get it type. Here are several
examples:
“Dream
what you want to dream, go where you want to go,
be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and
one chance to do all the things you want to do.” (anonymous)
be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and
one chance to do all the things you want to do.” (anonymous)
Someone looking for
ideas for a New Year's resolution may want to consider this thought.
But for many of us, there are times when it difficult to take that
first step. We are afraid to fail.
“Don't
be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.” (anonymous)
Society has done a
great job of creating a cultural belief that 'failure' is a bad thing
or that winning is all that really matters. A failing grade on a
report card often results in restriction to the use of the
television, or taking away the cell phone or shutting down the
Facebook page, with the intent of teaching a lesson, to work harder.
But the result is often an increased fear in trying something new,
taking on a new challenge for fear of failure.
If Christopher
Columbus had been afraid of sailing across the ocean because of a
fear of failure, of not keeping his promise to the find new sailing
routes to the Far East, how many more years might it have been before
the discovery of a new part of the world.(Speaking of Columbus,
aren't there some Columbus Day Sales coming up soon.)
One of my favorite
'life quotes' has to do with open and closed doors.
(Alexander
Graham Bell)
Personally, I have had
my share of doors closed in front of me, most recently in my attempt
to get people to take part in a health study survey sponsored by one
of the government agencies in Washington D.C. In some cases, I was
also told to get off the porch and never come back again.
Now, I add that as a
bit of humor, but the in reality how often have had what we thought
was going to be a 'golden opportunity' placed before us, only to have
it swiftly taken away and we spent too much time focusing on the
closed door and not seeing the open on right next to it.
(I find it interesting
this quote credited to Alexander Graham Bell, focusing on open and
closed doors and not the possibility of cell phone in the future.)
One of the all time
'sages' of life lessons was Dr. Seuss and without a doubt his wisdom
and perspective on the world is missed. One of my favorites …....
“Be
who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind.” (Dr Seuss)
…...may
have more meaning today that it did years ago. How many of us pretend
to be someone we are not for the sake of trying to impress others?
Now if you are trying to get a date with an attractive young lady or
handsome young man, that's one thing. But what politician or leader
has not said things, made statements, to get the vote, when in
reality it is not really what they meant to say or reflect upon who
they really are as a person? At what cost are we willing to sell our
soul to the devil?
As I get older, I hope
I get wiser, learn from previous mistake, but always knowing I may
make new ones. Making mistakes is often how we learn. But it is may
to easy to get stuck in the past, reliving the memories, both the
good ones and the bad.
“I've
learned that things change, people change, and it doesn't mean you
forget the past or try to cover it up. It simply means that you move
on and treasure the memories. Letting go doesn't mean giving up... it
means accepting that some things weren't meant to be." (Lisa
Brooks)
But the time has come
to add a bit of humor and lightheartedness so, from and unknown
source, I close with the following thoughts about
success...............
“At
age 4 success is not peeing in your pant
At age 12 success is having friends.
At age 16 success is having a drivers license.
At age 20 success is having sex.
At age 35 success is having money.
At age 50 success is having money.
At age 60 success is having sex.
At age 70 success is having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is having friends.
At age 80 success is not peeing in your pants!”
At age 12 success is having friends.
At age 16 success is having a drivers license.
At age 20 success is having sex.
At age 35 success is having money.
At age 50 success is having money.
At age 60 success is having sex.
At age 70 success is having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is having friends.
At age 80 success is not peeing in your pants!”