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Irish DNA
“We Irish prefer embroideries to plain cloth. To the Irish, memory is a canvas—stretched, primed, and ready for painting on. We love the “story” part of the word “history,” and we love it trimmed out with color and drama, ribbons and bows. Listen to our tunes, observe a Celtic scroll; we always decorate our essence.” ~Frank Delaney I’ve always been a storyteller. And every year on St. Patrick’s Day, I can recall the lyrics to half a dozen old Irish folk tunes. Strangers in shops and restaurants often ask if I’m Irish. In fact, my mother told me that I have “a bit of Irish” in me — but I…
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Funny Friday: True stories
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” ~Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
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How to fix things
“Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution.” ~Maya Angelou Self-improvement involves effort as well as introspection. But when something is broken beyond repair, or a bad situation seems totally out of control, the best thing I can do is adjust my attitude. I can change how many calories I consume in a day, for instance, but I can’t change the weather report. Likewise, I can’t change the rude behavior of strangers, but I can make a bigger effort to practice courtesy and kindness wherever I go. I’ve wasted a…
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Admiration
“Admire as much as you can. Most people don’t admire enough.” ~Vincent van Gogh I started this blog years ago under a different title, “Something Beautiful Every Day.” At the time, my mother was battling vascular dementia, and I was struggling to manage her care. As my mother’s personality changed, my own moods cycled between anxiety, grief, and exhaustion. The blog became an exercise in positivity. I couldn’t “fix” Mom’s illness or bring her back to her former self, but I could challenge myself to find beauty and hope in the simple pleasures within my reach. I just had to readjust my focus and my attitude. Today’s quote from a…
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Learning from the past
“The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.” ~Jim Leach I’ve always been grateful for my liberal arts education. Humanities and the arts have guided me over the years, showing me how to live (or not to live), with illuminating examples left by others throughout history. Whether you study literature, philosophy, drama, music appreciation, or art history, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of human nature that will serve you in countless ways. No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to learn more. ~CL *** If you enjoy Life Lines, please share the posts with your friends. ***
