Inspirational quotes
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Fearless living
“I want to be brave with my life. When we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.” ~Brene Brown, Daring Greatly I never wanted to be a professional actor, but I don’t regret a minute of the time I spent in the performing arts. When I was a kid, I attended Cranbrook Theatre School, where I acted, danced, and sang (badly) in plays and musicals every summer. The performing arts gave me confidence, preparing me for the public speaking that was essential to the…
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The choices we make
“Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we’re proud of. Some will haunt us forever. We are what we choose to be.” ~Graham Brown We make choices every day. A choice can change lives — because every choice has a ripple effect. This applies to everything from the products we purchase to the political candidates we elect. Likewise, the friends we choose have a powerful influence on our habits, beliefs, and even our reputation. Or, to paraphrase an old proverb, “You are not responsible for what your friends do, but you will be judged by the company you keep.” This applies to personal as well as business relationships. How…
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Within our reach
“Happiness, not in another place but this place. Not for another hour, but this hour.” ~Walt Whitman How are things going? If you’re working on “resolutions” for the new year, it’s easy to lose sight of the good things within your reach right now. Worthy goals inspire motivation, but they also keep us hyper-focused on the future. For instance, we might convince ourselves that we won’t be happy until we drop another 10 pounds, write a novel, find the perfect job, clean the basement, or finally remodel the kitchen. Walt Whitman believed that happiness is attainable in the present moment. Right here, right now. What have you enjoyed so far…
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Remain calm
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat any time.” ~Hermann Hesse Lately, a friend and I often joke that our blood pressure spikes every time we watch the news. Given the unpredictable political changes ahead, not to mention the devastating wildfires in California, it’s a challenge to remain calm while staying informed. The best we can do is to stay centered — especially when we wonder if everything around us is falling apart. “Sanctuary” is one of the most beautiful words in our language. It conjures images of a safe, holy place — a room or a building that offers an escape from…
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What you don’t want
“Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is as valuable as what you do.” ~Oprah Winfrey Choices, choices! Whether I’m shopping for a cosmetic product, laundry detergent, or a jar of peanut butter, I’m often overwhelmed by the sheer number of items available. It’s a privilege to have access to a wide selection of goods — but making the right decision can be harder when I’m presented with several things that serve the same purpose or perform the same task. As today’s quote suggests, it’s important to know what you don’t want as well as what you want. Keep it in mind whenever you have to make major life decisions or…
