Inspirational quotes
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Take a breather
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” ~Etty Hillesum Are you the person who needs to be running 24/7 in order to feel valuable or relevant? Are you ever ashamed to admit you need a nap? Is your conversation typically peppered with references to how “busy” you are? Does silence make you uncomfortable? Rest is good for body and soul, and wonderful things happen when we allow ourselves to unwind. Our muscles recover, our stress levels drop. We’re more receptive to fresh ideas when we sit still, breathe deeply, and welcome the silence. When we’re relaxed, we’re also more…
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Light on the subject
“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” ~Thomas Edison Every time I visit a science museum, I’m amazed at what human beings are capable of discovering or inventing. It’s humbling to consider that some people manage to spin a 24-hour day into a miracle — while the rest of us can spend the same amount of time doing … not so much. Thomas Edison insisted that the mother of invention is perseverance. Historians can’t agree on how many times he failed in his attempts to invent the light bulb — was it 1,000 or 10,000? The point is, he kept on…
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Glittering magical moments
“Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves how to make room for them, to love them, and to live, really live.” ~Anna Quindlen, A Short Guide to a Happy Life Today is my birthday, so I’ve been reflecting on events that unfolded since last August. What did I learn from them? How did they change me? There have been a few challenges: Coco was hit by a car,…
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Germinating
“During the times we think we’re being ‘unproductive,’ the seeds of new worlds are germinating within us, and they need peace to grow.” ~Martha Beck Somewhere along the line, I bought into the notion that I need to be working 24/7. I feel guilty if I’m not writing articles, teaching classes, organizing my home, working in my garden, or otherwise being productive. Now that I’m semi-retired, I don’t want to become useless or irrelevant. While most of us celebrate the idea of retiring from our jobs, we still live in a culture that rewards busyness. So it’s not surprising that many of us are conflicted (or secretly embarrassed) if we…
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Looking on the bright side
“Every sunrise gives you a new beginning and a new ending. Let this morning be a new beginning to a better relationship and a new ending to the bad memories. It’s an opportunity to enjoy life, breathe freely, think and love. Be grateful for this beautiful day.” ~Norton Juster, children’s book author Over the past two days, Doug and I spent time with a pair of old friends who visit us every year when they’re back in town. One of them was diagnosed with brain cancer a few months ago, and her journey back to health has been both grueling and miraculous. She and her husband shared moving stories of…
