My Take on Michael Jordan’s quoteThe key to success in any endeavor is picking yourself up and starting all over again. Wait that may be a lyric from a song…
It’s still a good plan for 2020 or an year.
About the graphicThe picture was taken by my photographer daughter on Christmas Eve many years ago. The two grandsons are almost grown now. One in college, the other a senior. Fine young men who exhibited their loving hearts early as you see in the picture of them sharing cookies from the treat table.
Dale Evans, Queen of the West and my childhood idol, passed away in 2001. These two grandsons didn’t even know her or that she sparked my young girl longing to be a rodeo barrel racer. I did frequently sing “Happy Trails to You” and “The Bible Tells Me So,” though. Evans wrote both songs. Her quote is a great thought for this holiday season.
This will be my last blog post for 2019 before we head to our holiday break. May your holidays be filled love. See you in 2020.
About the graphicThis meme was created by Edie Melson. She is a fellow member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an outstanding photographer, as you can see, and one of the most generous, loving individuals I know. She posts memes on her blog for others to share and use. This is one of my holiday favorites.
I’m not sure who the Charlotte Carpenter of the quote is. Sir Walter Scott’s wife and a UK singer came up with a Google search. I’m going with Charlotte Carpenter, wife of Sir Walter. What do you think?
Whichever one said it, it’s great advice for this time of year as we hustle and bustle shopping for the perfect gifts in anticipation of Christmas Day, don’t you think?
About the graphicThis is a meme I created several years ago for my November gratitude blogs. The quote is not original, it’s around any place inspiration merchandise is available. I selected the rising sun photo for my version.
Like I said, this is an extremely popular quote. I’ve seen it on journals, posters, magnets, and bumper stickers. Reading it always brings a smile to my face and it reminds me of the rich blessings I have in my life.
About the graphicThe title of my next release is Seeing Clearly. My cover artist and I started out thinking a cloud background would be good. Didn’t work out so I have several purchased images of clouds and decide this quote fit these clouds.
I ran across Robert Holden’s quote in a blog recently. If you’ve been following the November blogs, you know I’m focusing on gratitude. That’s why his words resonated with me.
Holden is a British psychologist, author, and broadcaster, who works in the field of positive psychology and is considered “Britain’s foremost expert on happiness” according to Wikipedia.
Looking at his other quotes, I have to say he does have a positive outlook and firmly believes that a positive attitude provides a sense of well being.
And, in my opinion, being grateful is an important component of positive attitude and well being.
This photo was taken by Jenny Caywood and offered on Unsplash.
Henri Frédéric Amiel was a Swiss philosopher, poet, and critic. I love this quote because it clearly differentials the difference between thankfulness and gratitude.
Being thankful is the first step to gratitude. Expressing thankfulness in words leads to gratitude.
Something to think about as Thanksgiving approaches.
About the memeOn October 6, The University of Arizona ran a full page congratulations ad in the Houston Chronicle for the students, faculty and staff who participated in the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. The group had received the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, which is the “Oscar of Science.”
Congratulations to all of them.
Their ad graphic was the first-ever image of a black hole taken by the collaboration group. This graphic is one I selected from a stock photo website to convey the idea of wonder.
The words immediately reminded me that without wonder very little would be accomplished in this world. Most often wonder translates into What if and discovery begins. Or, if you’re a writer like me, wonder and/or what ifs create plots and stories.
The important take-away is this: It doesn’t matter if you’re part of the some collaboration or simply sitting on a porch swing looking at the sky, never lose WONDER. Always look for unseen possibilities.
About the authorI had a high school English teacher who was very big on memorization. When we studied American poets, she made us memorize poems by Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, Walt Whitman, James Whitcomb Riley, and Edgar Allen Poe. I didn’t enjoy the assignments much back then. Now as words from the poems flow through my memory, I do.
Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is a favorite. When we lived where it actually snowed in the woods behind our house, I found myself reciting Frost’s poem often as I watched the snowflakes fall.
In the throes of that English homework to memorize all those poems and passages from Shakespeare, life passed slowly. I didn’t think the semester would ever be over. Like Frost, I can say in retrospection — life did go on.
And, I’d add that all those memorized words were not wasted.
About William PurkeyI ran across this quote in a The Passive Voice blog. Passive Guy always gives me food for thought with his blog posts where he shares blog site quotes along with a spattering of poetry.
In this blog he introduced me to William Purkey, author of this meme. Purkey was a public school teacher then Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro who co-founded The International Alliance for Invitational Education to help educators foster human potential in educational settings. He authored a book titled Teaching Class Clowns. I wish I’d had that resource during my teaching years.
A different version of Purkey’s quote hangs off the lamp on my computer desk, a gift from a dear friend. Both versions carry the same meaning.
Work like you don’t need the money. Dance like no one is watching. Love like you have never been hurt.
I’m sure there are other versions that encourage us to live in the moment and that’s a good thing. Both quotes make me smile. How about you? Did you smile when you read Purkey’s quote?
About the graphicThis suspended leaf with green in the background is a perfect depiction of fall for those of us who live along the Gulf Coast. No beautiful mountains of color here. Just the occasional leaf floating to earth.
The quote is from Matt Lanza’s weather blog, Space City Weather. The full quote reads: “Autumn is really just a state of mind. In Houston it has to be because you certainly would never know it was just about autumn by stepping outside.”
And, indeed, we are having a very hot September. Our temperatures are in the 95+ range with heat indexes well over 100! To have a feel of fall at my house, I’m hauling fall decorations out and using fake fall foliage accents.
