This 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.
About the quote
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.
The 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.
About the quote
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.
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.
On 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.
About the quote
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.
I 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.
About the quote
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.
I 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.
About the quote
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?
This 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.
About the quote
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.
The quote graphic comes from Azquotes.com It’s a fabulous site, easily searchable, if you need a quote.
About the quote
I stumbled upon this quote by Heraclitus in a daily devotional. Its deep meaning struck a chord with me. I’m not the only one. If you do a web search of the quote you will find pages and pages of blogs and essays on the meaning of Heraclitus’ words.
Philosophy was the first course I took when I went back to finish my college degree. Ever since, I’m been fascinated by Greek philosophers like Heraclitus whose words are sometimes as timeless as the Bible. Want to read more about Heraclitus, check out this essay by Eric Gerlach
This quote is one has timeless meaning. Most people consider only the flowing river. The current moves and truly you can’t step in the exact spot twice, but the reality is we change too as time and experience flow over us.
We may think our lives remain the same, yet, like the river in Heraclitus’ quote, human life is continually changing. Every day we encounter new people who influence us and change our lives. We read books, take courses, and travel to new places. Our world is in a state of flux changing by the very fact we’re alive.
To survive and succeed, we have to embrace change and flow like a river only with new perspective.
Can you see your life flowing like a river with change?
The picture is one I took when we lived in Colorado. The mountains and weather frequently combine to offer beautiful rainbows, both full and double. It was a lovely sight.
About the quote
Douglas Pagels is an author and this quote comes from his book, These Are the Gifts I’d Like to Give to You: A Sourcebook of Joy and Encouragement. You can read about him and his books here. I thought his words tied in nicely with Monday’s Labor Day holiday.
Work is good, but play is important, too. We should take a day off, even when it isn’t Labor Day, and pick a color of the rainbow to SLIDE down!
Years ago this meme floated around in email then on other social media. I loved the elephant with the bird on his back cruising through the air. I ran across it the other day and had to share.
About the quote
The quote resonated with me as much as the graphic. I found this on Edie Weinstein‘s website: “Edie discovered that the life path we traverse calls on us to become willing to be light-hearted and childlike, not taking ourselves too seriously.” Doesn’t that sound like a great life?
Think I’ll try to be more opti-mystic and focus on possibilities.
About the graphic
