kindness

Lifeline

“For those living in a dark cave… sometimes all it takes is for someone to throw us a lifeline.” ~Martin R. Lemieux Thank goodness for Google Maps. There are times we wouldn’t find our way if not for that wise little voice. Often, a notification will pop up alerting the driver that there is an […]

Read More

Diversion Can Drive You to Succeed

“The mind ought sometimes to be diverted that it may return the better to thinking.” ~Plato, Phaedrus What is on your to-do list?  Is there any chance you’ll get it all accomplished today? “No,” you think, “not if I keep running into people who want to talk to me.”  It happens when we are in […]

Read More

Using a Filter for More than Coffee

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” ― Emily Post The conversation was louder than the library normally would encourage. Her lack of concern for those trying to study was not surprising, though, as she was seldom […]

Read More

What Defines You?

“I don’t know. Just because someone’s pretty doesn’t mean she’s decent. Or vice versa. I’m not into appearances. I like flaws, I think they make things interesting.” ― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever Men who believe their noses aren’t attractive enough, women who think some sections aren’t large enough while other sections are too large, […]

Read More

Treasure the Ordinary

“Every day look at a beautiful picture, read a beautiful poem, listen to some beautiful music, and if possible, say some reasonable thing.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe You hurry to look at the sunset announced by someone standing at the window. Remarkable in its beauty, this setting sun of oranges and reds mixed with purple hues […]

Read More

The Power, the Joy, and the Fear of Anonymity

“She’d never felt more alone, even as hundreds of people walked by. No one recognized her, and she began to treasure her anonymity as a gift.” ― Jamie Ford, Songs of Willow Frost Airports are busy, the roads are full, the restaurants are filled with tables of people.  Sitting quietly on a bench, he watched […]

Read More

When Everyone’s a Winner, We Lose

In a word, we may reasonably hope for the virtual abolition of education when I’m as good as you has fully had its way. ~C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters “You won!” I congratulated my great-nephew after our race across my brother’s yard.  I suppose I could have tried a little harder, but I am forever trying to […]

Read More

Dear Johnston…the power of a letter

Dear Johnston, Your request for eighty dollars, I do not think it best to comply with now. At the various times when I have helped you a little, you have said to me “We can get along very well now,” but in a short time I find you in the same difficulty again. ~Abraham Lincoln […]

Read More

Revelations Come When We are Ready

“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh There is really no other way to see things than the way they always have been seen or to do things other than the way they’ve always been done, right?  It’s worked for years–the way […]

Read More

Without Stars, We’re All Pretty Much the Same

“I’m quite happy to say that the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day, the day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches and no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.” ~The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss Walking into the store, the lady in the fancy dress feels intimidating, the way she seems to […]

Read More

Thoughts to Encourage

Joy is the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.~ William Butler Yeats

Whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right. - Henry Ford

The best way out is always through. ~ Robert Frost

Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. ~ Oliver Goldsmith

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

Nothing helps like a good nap…

Birds are Beautiful

A Dog is Faithful…