Even though I am limited by my resources I am never limited by my resourcefulness.

Even though I am limited by my resources I am never limited by my resourcefulness. – Andrew G. Warby

Boxes can be fun for playing, but don't get stuck in one, physically or mentally.

Boxes can be fun for playing, but don’t get stuck in one, physically or mentally.

What does that mean?
I like this quote, as it reminds us that we don’t need to ever be stuck and unable to get things done. There are ways to move forward, if we can just think of it.

While most of us do not have the resources to simply do whatever we want, we don’t have to be limited by what we lack. We can use our imagination and creativity to get past our limits.

And, to me, that is the point of the quote. We need to remember that we are more than just what we have or the things to which we have access. Be creative and use your imagination.

If we live our lives thinking inside the box, we will always life inside the box. Life can be so much more interesting if we are willing to unstick ourselves from our limits and come up with new ideas. We can always do more with less. If we are creative and push past our limits.

Why is creativity important?  Continue reading

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Be loving. And if you don’t feel loving, then simply be kind. Kindness is just love in her daily clothes.

Be loving. And if you don’t feel loving, then simply be kind. Kindness is just love in her daily clothes. – Alexandra K. Trenfor – still no bio 8(

Does love have to wear fancy clothes, or are you OK with it when love dresses casual?

Does love have to wear fancy clothes, or are you OK with it when love dresses casual?

What does that mean?
I like this quote in general, but with Valentines Day fast approaching, it seems even more interesting. Not everyone has a special someone in their life at this time, and this quote gives them, and the rest of us, some options.

There are times when romantic love just isn’t happening in your life. That doesn’t mean you have no love in your life, just that one particular flavor of it is missing.

And if you are in a particularly dark place, you can always work on being kind. Kind to others, as well as yourself. It’s a great first step to emerging from the darkness.

And the quote finishes by revealing a secret most people understood, but never could put their finger on. Kindness is a flavor of love. A little diluted, but love none the less.

Why is kindness important?  Continue reading

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WOO HOO! One and a Quarter Million Views!

WOO HOO! One and a Quarter Million Views!

Thanks so very much for your support.

Thanks so very much for your support.

Wow! As I approach my 1100th post, I get my 1.25 millionth page view, sometime earlier yesterday.

Thanks for the support.

Photo byJeff Golden

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A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.Elbert Hubbard

While this is a fairly simple circuit, the photographer mentioned that it wouldn't work, and eventually found the problem. Persistence works, if you keep at it.

While this is a fairly simple circuit, the photographer mentioned that it wouldn’t work, but he eventually found the problem. Persistence works, if you keep at it. Do it, or quit. Choose.

What does that mean?
A slightly longer version of the quote is as follows:

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.” Follow the link at the bottom of the post for an even longer version of this passage.

This quote is about the willingness to persist. It is about doing it again, trying a different method or approach, to try to get a different result.

This quote is about never, ever, giving up. It is about getting up one more time. It is about picking up the pieces again, and starting over, again.

This quote is dedicated to all the people who tried and tried and almost quit, but tried one more time, and got it right.

Why is persistence important?  Continue reading

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Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, & a hard-to-find alloy called guts.

Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, & a hard-to-find alloy called guts.Dan Gable

Only a few get to stand on the podium. Do you have the guts to go after your dream?

Only a few get to stand on the podium. Do you have the guts to go after your goals? (2012)

What does that mean?
With the Winter 2014 Olympics in the news, it seems fitting to have the words of a Gold Medal winner (wrestling, 1972 Munich) as the blog post for today.

This quote, while mentioning the physical object Gold Metal, is more about what it takes to earn one. And being made of gold, or having a lot of gold in the bank is not what it takes.

The details of the recipe may vary from person to person, but it’s basically the same for all of us. Sweat, implying a great deal of effort to get there. Determination, implying there will inevitably be obstacles and inconveniences between here and there.

It concludes with the toughest ingredient to find, guts. Determination and sweat are the baby steps you take on the road to becoming a champion. Guts is what you need when you realize how far you have come, and how much farther you still have to go. Fail the gut-check, and you go home.

Why is having ‘guts’ important?  Continue reading

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Giving your son a skill is better than giving him one thousand pieces of gold.

Giving your son a skill is better than giving him one thousand pieces of gold. – Chinese Proverb

What will they have to feed themselves after they sell or spend the gold?

What will they have to feed themselves after they sell or spend the gold?

What does that mean?
This is a quote about preparation. Whether it is a son or daughter, a niece or nephew, or even a friend of the family, a skill is a gift which will last them a lifetime.

Gold, money, jewelry, or cars, these gifts are only a one-shot potential. A skill will still be theirs long after they have spent the gold or money, pawned the jewels, or wrecked the car.

We often give others what we consider valuable. To someone with the skills to earn gold, money, jewelry, and cars, those things are how they demonstrate their ability and worth.

But to someone just starting out, these are not sustainable gifts. To sustain a nice car, one needs a skill to trade for money. Without that skill, they will be living their life on the charity of their friends and family.

Why is having a skill (or two) important?  Continue reading

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Love and compassion are qualities that human beings require just to live together.

Love and compassion are qualities that human beings require just to live together. – Dalai Lama

Love and compassion go with so many other words, it's hard to list them all.

Love and compassion go with so many other words, it’s hard to list them all. Here is a good start on the list.

What does that mean?
I like this quote as it talks about a fundamental truth which we often ignore, despite knowing it to be true. Even as children, we understood this.

We all live together on this planet. In the days when a horse was fast transportation, this quote still applied, just to a smaller area at any given time.

Today, between aircraft and the internet, we all live on a very small world. The paradigm of “Us vs Them” just doesn’t work anymore. As much as one country or another wants to use those old methods, the rest of the world clearly sees it as foolish.

Love and compassion are the foundation of all human relations. As our families and circles of friendship become larger, so must our hearts. There really is no other way to live together in harmony.

Why is having a large heart important?  Continue reading

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There is nothing the busy man is less busied with than living.

There is nothing the busy man is less busied with than living.Seneca

This applies even at work. How much focus is being given to any task?

This applies even at work. How much focus is being given to any task? Busy or living?

What does that mean?
This quote is part of a larger paper, in which he is describing the difficulties in being too busy to breathe and enjoy life in the present.

He talks about how a busy mind cannot delve deeply enough into any one topic to truly learn any lesson, except in a superficial manner. It concludes with the statement that “…there is nothing that is harder to learn [than how to live].”

His example includes people who are too busy being busy to actually enjoy life, and being alive. Yes, the glutton enjoys their food, but what do they do to enjoy the rest of life?

Life isn’t always pleasant, and takes time and effort to learn how to live well. Life is full of annoyances and pains. It is also full of distractions and it can be hard to avoid them.

Why is focus important?  Continue reading

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I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.

I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

We all have our faults, but let's try to look past them.

We all have our faults, but let’s try to look past them, and focus on the good in all.

What does that mean?
I like this quote, because I don’t like others prying into my business. Usually people who ignore this quote are busy-bodies and a bit judgmental.

This quote is about being the opposite. It is about recognizing that we all have our faults, and that it is not bright to criticize others for having a fault when we all have them.

The quote also has a positive side. It mentions that the primary thing we should do when we see someone is to look for their good qualities. They will have negative qualities or faults, but so do we all.

Imagine how the world might be if we quit beating each other up for having faults. I drive too fast. Others eat too much. So what. Let them be themselves, and leave the judging for later. Are you willing to give it a try?

Why is being less judgmental important?  Continue reading

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It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.

It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.Epictetus

Kids are used to humble learning. But what about you? Can you maintain the openness of the White Belt Mind?

Kids are used to humble learning. But what about you? Can you maintain the openness of the White Belt Mind? Let go of what you think you know, and learn again.

What does that mean?
As is common with the limits on length on Twitter, the quote loses a little flavor from being shortened. The longer version is as follows:

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

Although the quote is specifically about philosophy, the first thing one must do when learning anything is to approach with an empty vessel. If your mind is already full of what you know, there is no room for anything else. And sometimes, what you think you know isn’t right.

By admitting that you might not know everything, you open the door for more information, or corrections, to enter your mind. But as soon as you know something, the door closes and your mind is no longer accessible.

Why is humility important? Continue reading

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The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.

The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see. – Alexandra K. Trenfor – no bio

A great place to look for ways to satisfy your curiosity is a library.

A great place to look for ways to satisfy your curiosity is a library, as is the internet.

What does that mean?
This is a nice quote, getting directly to the heart of the difference between teaching and indoctri-nating. It’s just that straight forward.

If someone is telling you what to see, they are indoctri-nating you. You aren’t being taught to think, you are being told what to think. I don’t think that is very good way to teach.

Curiosity is a powerful force. If you tell someone where to look, and let them observe, they are far more likely to become interested. If you tell them what they see, why would they bother to look? The curiosity is gone.

In this way, the teachers are best who inspire you to want to learn. And not just from that teacher, but to continue to learn for the rest of your life. I was blessed with some of the very best teachers, and I still love to learn. How about you?

Why is curiosity important?  Continue reading

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Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk.

Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk.Joaquín Setantí

"Go climb up there, and do something funny. I'll stay here and get the picture!"

“Go climb up there, and do something funny. I’ll stay here and get the picture!” Riiiiight!

What does that mean?
Often cited to Seneca, it appears to actually be from an Early Renaissance Spanish Philosopher. But either way, it is a useful quote to consider.

What happens when you take action? You have the possibility of risk. That is fine, if you are willing to take it, and will benefit from the task. If not, then you are being used in some manner. It’s up to you to determine if you think it’s worth it.

This activity, the urging of others to take risks for you, is frequently called manipulation, and several other, and much less pleasant things. Sometimes it’s for your children, or other family members, and done willing or only slightly reluctantly.

This is as much a warning to you to avoid that person as it is a warning for you to avoid being that person. You don’t want to be known as a manipulative jerk, do you? I would hope not.

Why is weighing risk against the reward important?  Continue reading

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Use what talents you possess; The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

Use what talents you possess; The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.Henry van Dyke

Are you the best? Going to the Olympics? Expecting to win the Gold? This person is having fun and honing their skills and talents. Birds sing, Skiers ski.

Are you the best?  Are you going to the Olympics? Are you expecting to win the Gold? This person is having fun and honing their skills and talents. Birds sing, Skiers ski.

What does that mean?
Think about that for a moment. Imagine how quiet the world would be if only the best of the birds sang? What if only the best artist painted? Can you wrap your head around that? I know I can’t.

Can you imagine if we had to choose between contemporaries Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo? Some of their best work overlap. Which one should have remained silent and still, doing nothing, while the other worked?

The point of the quote is that we can all contribute, even if we are not the best in the world, or even in our neck of the woods. I’m not the best blogger by any measure, yet I contribute in my own way.

This quote urges us to get out there and do what we can, whether it be singing in the woods or doing any other activity where ever it is appropriate for you. Don’t hide your ability because you aren’t the best. Practice, and get better, even if you will never be the best.

Why is doing your best important?  Continue reading

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We need values based on common sense, experience and scientific findings, what I refer to as secular ethics.

We need values based on common sense, experience and scientific findings, what I refer to as secular ethics. – Dalai Lama

What do you think of cloning humans, or genetically modifying organisms? Our ethics help us determine what our rules are.

What do you think of cloning humans, or genetically modifying organisms? Our ethics help us determine what is right. What are yours? Can mine be different?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote, coming from a person considered very spiritual. It is the practical side of ethics. No theory, no belief, just rock solid ethics.

Many religious based ethics have some basis in an unprovable belief. This quote allows for that in the ‘experience’ section, but our experiences also include our interactions with the real world.

The quote also adds common sense to the list, as some forms of ethics seem to be devoid of such. Exceptions can be an excuse, but they can also be the only path to sanity when the rules are too complex.

Scientific findings are interesting, as what we can do and what we should do are often in conflict. And science isn’t resting, so our ethics have to adapt to the latest findings. Consider Human Cloning as an example where ethics lags science.

Why is having well defined ethics important?  Continue reading

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As long as you live, keep learning how to live.

As long as you live, keep learning how to live.Seneca

We all can learn something. And it doesn't have to cost a lot. The internet, your local library, and friends can all help.

We all can learn something. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot. The internet, your local library, and friends can all help. As long as we are breathing, we should be learning.

What does that mean?
This is a quote which in turn quotes an even older proverb, author unknown. The longer version of the quote is as follows:

You should keep learning as long as you are ignorant — even to the end of your life, if there is anything in the proverb. And the proverb suits the present case as well as any: “As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”

The way the quote is presented says that this wisdom was old when Seneca wrote of it. And it had withstood the test of time at that point, and is still clearly true today.

Do you know any old people who don’t know how to set the timer on their microwave or VCR? Do they know how to use the GPS in their car? Life continues to change, and we must continue to adapt. Otherwise we will be left behind.

Why is continually learning important?  Continue reading

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