It ain’t bragging if you can back it up.

Posted on 16 January 2014 by philosiblog

It ain’t bragging if you can back it up. – Dizzy Dean

A top member of the Gas House Gang, this guy could talk, but he backed it up.

As a top member of the Gas House Gang, this guy could talk, but he could back it up.

What does that mean?
As there is pride, there is also confidence. And with pride, there can be a good and useful version of confidence, as well as an unhelpful version.

In the case of this quote, the old term bragging is used to denote the less helpful version of confidence. Bragging is when a person talks about what they can do, rather than do it.

The quote states that if you can do it, and most especially when you do, it isn’t bragging. It is more a prediction, based on expectations and past performance.

In short, the quote is saying that if you can do it, you can talk about it. If not, keep your mouth shut. It is short and sweet, and easy to understand.

Why is limiting what you say to what you can do important?  Continue reading →

Posted in character, doing, humility, moderation, reflection, self improvement | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on It ain’t bragging if you can back it up.

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out…

Posted on 15 January 2014 by philosiblog

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out… – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Beauty comes from within, but it must be lit from within as well.

Beauty comes from within, and it must be lit from within as well. Let your light shine.

What does that mean?
This is truly a beautiful quote, and it was spread across two tweets, and the full text of the tweets is as follows:

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

Think about that for a moment. People sparkle and shine when things are going well for them. They are bright and full of color, basking in the light of the sun.

However, when it is dark out, when things are going badly, only those with a light within themselves will show their true beauty. The others, while still there, are nowhere near as beautiful, as their light has gone dim.

This is a quote from a doctor who worked with they dying, which is about as dark as things could get for most people. I believe this quote is related to her hospice work.

Why is keeping your light on important?  Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, focus, perseverance, perspective, setting an example, strength | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.

Posted on 14 January 2014 by philosiblog

We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. – Selena Quintanilla Perez and Chuck Palahniuk

Forever is a long time. But the Pyramids have lasted a good long time. While you may not be able to build something like this, you can build yourself into a better person and help those around you, right?

Forever is a long time. But the Pyramids have done a good job helping us remember a certain someone. While you may not be able to build something like these monuments, you can build yourself into a better person and help those around you, right?

What does that mean?
This quote is often credited to Selena, who died before Chuck wrote his book, but I can’t find a definitive citation for Selena having said it.

Either way, it’s a good quote. The quote says that we all will die. Of that we are certain. Therefore the first half of the quote is a simple statement of truth. No-one lives forever.

While our bodies will cease, we can live on in the hearts and minds of others. The ancient Egyptians believed you died twice, once when your body died, and again when the your name is said for the last time.

The second part of the quote deals with this concept by stating our immortality comes from becoming part of something which lives on after our death. Family, community, and even world wide, as Alexander and Gandhi have, are but two of many thousands.

Why is being part of something larger than yourself important?  Continue reading →

Posted in accomplishment, friendship, help, inspire, perspective, setting an example | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The more pride we have, the more other people’s pride irritates us.

Posted on 13 January 2014 by philosiblog

The more pride we have, the more other people’s pride irritates us. – C.S. Lewis

Is the pawns boastfulness a bit off-putting?

Is the pawns boastfulness a bit off-putting? Or  is their pride treading on yours?

What does that mean?
I like this quote, because it is so true. As misery loves company, pride seems to despise it. And we have seen it around us, and even within us.

Yes, someone over there is prideful. How does that impact us? If we have no excess or improper pride, why would we care what their problem is? We are doing just fine over here.

And there have been times in your life when you just laugh or shake your head at a prideful person. In that situation, you had no improper pride, so it didn’t really irritate you, did it?

That is the point of the quote. It is a warning that if we find ourselves irritated with the pride of another, it is most likely because of the pride we have within ourselves, and not the good kind either.

Why is pride both dangerous and important?  Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, judgement, laughter, loyalty, pride, self knowledge | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The more pride we have, the more other people’s pride irritates us.

Great changes start with individuals; the basis of world peace is inner peace in the hearts of individuals, something we can all work for.

Posted on 12 January 2014 by philosiblog

Great changes start with individuals; the basis of world peace is inner peace in the hearts of individuals, something we can all work for.  – Dalai Lama

Why did you allow yourself to become angry? How can you avoid anger next time?

Why did you allow yourself to become angry? How can you avoid anger next time? Where is your inner peace, and how

What does that mean?
I like this quote, as it is the basis of a lot of what I have been saying in my blog posts for years. Only the rarest of individuals impact the world.

But all of us can impact ourselves. While it can be hard to imagine that our small contribution matters, all the little contributions add up to something great.

By working on our own hearts, and moving towards inner peace, we can help raise the level of peace in our family, and eventually, in our community, and beyond. But we can only improve ourselves, and encourage others.

And that is what this quote is asking of us. Start with ourselves. Find our path to inner peace, and walk it until it is so well trodden, we rarely take any other path. That is a goal we can work on, as individuals.

Why is finding our inner peace important?  Continue reading →

Posted in anger, calm, forgiveness, habits, peace, relaxation | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

These individuals have riches just as we say that we “have a fever” when really the fever has us.

Posted on 11 January 2014 by philosiblog

These individuals have riches just as we say that we “have a fever” when really the fever has us. – Seneca

My wagon looks like this, except it is blue instead of white. Not going to impress people with it, but it functions well enough for me. What do you drive, and why?

My station wagon looks like this, except it is blue instead of white. I am not going to impress people with it, but it functions well enough for me. What do you drive, and why?

What does that mean?
As frequently happens, the Twitter quote is just a tiny bit of the full quote. In context, the quote makes a bit more sense:

“For as far as those persons are concerned, in whose minds poverty has wrongly stolen the title of riches – these individuals have riches just as we say that we “have a fever,” when really the fever has us. Conversely, we are accustomed to say: “A fever grips him.” And in the same way we should say: “Riches grip him.” There is therefore no advice – and of such advice no one can have too much – which I would rather give you than this: that you should measure all things by the demands of Nature; for these demands can be satisfied either without cost or else very cheaply. Only, do not mix any vices with these demands.”

This quote is about a lust for riches or affluence. The longer quote starts by describing those who feel they have wrongly been denied the riches they seek as in the grip of a fever.

It goes on to say that they ‘have a fever’ is backwards, for the fever for riches has taken them. In short, their fever is greed, and it has caused them to take leave of their senses.

The longer quote goes on to say that there is a difference between what life demands, and what we desire. It concludes by urging us to not confuse the two, lest the fever take us.

Why is living simply important?  Continue reading →

Posted in common sense, humility, judgement, moderation, self knowledge, wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on These individuals have riches just as we say that we “have a fever” when really the fever has us.

Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, & share your passion with them.

Posted on 10 January 2014 by philosiblog

Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, & share your passion with them. – HOLSTEE

"Find my passion in life and have the fortune to dedicate my life to it!"

It says “Find my passion in life and have the fortune to dedicate my life to it!”

What does that mean?
As is so often the case, this Twitter-friendly quote is just a small excerpt from a longer quote, which paraphrases the middle third of the text.

“This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once; seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating. Live your dream, and wear your passion. Life is short.”

This comes from a group of people who decided to follow their dreams, and start a company. While they have diversified since then, they remember the decision to follow their dreams.

To be able to do the things in this quote, you have to know yourself, or at lest be ready and able to try things and discover yourself. And you have to be willing to take a chance, to chase a dream and to live a passionate life.

Why is finding yourself important?  Continue reading →

Posted in dream, exceptionalism, learning, love, passion, reflection | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, & share your passion with them.

The only cure for vanity is laughter, and the only fault that is laughable is vanity.

Posted on 9 January 2014 by philosiblog

The only cure for vanity is laughter, and the only fault that is laughable is vanity. – Henri Bergson

While I'm sure this isn't his problem, if you can't walk past a mirror without taking a selfie, you might have a vanity issue, right?

While I’m sure this isn’t his problem, if you can’t walk past a mirror without taking a selfie, you might have a vanity issue, right?

What does that mean?
Taking this quote from the second half, the quote says the only fault which is laughable, or mockable, is vanity. In other words, it deserves to be mocked or laughed at.

Vanity is a state of extreme prideful-ness in which the achievements or appearance of or by that same person is held in high regard. It happens, but it’s a sad thing.

The first part of the quote then states that mockery or laughter is the only way to alert the person in question that their self-value or vanity is way out of line.

In this manner, peer pressure can be used to help them come back towards what is normal. Hopefully, the person can understand what happened and why, and alter their behavior. Also, one can only hope the person also can see the humor in their prior behavior.

Why is laughter important?   Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, compassion, help, laughter, pride, reflection | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s hard to beat a guy when he’s got his mind made up that he’s going to win.

Posted on 8 January 2014 by philosiblog

It’s hard to beat a guy when he’s got his mind made up that he’s going to win. – Muhammad Ali

Really, Red? Is that all you have? You're not going to beat me!

Really, Red? Is that all you have? You’re not going to beat me! BAM!

What does that mean?
This quote is about the reason why. We all have things we want to do, and the main difference is the reason why we are doing them.

I once heard someone say that when it comes to decisions, the how would answer itself if the reason why was powerful enough. To me, that is what this quote is saying.

It says that if your reason why is because you are going to win, you are going to be tougher to beat than someone with a reason why of wanting to know if they could do it, or were doing it for fun.

To me, this quote is a reminder that a person with a powerful reason why is always going to be formidable. It also is stated in a way which could be read as the speaker talking about themselves. You can be that person, if you have a reason why.

Why is making up your mind important?   Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, decision, learning, motivation, strength, victory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on It’s hard to beat a guy when he’s got his mind made up that he’s going to win.

The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.

Posted on 7 January 2014 by philosiblog

The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it. – Arthur Schopenhauer

He has had time to reflect. What will he relate when he tells his story to them?

He has had time to reflect. What will he say when he tells his story to them?

What does that mean?
As I am past that point of inflection, I find this quote fascinating. Personally, I might put that point back a few years, but it still is good.

By the age of 40, a great number of people are approaching that magic part of their lives, where they become grandparents. Some sooner, some later, but their lives change.

With that change, they begin to see things differently, especially the relationships within the family. Things start to change, and explanations (or excuses) for prior behavior become common.

In this manner, the older generation gives to the younger generations their accumulated wisdom, either by word or by deed, either what to do, or what not to do. But that provides commentary on their lives in any case.

Why is reflection important?  Continue reading →

Posted in adaptation, contemplation, failure, judgement, reflection, success | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.

Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.

Posted on 6 January 2014 by philosiblog

Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think. – Dale Carnegie

If this is what it takes for you to be happy, perhaps you're doing it wrong.

If this is what it takes for you to be happy, perhaps you’re doing it wrong.

What does that mean?
The heart of this quote has been said many times, and in many different ways. This is the take on it from a businessman and personal excellence trainer.

Far too many in the business community are focused on how important their position is within the company. But honestly even one would be too many, right?

Similarly, those focused on climbing the corporate ladder are often focused on how much money they make, so that they can buy the things they want or feel they should have. Luxury car or a Rolex, anyone?

This quote rightly states that it is what you think, your attitude or your state of mind, which determines if you are happy or not. None of that other stuff matters, except to try to convince you that you are happy. But are you?

Why is your attitude important?   Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, happiness, motivation, observation, thinking, work | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.

The challenge today is to convince people of the value of truth, honesty, compassion and a concern for others.

Posted on 5 January 2014 by philosiblog

The challenge today is to convince people of the value of truth, honesty, compassion and a concern for others. –Dalai Lama

Do you think that a wall painting like this would help people remember these values?

Do you think that a wall painting like this could help people remember these values?

What does that mean?
This, sadly, is true far too often. Yes, there are stand-up people out there, those who value at least three of the items in the quote, some even support all four. But they are all too rare.

You may be lucky and have a group of friends and family who live by these values, but for many, every day is a struggle, having to deal with the people who do not follow them.

Imagine how our governments, from city up through national, would run, if every politician and bureaucrat lived and worked by these values. Some do, but others do not.

That is why the quote states that it is a challenge to get people to get back to the fundamental values of humanity, and turn their backs on greed and selfishness. I believe it can be done.

Why are values important? Continue reading →

Posted in belief, compassion, honest, setting an example, truth, value | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The challenge today is to convince people of the value of truth, honesty, compassion and a concern for others.

Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.

Posted on 4 January 2014 by philosiblog

Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last. – Seneca

While you may be a good swimmer, and the kayak appears unbreakable and unsinkable, prudence says to take the extra time to put on your life vest.

While you may be a good swimmer, and the kayak appears unbreakable and unsinkable, prudence says to take the extra time to put on your life vest. Take caution.

What does that mean?
This quote is about the eternal battle between the bright idea, blurted out and the measured and thoughtful response, given after careful con-sideration.

This web page gives a massive lecture on the definition, use and value of prudence. It is quite an interesting read. However, they attribute this quote to a more recent person.

The point is that while it might be neat to show how smart you are, and to be first with the (seemingly) correct answer, it often works out that there is a better solution.

While there are times when expediency is required, when leisure is allowed, even a genius can benefit from a bit of prudence. How many times did Einstein double check his work prior to publishing it? Genius and prudence, a most excellent combination.

Why is caution important? Continue reading →

Posted in caution, delay, observation, preparation, thinking, time | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

2013 in review

Posted on 3 January 2014 by philosiblog

The WordPress.Com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Note: Because of the change from wordpress.com to wordpress.org, the post count is off. It should be over 360 posts, and we probably lost some other numbers in the transition. But still, it was a good year. Thanks for coming along on the ride.

Here’s an excerpt:

The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 860,000 times in 2013. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 37 days for that many people to see it.

In 2013, there were 305 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 832 posts.

The busiest day of the year was December 20th with 4,315 views. The most popular post that day was Anybody can become angry. But to be angry… at the right time and for the right purpose is not within everybody’s power.

Click here to see the complete report.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on 2013 in review

People are rewarded in public for what they practice for years in private.

Posted on 3 January 2014 by philosiblog

People are rewarded in public for what they practice for years in private. – Tony Robbins

 

How do you improve? Practice. Why practice? To improve. You might even get noticed.

How do you improve? Practice. Why practice? To improve. You might even get noticed.

What does that mean?
This is another straight forward observation of human life. When people get rewarded in public, it is rarely for something they did the very first time.

Instead, people are rewarded for things they do well, and that usually comes to them in one very specific way. Practice. Usually a lot of practice. Years and years, in most cases.

You don’t play Carnegie Hall after a month or two on your instrument. If you play it at all, you will have practiced for years and years and years.

And remember, rewards come in many sizes, from the congratulations of someone prominent in your field, to an awards ceremony carried on National TV. But it all starts with practice.

Why is practice important?  Continue reading →

Posted in decision, exceptionalism, learning, motivation, preparation, self improvement | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment