It is the soul they see, not the color of the skin.

Posted on 26 February 2013 by philosiblog

It is the soul they see, not the color of the skin.  – Sissieretta Jones

It is amazing how little attention children pay to such superficialities as skin color. I believe we can learn from them.

It is amazing how little attention children pay to such superficial attributes as skin color. I believe we can learn from them. Would you agree?

What does that mean?
I saw an interesting quote on twitter which was very close to this, and started digging. I found the following long version of the quote in a bio page, and used the last bit as the quote for today’s blog post:

“It matters not to them what is the color of an artist’s skin. If a man or a woman is a great actor, or a great musician, or a great singer, they will extend a warm welcome. … It is the soul they see, not the color of the skin.”

Today’s quote is by a lady who was an international singing sensation in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. But she was black, and had very limited options in America. She toured the world, and found that there were places where her skin color was not an issue.

The quote comes from a letter she wrote while touring in Europe. She had to break out of the stereotype, and be her own person on her own terms. While some of her dreams were never realized (playing the female lead at the Metropolitan Opera house), she did perform for four US presidents and the British Royal family, and was adored by many Caribbean rulers.

Her quote is about how her music was about what she could bring out in others minds, what she could project of herself, and not the color of her skin. While we have come quite a good distance since then, there is always room for improvement.

Why is looking deeper than skin-deep important?  Continue reading →

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Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues.

Posted on 25 February 2013 by philosiblog

Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues. – Ida Cox

WildWomen

These women don’t look like they have the blues to me, what do you think?

What does that mean?
This is a line from one of her blues songs, of the same title. A slightly longer chunk of lyrics are included at the end of the post. It’s a song from the 1920’s, and is about the difference between the ‘nice girls’ who sit around and complain about their men and wondering what they are doing, and how the ‘wild women’ don’t have those worries.

At the time, it was a scandalous song, in both word and concept. You have to remember that at that time, the women of the world had been (and in some places still were) second class citizens, meant to be seen and not heard. Men held all the power, and were pretty much free to pursue ‘outside interests’ with little to worry.

This song was a simple statement that if you lived your own life, instead of sitting around waiting for someone else, you would have fewer regrets, and not have the blues (American slang for feeling down or depressed). While that doesn’t mean you have to be wanton or crazy, it does mean that sometimes conventional behavior should be avoided.

Why is being wild important?  Continue reading →

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The real source of inner strength and self-confidence is warm-heartedness.

Posted on 24 February 2013 by philosiblog

The real source of inner strength and self-confidence is warm-heartedness. – Dalai Lama

Is there any doubt that they are feeling warm-hearted?

Is there any doubt that they are feeling warm-hearted? Do you see strength & confidence?

What does that mean?
This quote is about the ideas of a very wise man for attaining both inner strength, and self-confidence. To me, those are both very important things to have.

Inner strength gives you the ability to do what must be done and resist that which must be resisted. Self-confidence gives you the inner conviction that you are doing the right thing and take the first step towards a worthy goal, despite the fear and uncertainty.

The key, according to the quote, is warm-heartedness. But being warm-hearted isn’t always easy. But when you are, you will have strength. When you are, you will have confidence. When you are, you will open yourself up to being hurt. But if you are not, you will be hurt even more, in my opinion.

Why is warm-heartedness important?  Continue reading →

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Life’s like a play: it’s not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters.

Posted on 23 February 2013 by philosiblog

Life’s like a play: it’s not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters. – Seneca

This is the face of excellence. A teen with an incurable disease, who was granted but a short span of time.

This is the face of excellence. A teen with an incurable disease, who was granted but a short span of time. We may never match his excellence, but we can work to be the best person we can possibly be.

What does that mean?
Most people don’t win awards like a Tony, an Oscar, or a Golden Globe. They play their part, and that’s it. The curtain falls, and it’s over. This quote reminds us that life is that way too. Most of us just go about our day, playing our part. And then it is over.

The quote also reminds us that this isn’t always the case. Some people manage to put a lot of excellence into their lives, regardless of length. And the quote also implies that there are plenty with very long lives, but with very little excellence.

A very long play, poorly acted, is a terrible thing to suffer. A much shorter play, excellently acted leaves you aching for more. But with life, it’s not an either-or proposition. We can be both excellent, and lead a long life, even though we only have control over one of those things.

Why is having excellence in your life important?  Continue reading →

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Communication is hearing what’s not being said.

Posted on 22 February 2013 by philosiblog

Communication is hearing what’s not being said. – Tony Robbins and here

Do you remember rotary dial phones? The tape reminds us that not all communication comes from voice. What is the body language of the other person? On the phone, who knows!

Do you remember rotary dial phones? The tape on the mouth piece reminds us that not all communication comes from voice. What is the body language of the other person? If you are on the phone, how could you possibly know?

What does that mean?
This is a quote that has been said in many ways by many people, but the basic point is always the same. There are always two parts to everything that is communicated. The part that is said, and the part that is not said.

This is true, whether it’s business or pleasure. It’s true with kids or adults. There is what is said (or written), and then there are the omissions (that which is not being said). They may be omitting things they don’t want you to know or are afraid to say.

Whatever the reason for the omission, if you can figure it out, you then better understand them. If you cannot, you’ll never quite get it right. You may get close, but you won’t ever completely understand. And if you’re the speaker, how will you communicate what you don’t say?

Why is communication important?  Continue reading →

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We must exchange the philosophy of excuse, what I am is beyond my control, for the philosophy of responsibility.

Posted on 21 February 2013 by philosiblog

We must exchange the philosophy of excuse, what I am is beyond my control, for the philosophy of responsibility. – Barbara Jordan

Yes, they shouldn't have thrown the phone to you, but are you totally without responsibility? Could you have done a better job of catching?

Yes, they shouldn’t have thrown the phone when you asked, but are you totally without responsibility? Could you have done a better job of catching it? Could you have asked them to hand it to you or otherwise been more specific? Or will you just use the excuse that it’s all their fault and you are blameless?

What does that mean?
This is a fairly straight-forward quote. It urges us to quit making excuses. There is always a reason, something outside ourselves, that caused things to not work out. It’s never our fault. At least that’s the way quite a number of people seem to operate.

The quote urges us to take responsibility. To own both the good and that which is less than good. To own our actions and our reactions. To me, it also implies (based on the middle section) that we should also take responsibility for the things which are not within our control.

I also like the use of the word philosophy in this quote. In this context I take it to mean the pursuit of wisdom and moral self-discipline. In short, it is urging us to pursue wisdom through responsibility, not sink in the lack of wisdom by way of excuse.

Why is responsibility important?  Continue reading →

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I never had an occasion to question color, therefore, I only saw myself as what I was… a human being.

Posted on 20 February 2013 by philosiblog

I never had an occasion to question color, therefore, I only saw myself as what I was… a human being. – Sidney Poitier

Does she hold herself with dignity, or wit fear? Who cares how it started, it won't end until she is treated with respect, as a fellow human being.

Does she hold herself with dignity, or with fear? Who cares how it started, it won’t end until she is treated with respect, as a fellow human being. Will you do it, or will it just continue?

What does that mean? Some of us are born into a form of luxury, being part of the majority ethnic or religious group in the local area. Others are born into the minority. For those of us in the majority, this quote may seem obvious.

For those born in the minority, however, it can be hard to not see the difference. Every day, in every face that is different. In every disapproving glance or cold-hearted stare. For someone to be able to move beyond that, to see through or past such petty distinctions, is amazing.

That is what makes the quote, and the person who said it, so special. To have come from such humble beginnings, and to have broken through on stage and in movies as a black man in a white world is impressive enough. To have done so with such class and dignity, that’s truly spectacular.

Why is the dignity of our fellow humans important?  Continue reading →

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Drugs are in every walk of life – doctors, lawyers, preachers, the guy who works for IBM, teenagers on the street, teenagers in school.

Posted on 19 February 2013 by philosiblog

Drugs are in every walk of life – doctors, lawyers, preachers, the guy who works for IBM, teenagers on the street, teenagers in school. – Smokey Robinson

You can erase your addiction, but you probably need help. If you didn't, you probably wouldn't be addicted, right?

You can erase your addiction, but you probably need help. If you didn’t, you probably wouldn’t be addicted, right?

What does that mean?
This is the witness of human nature by a Rock and Roll, as well as Rhythm and Blues legend. He’s seen it all, the highs and the lows. He’s been there, done that, and now speaks to others about how to beat it.

It, of course, is drugs. Nearly every society has something that they aren’t supposed to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise enjoy. However, given how the human body and biochemistry work, some of these substances can be terribly damaging to us.

So many people I know keep saying “it couldn’t happen in my neighborhood” but it does. All the time. Sometimes it’s the kids, other times, it’s the parents. There are plenty of reasons (actually excuses) and often times the price is paid by the whole family.

This quote is a warning to all of us, to beware, and to understand that it can happen to anyone. When you least expect it, and where you least expect it. It is a human failing, and in many cases, the impact of the substance is far more than the person can handle on their own.

Why is getting help from others important?  Continue reading →

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You may delay, but time will not.

Posted on 18 February 2013 by philosiblog

You may delay, but time will not. – Benjamin Franklin

Is time spiraling away from you? You can't delay!

Is time spiraling away from you? You can’t delay, act today, before time, gets away!

What does that mean?
This quote is about the unrelenting nature of time. It just keeps coming and coming and coming. That’s just the nature of time. It flows on, it keeps going. Whether you like it or not, here it comes. Again. More.

We can, and often do, delay in our lives. However, as the quote says, time doesn’t delay. This quote is reminding us that time is a-ticking. What we fail to do now, will not be done. What time we waste is gone forever. What time we let slip through our hands will never be recovered.

That’s not to say that a little rest and relaxation every now and then is uncalled for. It just means that we should be prudent when we do delay, and make sure we account for the impact it will have in how our lives play out, and what we are not getting done while relaxing.

Why is drive or intensity important?  Continue reading →

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By implementing the practice of love and compassion, we will naturally live a non-violent way of life.

Posted on 17 February 2013 by philosiblog

By implementing the practice of love and compassion, we will naturally live a non-violent way of life. – Dalai Lama

Love and compassion - they aren't complete without you.

Love and compassion – they aren’t complete without you, nor are you complete without them. How can you make both of them part of your every-day life?

What does that mean?
This quote has in interesting premise. It speaks about living a life where we regularly practice love and compassion, and make it part of our daily lives.

What will that do for us? The second half of the quote answers that it will naturally lead us to live a life which has very little violence. We certainly won’t start fights, and will do what we can to sooth those who desire a fight, but there is no promise that we can reach everyone, right?

But even if we cannot eliminate violence completely from our lives, we can work at minimizing it. We can use our source of love and compassion to help others. We can lend them our strength when theirs is low, we can advise them when they are out of ideas. We can help our little corner of the world be a little calmer, more relaxed, and less violent.

Why are love and compassion important?  Continue reading →

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No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline.

Posted on 16 February 2013 by philosiblog

No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline. – Seneca

"Did somebody say Squirrel?" Even squirrels can become distracted.

“Did somebody say Squirrel?” Even squirrels can become distracted.

What does that mean?
This quote is about the end of excuses. “I couldn’t help myself.” Or “I knew it was wrong, but I was over-whelmed and did it anyway.” These are the excuses of people who have done the things that they should not have done, yet did anyway.

This quote says that discipline can handle anything the human heart can throw at it. While I might find room for an exception for true mental illness or deficiency, for all the rest of us, all we have are excuses and a lack of self-discipline, right?

We control our impulses, we control our desires. We behave ourselves within the confines of the rules of our society. We turn away from what is labeled as evil or detrimental to society, and do what is right, what is expected of us. The method of this self-denial is self-discipline, the basis of this quote.

Why is self-discipline important?  Continue reading →

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The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.

Posted on 15 February 2013 by philosiblog

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi

I believe the TV has sucked more brains out than all the zombies combined. Do you have the will power to complete a task, or will you be distracted?

I believe the TV has sucked more brains out than all the zombies combined. Do you have the will power to complete a task, or will you be distracted?

What does that mean?
This quote, by a well known American Football coach, is all about motivation, and if you have enough of it or not. In the sport, a lot of skill, strength  and yes, knowledge is necessary to play well at the professional level.

But this quote is about the next step up in ability, and that is the will to do so. It’s about the will to do another lap, another set of sprints, or the will to win the game despite the score. That is what separates those who do what is necessary from those who are just doing it because it’s fun.

That doesn’t mean you can’t do something for the fun of it, but the question arises when it ceases to be fun. What do you do then? Do you have the will to do what it takes? That was a very important trait to this coach, and to all of us in real life.

Why is having the will to accomplish a task important?  Continue reading →

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For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Posted on 14 February 2013 by philosiblog

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. – Judy Garland

Roses are red... But if they are allergic to flowers, perhaps you should give them something else.

Roses are red… But if they are allergic to flowers, perhaps you should give them something else, something they want.

What does that mean?
Trying to logically explain a quote about love… This is going to be fun!

What the quote is saying is that there is a special connection between people who love each-other. This quote is obviously about a romantic love, but it applies to a lesser extent to other types of love as well.

It speaks of the special bond and how that can change the impact and even the meaning of words or phrases. A simple ‘Thank you’ can have a much larger impact when there is love involved.

If you’ve ever had a crush on someone, or seen a movie or TV show with someone who did, you understand what I mean. Coming from the object of the crush, those words aren’t just for your ears, they drill straight into your heart. And that first kiss, that’s not just for the lips, is it?

Why is giving your love important?  Continue reading →

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Coaching is a profession of love. You can’t coach people unless you love them.

Posted on 13 February 2013 by philosiblog

Coaching is a profession of love. You can’t coach people unless you love them. – Eddie Robinson

Whether it is a kids team, or a co-worker, coaching is just another word for showing them that you care and want to help.

Whether it is the kids on the team, or a co-worker, coaching is just another word for showing them that you care and want to help. And that takes love, caring, and concern.

What does that mean?
Today’s quote is from a legend in American College Football. In it, he describes his job, coaching, as a profession of love. If any of my coaches are an example, it’s often tough love, but love none the less.

He finishes by saying that without love, you cannot be an effective coach. This part plays into another old saying “No one cares what you know until they know that you care.”

Without love for your players, it’s going to be hard to build a relationship with them. Without the relationship, it’s going to be hard to get them to work as a team, and to follow you and your instructions.

While I wouldn’t have thought to have put it this way, it seems a pretty open and shut case. Yes, there are those people who are in the position of coach who are jerks, but real coaches who make a real and positive impact on their players, that takes love.

Why is love important?  Continue reading →

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Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Posted on 12 February 2013 by philosiblog

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? – Abraham Lincoln

Can you patch things up? What got you on their bad side anyway? What will it take to smooth things over?

What got you on their bad side anyway? What will it take to smooth things over?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting take on beating, defeating, or even destroying enemies. Such dealings with enemies usually come from a position of violence, and that is the normal thought process for dealing with those we label as enemies.

However, this quote talks about doing something different to them. It suggests that we befriend them instead. In doing so, it causes them to cease being your enemy, as one rarely has a friendly enemy. That would be a bit of a contradiction, for someone to be both at the same time.

Yes, there is a new term ‘frienemy,’ but that is more for a rival or a love/hate relationship, and not really the subject of this quote. Instead, if we can change the status of an enemy to that of friend, we have managed a win-win situation, as the war is over, and we are now friends. To me, that is a notable achievement.

Why is understanding people important?  Continue reading →

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