If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life.

Posted on 18 October 2012 by philosiblog

If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life. – Mike Ditka

There is something for everyone to do in the Parade of Life. It doesn’t matter if you will march with the band, or march with the pooper scooper!

What does that mean?
You’re either a participant, or you are an observer. You’re part of the solution, or you’re part of the precipitate. You are either doing, or you are watching.

Those who are in the parade, the quote starts, they are the people who are doing, participating, and making things happen. Everyone else is just sitting on the sidelines, watching, and not really contributing.

Not everyone will contribute to every parade, and some are perfectly happy being an observer. Take football, for example. I’m no longer even remotely in condition to play, so I enjoy watching instead.

Life is full of parades, and few, if any, can participate in every parade. But neither should we spend our lives simply watching the parades. I believe we should participate in at least a few, and have some fun!

Why is participating in your life important?  Continue reading →

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When you’re a little kid, you don’t see color, and the fact that my friends were black never crossed my mind.

Posted on 17 October 2012 by philosiblog

When you’re a little kid, you don’t see color, and the fact that my friends were black never crossed my mind. – Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem

Do you see a bunch of friendly kids, or do you see a bunch of different skin colors?

What does that mean?
This quote is about the innocence of a child. They see friend as a person, not as a member of this race or that race. It is about the age when a person is a person, and the kids don’t care what your skin color is, only if you play fair, and give your best at play, when working on a back yard project, or playing in a band.

It is a reminder to us, the so-called adults of the planet, that like beauty, race is only skin deep. Yes, we have our differences, and there are characteristics that define our biological origins. But when we put that aside and look at each other as fellow human beings, the differences all but disappear.

This quote is also a reminder that we have far more in common than we have that is different. It reminds us that we will find what we look for, and if we look for what is different, we will find differences. If we look for what is the same, we will find many times more similarities.

Why is what we focus on important?  Continue reading →

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Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

Posted on 16 October 2012 by philosiblog

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. – Oscar Wilde

With all those people at the costume party looking at you, you’re either the best dressed, or you are the kind of person who causes happiness wherever you go!

What does that mean?
I like this quote, especially how it twists the words around to make two very similarly sounding phrases mean the exact opposites of each other.

The first section talks about the people who bring joy and happiness with them, and spread it when they arrive. These are the people who are always welcome at parties, or even in friendly conversations. They never lack for friends, for they are always quick to be your friend.

The other section talk about the people who bring joy and happiness in their wake, that is, when they leave. These are the people who are rarely invited to parties, much less friendly conversations. They tend not to have many friends, for they are usually not the friendliest of people.

Why is being friendly important?  Continue reading →

Posted in communication, confidence, friendship, gratitude, kindness, value | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Who asks whether the enemy was defeated by strategy or valor?

Posted on 15 October 2012 by philosiblog

Who asks whether the enemy was defeated by strategy or valor? – Virgil

The desired result has been achieved. Does it matter if there was a promise or a threat used to obtain the result? So long as you were ethical, I think not. What think you?

What does that mean?
I have seen this quote translated a number of different ways, but basic thrust is the same. They all ask the same question “who cares?” about how the enemy was defeated. Were they defeated by a clever strategy? Was it the bravery and valor of those fighting? Why should it matter?

The implication is the defeat of the enemy is all that matters. Whether by stratagem or valorous conduct, it matters only that they are no longer a threat. While this may well have been written about a military engagement, I believe this applies to all our lives, and many different situations.

Whether it’s at work or at home, often times the method is less important than the end result. Note that we’re presuming everything is above board, and that no ethical or legal rules have been broken. This isn’t “the ends justify the means” but a simple statement of fact. It’s over, and the good guys (by our definition) won.

Why are the results important?  Continue reading →

Posted in flexibility, goals, integrity, plan, strategy, victory | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A good way to work for a more peaceful world is to develop concern for others.

Posted on 14 October 2012 by philosiblog

A good way to work for a more peaceful world is to develop concern for others. – Dalai Lama

Fireworks at midnight? On New Years Eve it’s OK. Otherwise you’re not showing concern for other’s sleep, are you?

What does that mean?
This quote urges us to consider how to make for a more peaceful world. The quote says that being concerned for others will help bring peace to the world. If you think about it, and consider the concerns of others before you act, you are less likely to do something that will irritate others, right?

In this manner, you can help keep things calm and peaceful, rather than angered and inflamed. By considering what your options are, and what the concerns of others might be, you can probably find a way to get what you desire while irritating the fewest possible people.

In the post from this time last week, we talked about how concern could work within a person, to help dissolve the anger held within. This week, we will consider what can happen when that same concern is applied to the world without, rather than the world within, and how that could make for a slightly more peaceful world.

Why is concern for others important?  Continue reading →

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It is better to be impetuous than cautious, because fortune is a woman.

Posted on 13 October 2012 by philosiblog

It is better to be impetuous than cautious, because fortune is a woman. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Or in the case of the Japanese, a fisherman. I bet he is bold and adventurous, perhaps even a bit impetuous.

What does that mean?
The original quote says much about the treatment of women in that age. The explanation of impetuous (later in the paragraph) was more about what we would call mistreatment and domination, rather than what is presently considered proper treatment of anyone.

But the basic thrust of the quote is basically about living life fully, not timidly. This quote is a parallel to the old Latin quote which states that Fortune favors the bold. While I don’t believe there is any governing force that is looking for bold people on whom to bestow favors, the more often you try, the more often you will succeed.

If you only ever try once, you might succeed, or you might not. If you try one hundred times, you’re much more likely to succeed, and succeed multiple times. By being bold, by being adventurous, or even impetuous, you might find you have even better luck. After all, Elvis wasn’t famous for his hair, right? Neither was Liberace famous for his hair. They were famous for being bold, adventurous, and often times impetuous.

Why is bold, adventurous, or even impetuous important?  Continue reading →

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It’s not the lack of resources, it’s your lack of resourcefulness that stops you.

Posted on 12 October 2012 by philosiblog

It’s not the lack of resources, it’s your lack of resourcefulness that stops you. – Tony Robbins and here

When trees started getting harder to come by, many trains switched to coal. This is just one example of how resourcefulness can beat a lack of resources. This is a coal powered passenger train engine from the late 1800’s, from my home town of Chicago.

What does that mean?
This quote is a shout-out to all the self-made people of the world. Not everyone starts life with money, privilege, or connections. Some people make their fortunes by finding a need and filling it.

For some, their fortune is cold hard cash. For others it’s helping others and making a nice living. But no matter how you measure your success, you will never be there if you are busy making excuses. The Steves (Jobs and Wozniak, of Apple) started with little more than resourcefulness and a dream.

Yes, it’s far easier to throw out excuses and live a mediocre life. But I think that with a little resourcefulness and a dream to drive you forward, anyone can make something wonderful happen. You might not make as much money as Steve did, or even become as famous, but that’s not the only measure of success, is it?

Why is a lack of resources important?  Continue reading →

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No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Posted on 11 October 2012 by philosiblog

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Do you care if it’s called a rose or anything else? Would a rose care if you called it a dandelion? So why do we give our consent to others to make us feel inferior?

What does that mean?
This quote reminds me of another famous couple of lines about the meaning of words. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” from Romeo & Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 47,48. The names that someone calls you have whatever scent you chose to give them, and the same goes for the opinions others may have of you.

If you decide that word ‘smells’ bad, you may end up feeling bad. In doing so, you give the word, and therefore the person, your consent to make you feel inferior. You could just as easily decide the word smells nice, or at least neutral, denying the word, and therefore the person, your consent.

It really is that easy. It feels funny inside because of your habits, but as you train yourself to behave in a different manner, it will become more natural. But the thing to remember is that you believe in yourself, and your value as a person. Others may have their opinions, but of your value you are certain.

Why is believing in yourself important?  Continue reading →

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The problem with self-improvement is knowing when to quit.

Posted on 10 October 2012 by philosiblog

The problem with self improvement is knowing when to quit. – David Lee Roth

What do you want to improve? Finances, relationships, household repairs, car repairs, game playing, computer skills… It’s all at your local library, bookstore, or on the internet. Get busy!

What does that mean?
For me, that’s an easy question to answer: you stop when you are done improving, growing, and learning. In short, I’ll stop trying to improve myself when I’m ready to die. Until then, every day is another opportunity to learn and improve myself.

Given the nature of the person who said the quote, and the flippant nature of many of his comments, I would presume he was attempting to be funny with this quote. And to an extent, it is. But it is also a serious subject as well.

When do you quite improving? When you think you’re done. Are you ever going to be perfect? Nope. Will you ever achieve “good enough?” Probably. Will you be satisfied at that level, or will you want more? Or perhaps you will be done with that aspect of yourself, and begin working on other parts of yourself. The answer will be different for each of us.

Why is self-improvement important?  Continue reading →

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Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.

Posted on 9 October 2012 by philosiblog

Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play. – Mike Singletary

He wants the ball! Just like in the game, in real life, you don’t always get the ball. You don’t always win. But you do get to play, you do get a chance to make things happen.

What does that mean?
Isn’t that what you want to do? Do you want to spend your life just watching it go by, or do you want to get in there and play? While the quote is by a football (American style) player, I believe it applies to all of us.

We all have choices in our life, and some choose to watch their lives, rather than participate in the game. Others are in the game every chance they can, playing their hearts out. Most of us are somewhere in-between. We pick and choose those those things that mean a great deal to us, and go in for those plays.

Often, we step off the field when that which is being contested is of little interest or will have a minimal impact on us one way or the other. But the guy quoted loves to play. And for the most part, so do I. What about you, how often do you play, or do you mostly watch?

Why is getting in the game important?  Continue reading →

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Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared.

Posted on 8 October 2012 by philosiblog

Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared. – Eddie Rickenbacker

If you are afraid to fly, this would really take a lot of courage. However, you might want to try other methods to overcome your fear than wing-walking!

What does that mean?
Think about it. At one point in time, you were probably a little scared of riding a bicycle, running fast, or even of being in an airplane. Some of you may still be somewhat concerned with some of those things even now.

But what about all the things you aren’t afraid to do? Does it take courage to tie your shoes? Does it take courage to eat a meal? Well, there are some restaurants where the cuisine might take more than a little courage to eat, but that’s not what I meant.

So the quote states that it takes courage to do the things that scare you, the things you are afraid to do. Being courageous means facing your fears and doing it despite the fear. The bad news is that eventually the fear will recede, and you’ll have to find something else to do to display courage, right?

Why is pushing yourself out of your comfort zone important?  Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, courage, doing, fear, personal growth, struggle | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

When we develop a sense of concern for others’ well-being then the very basis of anger is no longer there.

Posted on 7 October 2012 by philosiblog

When we develop a sense of concern for others’ well-being then the very basis of anger is no longer there. – Dalai Lama

It would be easy to be mad at this guy for being too drunk to drag his sorry butt home. But what if he wasn’t drunk, but a diabetic in need of help. How did your feelings change in the process of one sentence? Did concern push aside the anger?

What does that mean?
This quote is about a way to quell anger within yourself. When you are angry at someone, how concerned are you about their well-being? Do you care if they are stresses or comfortable? Do you care if they are happy or sad? In some cases, if you are angry enough, you might eve wish they were particularly stressed or sad, or even worse, right?

However, if your focus is on their well-being, what was anger rapidly changes form. Depending on the situation and the relationship, it can easily become aggravation, irritation, concern, or disappointment. Think about that for a little bit, and see if you can find an example in your life.

The more concern you have for a person, or a people, the harder it is to remain angry. Concern and anger are opposites, and where one is, the other cannot be. Many people use anger to drive out concern. This quote urges us to do the opposite, and use concern to drive out anger.

Why is concern important?  Continue reading →

Posted in empathy, focus, kindness, personal growth, question, sympathy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.

Posted on 6 October 2012 by philosiblog

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Ok, you have started something. Now, how do you finish? It’s easy to get a fight started, but you can’t always walk away when you want.

What does that mean?
I have seen this quote with “where” instead of “when” and I presume it’s because a popular quote site either got it wrong, or used a different translation. The translation I found and liked the best was this (see second site in confirmed section at bottom) : “People may go to war when they will, but cannot always withdraw when they like.”

In this quote, he is relating a war against Florence started by a Papal Legate, but thwarted by the Florentine people, who of bribed the attacking army and got them to disband. However, the war had begun, and now the aggressor was without an army. Florence and others who disliked the jerk and who he represented took advantage of the opportunity.

If you start a fight, be it physical, verbal, or emotional, you might not find it as easy to withdraw as you might like. You may find you bit off more than you could chew, and suddenly have to deal with the consequences of your actions. And that can get ugly very quickly.

Why is temperance important?  Continue reading →

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Happy people have two things in common. They know exactly what they want and they feel they’re moving toward getting it.

Posted on 5 October 2012 by philosiblog

Happy people have two things in common. They know exactly what they want and they feel they’re moving toward getting it. – Barbara Sher

I’m not sure what it is about woodworking, but even the simplest project brings me great joy, both in the building and the completion. What do you enjoy doing?

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter-friendly shortened quote. The longer version is: “Happy people have two things in common. They know exactly what they want and they feel they’re moving toward getting it. That’s what makes life feel good: when it has direction, when you are heading straight for what you love.”

The longer version of the quote does a pretty good explaining what it is trying to say. People tend to be happier when they have a goal, and believe they are making progress towards it, right? I know from my own experience that when I meet those conditions, I’m in a pretty good mood. How about you?

Having a goal gives your mental and physical energies a direction and a destination. Moving towards that goal builds momentum, builds confidence, and helps create the good feeling labeled as happiness by this quote. While not all progress takes you “straight for what you love,” some of us prefer a bit of a challenge every now and then, right?

Why is doing things important?  Continue reading →

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It is the debtor that is ruined by hard times.

Posted on 4 October 2012 by philosiblog

It is the debtor that is ruined by hard times. – Rutherford B. Hayes

This is both sides of the coin. Stay out of debt, and have money to give. If you don’t stay out of debt, you may find yourself in need of some assistance.

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter-friendly quote which has been shortened from the original: “Let every man, every corporation, and especially let every village, town, and city, every county and State, get out of debt and keep out of debt. It is the debtor that is ruined by hard times.”

In the present world economy, this quote is as appropriate as ever. The first sentence enumerates who should be taking action to avoid or eliminate debt and remain debt free. The sort version is: every person and every fiscal entity, be it business or government. It’s hard for me to argue with that.

The second sentence in the longer quote explains why being debt free is important. Hard times are typically when one has the least cash on hand, and the weakest cash flow. This is when one has the least possibility to take advantage of cheap materials and other opportunities. And there is always the shadow of your debt looming over you as well.

Why is fiscal solvency important?  Continue reading →

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