Daylight’s precious when you’re a youngin’

Posted on 3 October 2012 by philosiblog

Daylight’s precious when you’re a youngin’ – Andy Griffith

Take the time to be in the moment. Don’t just listen. Don’t just take pictures. What are the scents? What do the seats feel like? How is the temperature? Are you feeling nervous or thrilled? On stage or in the audience, live your life in the moment.

What does that mean?
This quote is about what matters when you’re young and how that changes as we age. In this quote, Andy’s son is outside, playing. He want’s to stay out just a little longer, because it’s almost dark, and once it’s dark, bedtime is always seems to be following so very close behind.

But to the adults, dark is just a lack of sunlight, and life continues until bedtime, and usually that’s at least a few hours after dark. This was more true in rural areas, especially back in the 50’s and 60’s. There were always things to do after the kids were put to bed, and before you turned in.

It also points out how precious the present is, and how sometimes, as adults, we forget about that importance. We have plenty of time, so we’ll get to it later. For kids, the present is all they really have, so they do what they can to make the most of it.

Why is this moment important?  Continue reading →

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I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.

Posted on 2 October 2012 by philosiblog

I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time. – Charles Schultz

The butterfly doesn’t dread the end of summer. Why is it that we waste so much of our time on the dread of the inevitable?

What does that mean?
This is a great quote from Charlie Brown, one of the author’s more famous characters from the Peanuts comic strip. He always seems to have the worst possible luck. Nothing ever seems to work out for him. Everything he touches, breaks. His baseball team always loses. He can’t even kick a football (although in his defense, the holder keeps moving the ball on him).

In this quote, he says that he’s done worrying about the future, and that he will only worry about one day at a time. Hopefully (as it isn’t explicitly stated), the day that he will dread is today, not tomorrow. I hope Charlie Brown can stay focused on the most important day of his life, today.

Now that said, he’s just a cartoon character. However, we can learn from his trials and tribulations. Dreading things that are not yet here is a great waste of energy, and certainly makes it harder to focus on what you need to be doing today, right.

Why is today important?  Continue reading →

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You have problems, you think drink helps, then you have two problems.

Posted on 1 October 2012 by philosiblog

You have problems, you think drink helps, then you have two problems. – George Peppard

Now, in addition to all your other problems, you have a drinking problem. Well played. NOT!

What does that mean?
To me, this is just the cold, sober truth. Drinking doesn’t make problems go away, it multiplies them, or at the very least, it adds to them. Whether you’re drinking to forget someone, to drown your sorrows, or for any other reason, turning to the bottle for help with your problems will never end well.

And it’s not just drinking that can lead to problems. Some people turn to eating, to emotional outbursts, to other intoxicants, to physical abuse, or other behaviors. None of these work out well. Unfortunately, many in Hollywood (and all other corners of the earth) still fall prey to the thinking that something else can take care of their problems.

Sometimes they are trying to hide from their difficulties, but the end result is still going to be the same. Life has a way of catching up with you, and when it does, you still have all your old problems, plus all the new ones associated with your drinking (or other escape mechanism). And that’s not the way, in my opinion, things should be done.

Why is facing your problems important?  Continue reading →

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Who is there among us who does not prefer tolerance, respect and forgiveness of our failings to bigotry, disrespect, and resentment?

Posted on 30 September 2012 by philosiblog

Who is there among us who does not prefer tolerance, respect and forgiveness of our failings to bigotry, disrespect, and resentment? – Dalai Lama

Hiroshima Peace Memorial – the building that was at ground zero for the world’s first atom bomb used in anger. Perhaps we can learn to forgive each other.

What does that mean?
This quote talks about opposites. Tolerance vs bigotry. Respect vs disrespect. Forgiveness vs resentment. In any situation, when you are on the receiving end, which do you prefer?

Most of us prefer to be tolerated, to be shown respect, and to be forgiven. Few of us prefer to be on the receiving end of bigotry, disrespect or resentment. At least I’ve never known anyone with such low self-esteem as to prefer the negative to the positive.

That is what this quote is about, in my opinion. It is reminding us to treat others as we would wish to be treated. Yes, we often do it, but how few of us do this all of the time? Without hesitation? Without reservation? As our very first impulse? I know I fall well short of that standard.

Why is treating others well important?  Continue reading →

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He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.

Posted on 29 September 2012 by philosiblog

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Do you look at life through rose colored glasses? You do so at your own peril!    (background manipulation by photographer, not me)

What does that mean?
Back in the day when Machiavelli was writing, there were plenty of others who were trying to sell their services as political analysts. They were trying to advise the Princes on matters of state, often claiming to have vast knowledge, based on the classic books and other ideal or theoretical sources, including Plato and his book “The Republic.”

This quote is a warning against such people (unfortunately, they still are with us, and in great numbers). Machiavelli recognised that these people tended to have much theoretical knowledge, but little practical experience or knowledge. Also, the sources of what knowledge they did have was often compromised by the idealism on which they were based.

He is telling the Prince to be realistic, not idealistic. In short, he is saying that if you neglect what is going on around you, and instead pursue that which is idealistic, you will fail. As an example, it’s nice to think everyone tells the truth. But that’s not real, that’s idealistic. If you believe what should be seen as lies to be the truth, you will be ruined. Does that make sense to you?

Why is practicality important?  Continue reading →

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More than anything else, I believe it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.

Posted on 28 September 2012 by philosiblog

More than anything else, I believe it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny. – Tony Robbins and here

Your condition? Flat on your back in the mud. How did you get there? Poor decision, perhaps? Will you just stay there and blame your condition, or will you decide to get up?

What does that mean?
To me, this quote is saying that we have the power to change our lives with our decisions. We can chose to do something stupid. We can chose to do something brilliant and inspirational. It doesn’t matter where we are, or where our lives are at. It is in the power of our decisions that we generate our futures and shape our destiny.

Some would argue that our conditions are the larger part of determining our destiny. I won’t dismiss our conditions as irrelevant. However, for any situation one person claims shaped their destiny for the worse, there are counter-examples of people who used their decisions and action to overcome those same circumstances.

If you think your life and it’s conditions is holding you back, whatever seems to be preventing you from reaching your full potential is more likely your decisions (or lack thereof) than your circumstances. There are blind guys climbing mountains. Double lower leg amputees dancing and walking the runway (as well as running). Conditions can be overcome, with decisions, creativity, determination, and hard work.

Why are making decisions important?  Continue reading →

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Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason.

Posted on 27 September 2012 by philosiblog

Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason. – Samuel Adams

From the boardroom to the bedroom, if you wish to influence someone, the safest bet is to appeal most strongly to their emotions.

What does that mean?
This quote is from the guy that the beer is named after. This quote is interesting to me, as an engineer, because it reminds me that I am the exception within the ranks of humanity. Sometimes I forget.

Most people, as the quote states, are governed by what they feel about an issue. They are more easily swayed by emotional appeals to their feelings than by logical appeals to their sense of reason.

Logic and cold hard facts rarely inspire people. On the other hand, soaring rhetoric and emotional appeals can be immensely inspirational. Look at any number of dictators in the last century, and most were good with the rhetoric and the emotional parts.

Unfortunately, logic and cold hard facts have a tendency to not simply go away. No amount of rhetoric can alter the facts. Logic does not bend to emotion. Logic and cold hard facts have led to the downfall of nearly as many dictators as rhetoric and emotion had raised up.

Why is knowing how to inspire people important?  Continue reading →

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The only way you get that fat off is to eat less and exercise more.

Posted on 26 September 2012 by philosiblog

The only way you get that fat off is to eat less and exercise more. – Jack LaLanne

Jack Lalanne receiving an award (unspecified) back in the 50’s. He was admired by many, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even hosted his own fitness TV show. A most impressive gentleman!

What does that mean?
This is something so many people around me don’t seem to be able to grasp. While there are a myriad of reasons (and even more excuses) for why someone is overweight, ultimately, it’s a math equation.

Calories in vs calories out. If more goes in than go out, you will gain weight. If more goes out than goes in, you will lose weight. Weight gain (or loss) is typically in fat or in muscle. This quote also points out another critical point.

That point is to include exercise in your food modification program. Diet alone will teach the body scarcity, urge it to lower your metabolic rate, and train it to store every calorie. By exercising, you keep your metabolic rate up, and your body can burn more calories even at rest.

Why is being aware of what you do important?  Continue reading →

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At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable.

Posted on 25 September 2012 by philosiblog

At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable. – Christopher Reeve

This is an image from a film based loosely on a pair of Science Fiction books at the dawn of the 20th century. At that point a trip to the moon was moving from impossible to improbable. Eventually, it became inevitable, and mankind took the giant leap.

What does that mean?
As is so often the case, this is a Twitter friendly version of a longer quote: “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

This is a neat quote, because I believe we all have had this experience. Whether we remember it or not, that was how things were when we learned to walk. It was also that way when we learned to ride a bicycle or learned to swim. It was like that when you were learning a foreign language or other intellectual pursuits (perhaps Math or Chemistry).

The point of the quote is to not give up. The only sure defeat is to quit. This quote urges us to continue the battle. To keep dreaming, to keep working, and to eventually make the outcome inevitable. There are no other options, if you wish to accomplish something of significance.

It’s easy to become discouraged. Most anything of any significance will take time and effort. But we must be willing to put forth the effort necessary, over a sufficiently long period of time, to make it happen. That’s where determination and perseverance come into play.

If you can stick with it, eventually you’ll make something happen, however small it might seem. Then it’s on to the next step, and a slightly larger result. The dream has gone from impossible to improbable. If you can keep after it, you will eventually move it from improbable to inevitable.

Why is perseverance important?  Continue reading →

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My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here.

Posted on 24 September 2012 by philosiblog

My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here. – Jim Henson

Punch And Judy (above) puppet shows have existed for centuries, and Chinese Shadow Puppets have existed for millennia. However, it took the combination of TV and an inspired person to create the immersive learning environment of Sesame Street.

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter shortened version of a quote. The more complete quote is: “When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there.”

This is a fairly common statement for people to make. Sometimes it’s about their life or life’s work as a whole, other times it’s something as small as a camp site, as well as anything in-between. In this case, he was talking about his life and the world as a whole, a rather ambitious statement, even if it is qualified by the words “a little bit.”

But there are plenty of ways to improve life in general, be it for the whole world or just your corner of it. And that is what most people try to do, at some point in their lives. Not everyone starts at that point, but most of us get there sooner or later.

Why is contributing important?  Continue reading →

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A genuine change must first come from within the individual, only then can he or she attempt to make a significant contribution to humanity.

Posted on 23 September 2012 by philosiblog

A genuine change must first come from within the individual, only then can he or she attempt to make a significant contribution to humanity. – Dalai Lama

You have their attention. Is it easier to chase puppies, or to get them to come to you? Is it easier to force people to do things, or to lead by example? Become the example.

What does that mean?
Change. One can command others to do it, but that won’t last very long, will it? Once they decide the novelty has run out, or when they grow tired of doing it that way, it’s over. One can threaten to use force, but that will only last as long as you wield power (and with a bunch of annoyed people, that might not last very long).

This quote urges a different path. By changing yourself first, you become an example for others to follow. You are motivating them by your transformation and your example of how it could be, rather than motivating them through fear or intimidation of how it must be.

By becoming the person you need to be to make the change, you bring people with you to help make the change. You become the catalyst for the change, instead of the force to make the change. The people you inspire become the force that makes the change. In this manner, they become the unstoppable force that makes the change inevitable by motivation and weight of numbers.

Why is pulling, not pushing, important?  Continue reading →

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Whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition.

Posted on 22 September 2012 by philosiblog

Whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Are they obliged to fight, or do they have ambitions? Remember that not all ambition is detrimental.

What does that mean?
This is sad, but true. There are times when people are forced to fight. The violence at that point is somewhat forgivable, or at least be able to somewhat transfer the blame. One would hope that when they aren’t obliged to fight (either in defense, or required by their government to be part of an offensive force), they would shy away from fighting.

However, the quote finishes with a statement to the opposite. It is important to remember that in this work, he is discussing the writings of another author, Livy, in this case. The discussion was of based on the premise that people desire more than they can attain.

The gap between what they want and what they have is stated as the primary motivation for the “fight from ambition” portion of the quote. Unfortunately, it still appears to be the case, even in this day and age. Whether it’s over friends, a parking space, or the last “must have” item (from Beanie Babies to the iPhone), ambition leads to difficulties.

Why is managing our ambition important?  Continue reading →

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Goals are like magnets. They’ll attract the things that make them come true.

Posted on 21 September 2012 by philosiblog

Goals are like magnets. They’ll attract the things that make them come true. – Tony Robbins and here

Magnets attract iron filings. Your commitment will attract, or call to your attention, the things you need to succeed.

What does that mean?
We’re not talking magic here. Having a goal won’t make things happen through some supernatural power. If you’re familiar with the author of the quote, you know his favorite adjective is “massive,” and his favorite verb is “to commit.”

The part of the quote that isn’t said here is the committment you have to the goals, and the massive amount of action you are going to take to make it happen. With that in mind, the quote gets re-written as: “When you are truly and completely committed to a goal, and are ready to take massive action, you’ll attract the things that you need to make the goal come true.”

Now even here, there’s no magic. Just like when you buy a new car or new shoes or new tie or new phone, suddenly, you see that there are so many other people have that item. That isn’t magic, that is perception. You know what you’re looking for, and now you notice what you had previously seen, but ignored.

Similarly, when you are very clear about what you want, and you’re committed to making it happen, and you’re ready to do whatever it takes to make your goal a reality, your perception changes. You notice things you didn’t see before. They aren’t there because you have a goal, but because of your committment and your willingness to work to get there.

Why is committment and willingness to work for your goals important?  Continue reading →

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I’ve never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful.

Posted on 20 September 2012 by philosiblog

I’ve never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful. – Sophia Loren

Hiding from yourself, it doesn’t really work, does it? Try to face your past, and learn something from it.

What does that mean?
This is another in a long line of Twitter-friendly shortened quotes. The full quote is: “I’ve never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful. I don’t understand people who hide from their past. Everything you live through helps to make you the person you are now.”

In the longer version of the quote, she states what she means. What we are now is a product of every experience, good or bad, we have ever had in our lives. This is a powerful statement. She is acknowledging both the good parts of her past as well as the painful parts, and the importance of not hiding from them.

In hiding from your past, you are trying to keep a portion of yourself hidden. You are minimizing or even despising a portion of yourself. This is you we are talking about. If you hide from your past, you are denying part of yourself, part of what made you who you are today.

Even bad experiences shape us. Even if something terrible happened, you don’t have to deny yourself. You can still acknowledge the pain and the hurt, but you don’t have to hide it from yourself. You can still learn something, you can still become a better person because of your experience.

Why is acknowledging your past important?  Continue reading →

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I’ve always tried to fit what I do professionally into my family, rather than the other way around.

Posted on 19 September 2012 by philosiblog

I’ve always tried to fit what I do professionally into my family, rather than the other way around. – Adam West

How busy are you? As busy as a unicycle riding juggler? Perhaps it’s time to take a breath and prioritize…

What does that mean?
This quote is about keeping first things first. It’s about determining what means the most to you, and protecting that time. Some people put career over family. Occasionally it works, usually it leads to all kinds of problems within the family.

In this quote, he says that family is more important to him than his work. He figured out how to fit his professional life around his family and their needs. While not everyone has the ability or flexibility at work to make this kind of arrangement, it’s great for the family, if you can get it.

We all have decisions to make, and priorities to sort out. Perhaps you can’t make every Little League game, but you can probably work your schedule around one each week. How important is it, and how hard are you willing to push to make it work?

Why is setting priorities important?  Continue reading →

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