Never give up; you never know until you try.
I found the following in a web search on "nap quotes." It's from a graphic and is uncredited. I think it's less about naps than it is about time and how we feel in various places, doing various things.
In bed, it's 6 AM. You close your eyes for 5 minutes, it's 7:45. At school it's 1:30, close your eyes for 5 minutes, it's 1:31.
Instead or "school," you could substitute "work," "in traffic," or any other place you'd rather not be. We've all been there. The thing to remember is that no matter where you are, with whom, doing whatever, things could be worse.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
You're Richer Than You Think (More on Friendship)
Never give up; you never know until you try.
I recently heard Dr. David Jeremiah speak on material wealth. He noted that if you have any money at all in the bank, food in the cupboard, clothes to wear, etcetera, then you are wealthier than the biggest percentage of people worldwide. It's easy to lose sight of that fact and start comparing ourselves to the elite in society--the Donald Trump's or mega-celebrities, instead of the homeless or extremely poor (who can be found everywhere if we look).
Dr. Jeremiah added that if you have a friend, you should really consider yourself wealthy, because you can't put a price on true friendship. I felt myself smile as I nodded, thinking of the wonderful friends I have been blessed with.
My wish for you is that you find true friendship. Cultivate it and watch it flourish. Marcel Proust is quoted as saying, "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (http://www.brainyquote.com/)
I recently heard Dr. David Jeremiah speak on material wealth. He noted that if you have any money at all in the bank, food in the cupboard, clothes to wear, etcetera, then you are wealthier than the biggest percentage of people worldwide. It's easy to lose sight of that fact and start comparing ourselves to the elite in society--the Donald Trump's or mega-celebrities, instead of the homeless or extremely poor (who can be found everywhere if we look).
Dr. Jeremiah added that if you have a friend, you should really consider yourself wealthy, because you can't put a price on true friendship. I felt myself smile as I nodded, thinking of the wonderful friends I have been blessed with.
My wish for you is that you find true friendship. Cultivate it and watch it flourish. Marcel Proust is quoted as saying, "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (http://www.brainyquote.com/)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Burned Out
Never give up; you never know until you try.
This week seems to be burnout week. I've heard several sermons about it, and I've talked to several friends suffering with it. Maybe it's "Spring Fever," or maybe it's just a sign of the fast times we live in. Whatever the reason, it seems to be going around, so I'm offering a few words of encouragement. You've read them before in some form or other, but they bear repeating.
Assurance: You can do it! You might not feel like doing "it," whatever "it" is, but you can do it--if you take care of yourself.
Advice: Avoid trying to do everything at once, and avoid the trap of trying to do it perfectly. You also probably don't have to do it alone, so ask for help! If you find that you do have to do whatever "it" is alone, then please ask for help with other projects with which you can have help.
Take care of yourselves!
This week seems to be burnout week. I've heard several sermons about it, and I've talked to several friends suffering with it. Maybe it's "Spring Fever," or maybe it's just a sign of the fast times we live in. Whatever the reason, it seems to be going around, so I'm offering a few words of encouragement. You've read them before in some form or other, but they bear repeating.
Assurance: You can do it! You might not feel like doing "it," whatever "it" is, but you can do it--if you take care of yourself.
Advice: Avoid trying to do everything at once, and avoid the trap of trying to do it perfectly. You also probably don't have to do it alone, so ask for help! If you find that you do have to do whatever "it" is alone, then please ask for help with other projects with which you can have help.
Take care of yourselves!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Be Still and Trust Yourself
Never give up; you never know until you try.
The late Dr. Benjamin Spock is quoted as saying, "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." (http://thinkexist.com/).
I tell my students that all the time, because I believe it to be true. Under the confusion, doubt, external expectations, or other issues, lies the answer. It's sometimes shut out by the hustle of the moment, the importance of knowing the "right" answer, but it's there.
Why? Because God knows what I need, and He can cut throught the "chatter" to reveal an answer to me, even if I'm not aware of it. When I get still (quite a feat in today's society), and stop trying to force it (again, quite a feat in this I-want-it-now society), I find the answer sitting, waiting patiently for me to discover it.
The late Dr. Benjamin Spock is quoted as saying, "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." (http://thinkexist.com/).
I tell my students that all the time, because I believe it to be true. Under the confusion, doubt, external expectations, or other issues, lies the answer. It's sometimes shut out by the hustle of the moment, the importance of knowing the "right" answer, but it's there.
Why? Because God knows what I need, and He can cut throught the "chatter" to reveal an answer to me, even if I'm not aware of it. When I get still (quite a feat in today's society), and stop trying to force it (again, quite a feat in this I-want-it-now society), I find the answer sitting, waiting patiently for me to discover it.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Watch Your Mouth!
Never give up; you never know until you try.
Yesterday I saw a plaque with an interesting saying on it: "A closed mouth gathers no feet." At first, I pondered how keeping your mouth shut can indeed keep you out of trouble. Then I went deeper and thought of all the times I have kept silent when I should've opened my mouth (widely) and shouted (loudly and repeatedly), but I didn't.
Both remaining silent when you shouldn't and talking when you shouldn't can result in lasting regret. The key is discerning the "best" response to a situation. As "The Gambler," the song made popular by Kenny Rogers says, we should ". . . know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run." (Don Schlitz, Jr, songwriter)
Yesterday I saw a plaque with an interesting saying on it: "A closed mouth gathers no feet." At first, I pondered how keeping your mouth shut can indeed keep you out of trouble. Then I went deeper and thought of all the times I have kept silent when I should've opened my mouth (widely) and shouted (loudly and repeatedly), but I didn't.
Both remaining silent when you shouldn't and talking when you shouldn't can result in lasting regret. The key is discerning the "best" response to a situation. As "The Gambler," the song made popular by Kenny Rogers says, we should ". . . know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run." (Don Schlitz, Jr, songwriter)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Learning
Never give up; you never know until you try.
Michelangelo is quoted as saying, "I am still learning." (http://www.brainyquote.com/)
I've recently had several students for whom learning comes slowly, after careful thought. Progress comes after a hard labor and birth process. As I've gone over material that I've covered before with a student, carefully repackaging it to find an approach that works, I've thought several times how blessed I am that, for the most part, I've always learned skills quickly and easily, tested well, and retained information for later access. Academic skills, that is. Sometimes, spiritual lessons have come less easily.
Any of my regular readers will note that I've often said something along the lines of "I got a reminder . . ." That's because I've had lessons that I didn't seem to grasp the first, second, or third times I was exposed to them. God has patiently repeated certain lessons until I finally internalized the message. My progress in certain spiritual lessons came after a hard labor and birth process. I'm glad that God has never given up on me. He knows that I'm still learning, as are we all.
Michelangelo is quoted as saying, "I am still learning." (http://www.brainyquote.com/)
I've recently had several students for whom learning comes slowly, after careful thought. Progress comes after a hard labor and birth process. As I've gone over material that I've covered before with a student, carefully repackaging it to find an approach that works, I've thought several times how blessed I am that, for the most part, I've always learned skills quickly and easily, tested well, and retained information for later access. Academic skills, that is. Sometimes, spiritual lessons have come less easily.
Any of my regular readers will note that I've often said something along the lines of "I got a reminder . . ." That's because I've had lessons that I didn't seem to grasp the first, second, or third times I was exposed to them. God has patiently repeated certain lessons until I finally internalized the message. My progress in certain spiritual lessons came after a hard labor and birth process. I'm glad that God has never given up on me. He knows that I'm still learning, as are we all.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Be Silly
Never give up; you never know until you try.
My therapist gave me a homework assignment to put more silliness into my life, and I've jumped into it wholeheartedly. Come along with me! Here are a few tips on how to bring back some of the joy of being child-like, silly, joyous, and a lot more fun:
Sing, no matter how badly you do it.
Make funny faces.
Blow soap bubbles.
Play in rain puddles, or mud. How about both?
Color or draw a picture.
Run just to be running; don't worry about getting your heart rate up for a certain period of time. (Use common sense here, based on your health issues. There's silly, and then there's foolish. Get medical attention if you need it, and follow the doctor's orders.)
Tell jokes or read jokes online or in a book.
Here are two, found on jokesaboutspring.com, for your enjoyment:
Q: Can February March?
A: No, but April May!
Q: What season is it when you are on a trampoline?
A: Spring-time!
Seriously, folks: give yourself and everyone else a break by allowing yourself to play once in a while.
My therapist gave me a homework assignment to put more silliness into my life, and I've jumped into it wholeheartedly. Come along with me! Here are a few tips on how to bring back some of the joy of being child-like, silly, joyous, and a lot more fun:
Sing, no matter how badly you do it.
Make funny faces.
Blow soap bubbles.
Play in rain puddles, or mud. How about both?
Color or draw a picture.
Run just to be running; don't worry about getting your heart rate up for a certain period of time. (Use common sense here, based on your health issues. There's silly, and then there's foolish. Get medical attention if you need it, and follow the doctor's orders.)
Tell jokes or read jokes online or in a book.
Here are two, found on jokesaboutspring.com, for your enjoyment:
Q: Can February March?
A: No, but April May!
Q: What season is it when you are on a trampoline?
A: Spring-time!
Seriously, folks: give yourself and everyone else a break by allowing yourself to play once in a while.
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