Archive for Quotes
Sweet and Simple
Posted by: | Comments"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." – Laura Ingalls Wilder
We had two snow days in a row. Most work and schools were closes and that almost never happens. One friend said it reminded her of what was most important as she took her kids out sledding.
I enjoyed time doing a jigsaw puzzle with my daughter. My mom called to make sure everyone was ok. I got to sleep in and snuggle with my husband. My son and I cooked lasagna.
What sweet, simple moments did you have this week?
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Photo by Judy Doyland
Simple Strawberry Delights
Posted by: | Comments"One of the very first things I figured out about life…is that it’s better to be a hopeful person than a cynical, grumpy one, because you have to live in the same world either way, and if you’re hopeful, you have more fun." – Barbara Kingsolver, author
Early Saturday morning my daughter and I went to the farmer’s market. The first strawberries of the season were there. The sweet fragrance was delightful. You don’t find that in grocery store strawberries. I was gushing about the delectable strawberries and my daughter said, "You are like a kid at DisneyWorld."
What a fantastic compliment. I do delight in the little things like fresh strawberries, a full moon in a clear night sky, a beautiful journal cover. I agree with Barbara, why be cynical and negative when you can choose to enjoy and have fun.
What are your simple delights today?
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Photo credit: Riza Nugraha
New Year’s Quote
Posted by: | Comments"Don’t dwell on what you lack; dwell on what you have and use it to the fullest with gratitude. Don’t dwell on your failures-learn from them and move on. Don’t dwell on your fears or sorrows-dwell on your hopes."
Marian Wright Edelman, founder of Children’s Defense Fund (from Guideposts magazine)
If you did this most days this year, what kind of life would you have in Dec 2009?
Are You Seeing Other’s Happy Masks?
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"What makes us discontented with our condition is the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others." – French Proverb
Sometimes we assume that because they have the wonderfully decorated house or kid’s on the honor roll or a terrific job we think we’d love that they are happy. But they are too busy looking at the person with a slower lifestyle or their artistic talented child or the job they think they would like better.
Wasting Time
Posted by: | Comments"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." – Bertrand Russell
Enjoy your day!!!!
Crammed Full
Posted by: | Comments"While our lives are full, they seem somehow less than they could be. They resemble a page crammed with too much type – and the margins get narrower all the time. " – Timothy Jones
How is your life? Do you have enough margin? Or is it like a page crammed with too much type?
Photo by Peter Kaminski
Delighting in the Simple Moments
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This morning I set up a chair under a tree by my mini fountain garden where the tiger lilies spring sunshine and the clematis reaches its purple glory to the sky. I enjoyed my breakfast of yogurt with fresh strawberries and blueberries from the Farmer’s Market yesterday. I listened to the fountain and the birds sing, "Good morning". I saw the drops of rain on the leaves from a brief morning sprinkle. I smelled the blooming flowers mixed with the ripe berries as I savored each spoonful.
A hectic life makes these moments difficult. Often when we rush from one activity to another, we don’t think of how we could make moments more enjoyable.
I like to keep space in my day for moments like this and for inspiration, spontaneity and connecting with people.
And it doesn’t take much time to create little refreshing times during the day. You can slow down your breath in line. You can make eye contact and a brief comment to the cashier. You can decide to stop at the bookstore after your other errands to browse the bargain books for a few minutes. How about calling a friend in the evening instead of watching TV? Or being in the moment of smells and textures as you cook.
I have a little ritual of checking out the flower garden and fountain garden before I go into the house.
Eating, reading or walking outside is a lovely break.
Yesterday, a small, few hour trip was canceled. I spent the first part of the time bringing my home back to order and doing a little puttering around. The second half I made cards, scrapbooked, created some bookmarks and other paper crafts. I love using found time like that for something renewing.
"Life is made of millions of moments, but we live only one of these moments at a time. As we begin to change this moment, we begin to change our lives." -Trinidad Hunt
The Real Life
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Photo by GA ShutterBug
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” -Laura Ingalls Wilder
I read the Little House books over and over as a kid. When my children were little we read the whole series. I loved how they seemed at the brink of survival so many times but always found ways to make do and even make the best of things. They didn’t have much materially, yet they had real moments of connection, family and friends.
I think I have been looking for the simple life ever since I first read the books.
(Quote found at The Good Life)
Stop, Notice, Pay Attention
Posted by: | Comments"You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It’s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle." ~ Paulo Coelho, Brazilian novelist
In the cartoon, Baby Blues, Mother lists tons of little things to remember – things like bring cupcakes, how her picky son wants his lunch made, and a doctor’s appointment to take one of the kids to. The incredulous Dad asks, "How do you keep all that information in your head, and still have room for all the other stuff?" Her answer, "What other stuff?"
A Life Half Lived
I see so many people living life from one routine thing to another and forgetting that there is more to life then errands, cleaning and work. When life gets overfilled, people stop paying attention to their surroundings, their feelings, their needs, and other people.
Conversations are half listened to. Driving is routine unless a close call brings you back to attention. As one task is being done, ten others tasks are in your mind. We can stay in our heads so much, that we forget to look at the outside world. And our world becomes boring or we start to feel numb.
Staying Numb
Sometimes people stay busy so they don’t have to pay attention. If they paid attention they might realize they are dissatisfied, hurt, or not living the life they want. They want to pretend and make believe everything is how they want it or at least that they are too busy to do anything about it.
It’s easier than changing. Changing habits. Changing jobs. Quitting things that make you feel prestigious but aren’t fulfilling. But, if we can wake up to our life we could live a fulfilling, passionate, purposeful life.
Noticing
How much of your day are you actually paying attention to what you are doing? To stay in the present more, one of my clients snaps a rubber band when her mind wanders to the past or future. I have a little note on my monitor reminding me that the time is now.
Paying attention doesn’t take much time. Try using little moments in your day to notice. Take a 10 second break to look out the window and observe what is outside. Take 5 minutes to really listen and connect with someone. Take a few seconds between projects and ask yourself how you are feeling and what you need.
Making Life Better
As you notice, if you discover things that need changing, make little changes. You notice you feel better with grapefruit and oatmeal than a donut for breakfast, eat less donuts. You notice something on the floor, quickly pick it up and put it away. You don’t have to make massive changes to make your life better.
In fact just noticing your life will make it better. Your life will feel more colorful as you take a close look at nature and your surroundings. Your relationships will be deeper as you listen more intently. Your work will go faster because you are focusing your full attention on it. And sometimes you will find that just looking at something will bring you joy.
Ideas for Paying Attention
- Take a walk and engage in your surroundings
- Hold someone’s hand and feel the texture and the temperature
- Wash dishes by hand noticing the feel of the water and playing with the bubbles
- Look at the stars at night
- Listen to your thoughts as they ramble in your head
- Go to a market and smell the produce in the air
- Savor your food
- Journal about something you noticed today
As author SARK says, "Live Juicy!"
Fully Alive
Posted by: | Comments“Simplicity is the examined life richly lived. It is asking ourselves what’s important, what matters. We all think that someday we’ll start living. But few of us feel fully alive.” -Cecile Andrews
If your idea of a good day is just making it through it, it may be time to ask yourself some questions. What’s important to you? What matters in your life? Who do you love? Where is your passion? What will make you feel fully alive?
Take some time this week to write/draw/paint some answers to these questions.
