11.28.08
“Being rich is having…”
Being rich is having money; being wealthy is having time.
-Stephen Swid, executive (b. 1941)
Nowadays, with so many of us worried about the economy, and many of us trying to stick to tighter budgets during the holiday season, I thought that this quotation was appropriate.
The interesting thing though is that while there may be a limit to how much money we can make (at least in a short amount of time) we have much more control over how much time we can make – time for ourselves, our loved ones, and the important things in our lives.
It is important to remember that we do have this ability so that we do not let the circumstances that may be beyond our control take over.
I hope you enjoy this day after Thanksgiving, whether you are able to spend a lot of money in the stores today or not. Find (or make) time today for the people and things that you love.
~Melissa 
10.30.08
A Conversation – Overheard
-I thought you were all about the “big picture,” the “meant to be,” and the “everything happens for a reason.”
- I was. But, it’s different now. I feel different now.
- Why? What’s so different about now?
- He hurt me more than I realized.
- And, so now you think about it differently?
- Yes. I think so.
- So, what’s so different?
- It just isn’t getting any easier. The pain isn’t going away and it actually hurts more each day. I don’t think I knew what I was saying before, but it is all starting to sink in now. It is much worse than I realized. He hurt me more than I knew at first, and more than I let myself admit. I protected him and defended everything he ever did and never put myself first.
- I’m so sorry.
- Don’t be. It isn’t your fault.
- I know, but still – I feel bad for you.
- That’s exactly it, though. Please don’t feel bad for me. It isn’t helping. I feel bad enough.
- Wait, so you don’t believe in all that destiny stuff anymore? That’s such a big part of who you are.
- Nope. I guess not.
- He’s a jerk.
- I know.
10.25.08
What if our love…
What if our love never went away?
What if it’s lost behind words we could never find?
-Daughtry (What About Now)
I really like the song “What About Now” by Daughtry. Actually, the entire album, Daughtry, has songs with great lyrics. They’re so poetic and romantic. I was in the car earlier today when this song came on the radio. I’ve listened to it a bunch of times before, but today was the first time I really heard these two lines. I kept repeating them over and over to myself and thought that they were interesting.
I love words, of course, but to think that we can lose things (and especially something as significant as love) because of the words we don’t say (or find things because of words we do say) is a pretty powerful idea. It makes me wonder about all the things we don’t know or have because some words don’t translate from one language to another, or we never had the chance to share our words, or we just don’t know which words to use. It makes me think about how the different words that we each know shape our lives. Powerful, powerful.
I also really love the pure, pleading, vulnerability of these lines. I tried to search a little to see who wrote the song lyrics, but didn’t find anything yet. If anyone knows who wrote them, let me know!
~Melissa
10.12.08
“We are each of us angels…”
“We are each of us angels with only one wing. And we can only fly while embracing each other.”
- Lucian de Croszonza
This is such a beautiful idea to me. I don’t know why so many of us fight it, why so many of us are too stubborn or too proud to ask for help or let others be a part of our success.
I see it with my students, and even my own friends and family. The frustration that results when a person tries to do something on his or her own when help is clearly necessary is painful to witness. It does make sense to equate this experience with trying to fly with only one wing; it just can’t be done.
I like to think that I value the opinions of others and that I am receptive to help…now. This was not always the case, however. When I was younger, I fought my parents’ and teachers’ constructive criticism and vehemently argued against it. (I guess I thought I knew much more than I did!) I often refused the help or guidance that was offered to me and as I look back I realize how much smoother or simpler things might have gone for me over the years if I had accepted it. Instead, I tried to do things on my own, in my own way. We live and we learn – and this is definitely a lesson that I learned the hard way!
I seek help with so many things today like professional development opportunities as a teacher and workshops as a writer. I am happy whenever anyone takes the time to offer advice…and I make an effort to express my gratitude for the advice even if I don’t agree with it.
We each can only get so far with our one wing – and while some of us may do okay with that one wing, just think of how much farther we can go and more successful we can be if we let someone help us, fly with us. And, even more beautiful than this thing of our own success, is how much we can help others when we become their second wing.
~Melissa
09.23.08
“Man’s love is of man’s life a part…”
“Man’s love is of man’s life a part; It is woman’s whole existence!” Byron
Comment and discuss, please!
~Melissa
09.19.08
More Quotations From My iGoogle
Inspiration and Motivation
“We first make our habits, and
then our habits make us.”
- John Dryden
“They can conquer who
believe they can.”
- Virgil
“To accomplish great things, we must
not only act, but also dream, not
only plan, but also believe.”
- Anatole France
“There’s only one way to succeed in anything
and that is to give everything.”
- Vince Lombardi
Love
“Only love lets us see normal things in an extraordinary way.” Anonymous
“If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear the pain of loss, then our lives will be empty, our loss greater.” Tanis HalfElven from the Dragonlance saga
“Life is a journey from one point to another. You know where you will end up, but you don’t know what route will get you there.” Jennifer Robinson
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“The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved- loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” Victor Hugo |
Melissa
09.18.08
iGoogle – I love it!
I recently discovered the iGoogle feature from Google. This Google product allows you to create a personalized page full of widgets that you select from a pretty large variety. There are plenty of widgets that are helpful for writers such as a dictionary, thesaurus, and a widget that gives you a Word A Day from dictionary.com. I have an assortment of things on my page right now including weather information, phases of the moon, puzzles, pictures from National Geographic, and quotations…I love quotations!
I have three different quotation widgets on my page. One is all about literary quotes, one is about love, and the other is inspirational. I thought I would share a few of the recent ones that I have read courtesy of the iGoogle widgets with all of you.
Please leave any comments about the quotes or iGoogle.
Inspirational
“The only limit to our realization of
tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Everyone who got to where they are
had to begin where they were.”
- Richard Paul Evans
“Long-range goals keep you from being
frustrated by short-term failures.”
- James Cash Penney
“You are today where your thoughts have
brought you; you will be tomorrow
where your thoughts take you.”
- James Allen
Love
“It is impossible to love and to be wise.” Francis Bacon
“Love is the expression of simplicity in emotion, the unattainable longing that comes so unexpectedly, with great subtlety and bliss.” Luen Dao
Literary
“My entire soul is a cry and all my work is a commentary on that cry.” – Nikos Kazantzakis
~Melissa
08.30.08
Let me count the ways…
adoration, affection, appreciation, ardor, attachment, besottedness, bliss, care, cheerfulness, compassion, concern, contentment, delight, desire, devotion, doting, ecstasy, elation, endearment, enchantment, euphoria, exhilaration, felicity, fondness, friendship, glee, happiness, idolization, intimacy, joy, jubilation, keenness, lightheartedness, love, merriment, passion, penchant, predilection, rapture, regard, satisfaction, tenderness, triumph, warmth, worship…
~Melissa
08.23.08
“THE WAY IT IS”
THE WAY IT IS
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the the thread.
-William Stafford
These lines came to me today in a back to school letter. Now, I am sure that the intention was for the “thread” to symbolize our reasons for teaching and dedication to the profession. I can certainly perceive that in the poem and can of course apply it to my interpretation because there are many obstacles and challenges that teachers face all the time. One must be dedicated to teach; it is a given.
However, I can’t help but also think that a more appropriate explanation for what the “thread” in the poem is, is really love – true love, unconditional love, unwavering love. I believe that love can carry you through any tragedy or difficult situation. It isn’t easy for others to always recognize it or understand it if they aren’t a part of it, and I feel those people are the ones to whom you might have to “explain about the thread.” People who have never experienced this kind of love may not know how to handle the explanation, but I think that anyone who has ever known true love will understand.
The thread is what gives you hope when to everyone else there appears to be none.
The thread is what makes the pain hurt a little less and the joy heal a little more.
But, then what about the people who don’t have a “thread” (whether the thread is a dedication to their career or true love or both)? What happens then, with each tragedy and difficult situation when there is no thread? How can those people get back on track when they don’t know where the track is? What if you are still holding on to the thread, but it breaks? Is it ever too late to spin a new thread?
What do you all think? What is the “thread” in the poem to you? Please share your thoughts.
~Melissa
08.14.08
“Love is a promise…”
Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.
-John Lennon
There are so many lovely things that have been said about love. I couldn’t resist putting this quote up here today. I particularly like the idea of love being both a promise and being a souvenir. It is something that we can take with us, no matter where we go and where we are in our lives. It is emotional, and physical, and can be tangible, too, when we let ourselves appreciate it in all the little things in our lives. As these John Lennon lines say, it is up to us though, to remember the love and to hold on to it. That’s the only catch.
Please share a favorite saying or thought about love.
~Melissa
