Daily Quotes for Mon 28 Jun 2010

"Men spend their lives in anticipations, in determining to be vastly happy at some period or other when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other: it is our own. Past opportunities are gone, future have not come. We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer the tasting of them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age!"
-Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832) English Sportsman, Writer

Great news! Finally emerging out of my mini-crisis. Details coming soon...
*LoVe*Me*

I've been battling some feelings lately; I'm feeling out of balance in my life, my work, & my relationships with the people I love.

The Day Before Friday...

There are some days when I get in a "I-Don't-Want-To-Do-Anything" funk which is so combative to my weekly, service-oriented job. BIG BOOOO!
*LoVe*Me*

Daily Quotes for Thu 10 Jun 2010

“Though the practice of chivalry fell even more sadly short of its theoretic standard than practice generally falls below theory, it remains one of the most precious monuments of the moral history of our race, as a remarkable instance of a concerted and organized attempt by a most disorganized and distracted society, to raise up and carry into practice a moral ideal greatly in advance of its social condition and institutions; so much so as to have been completely frustrated in the main object, yet never entirely inefficacious, and which has left a most sensible, and for the most part a highly valuable impress on the ideas and feelings of all subsequent times.”



— John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) English Philosopher, Political Economist

Daily Quotes for Wed 09 Jun 2010

"Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the only one who asked why. "- Bernard Mannes Baruch (1870-1965) American Businessman, Statesman

OR

"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for?" - Robert Browning (1812-1889) English Poet

I’ve Hit a Wall or The Flip Side of A Man, His Cart, & a Long Walk

Things got slow at work today which is quite odd for what’s always expected to be one of our busiest days of the week. With that said, I had more time to map out some things I’d been contemplating for a while. I also had the opportunity to think about, well, me. I’ve resolved that I’ve got to make some changes, incorporate something different into my daily routine, my life, something that will redirect my wayward attention…I’ve got a list. It’s an ongoing list at that. However, I’m having difficulty motivating myself to continue actively completing and revising my list. It’s as if I have hit a wall…



I have accepted and embraced that I am a constant work in progress and that my recovery from the codependent craziness in my life is in unvarying motion. I’m still struggling with knowing and understanding that I don’t have to exert that much control in my life because I’m really not the One who’s in control of it in the first place. I still get a little stressed in relationships and at my job when things don’t go the way I’ve planned in the time frame that I expected. But at least now I’m acutely aware of this fact and not blindly believing that I have it all together because, heck, I DON’T. Just every once in a while, I get scared that I’ve grown to content, almost complacent and safe in “the way things are” and this inferno begins to assemble inside my mind, pushing for change. But then there’s this damn wall— intangible but keeping me still—blocking progression. Then my mind segues to the unthinkable: What if I revert back completely to my old, silly, reactionary, ugly & depressed self? What will become of me then?


Maybe I’m afraid…But then what is it that I’m afraid of…I dunno. I’m determined not to get myself all tense and worked up about this. I’ve got to remain calm for me and those that I care about. Most recently, it was brought to my attention that I don’t listen very well, if at all. Perhaps this is where I need to start. The quality of my relationships with others is greatly impacted by my ability to listen. I added this goal to my bucket list. Now if only I could get moving on this list…Any ideas?

Daily Quote for Mon 07 Jun 2010

“You couldn't get hold of the things you'd done and turn them right again. Such a power might be given to the gods, but it was not given to women and men, and that was probably a good thing. Had it been otherwise, people would probably die of old age still trying to rewrite their teens.”



—Stephen Edwin King (1947- ) American Writer

A Man, His Cart, & a Long Walk

I came across a website about a man named Matt Green who’s walking across America, “doing it all for its own sake.” He’s left New York and is heading to Oregon simply because he enjoys walking. He even quit his job as a civil engineer (something I fantasize about daily) to make the 9 month journey. I’ve been reading his daily posts at imjustwalkin.com and each day, I’m blown away not only by the journey that Matt’s taking but by the genuine kindness displayed towards him by strangers that allow him to sleep on their property, shower in their homes or even share meals with their families.



With each daily read, an overwhelming sensation of inspiration floods my mind. I want to smile more about folks I don’t know. Offer my assistance to friends and acquaintances in need. More importantly, I’ve really been more encouraged to make changes in my life that will open up more opportunities for me to do the things that I’ve been putting off. I’ve got this list of things, my personal “Bucket List”, a list of things I’d like to see happen, attributes I’d like to gain, things I’d like to get and do, and changes I’d like to occur. This list changes from time to time, leaving room for the unexpected and the unintended. This is my own personal attempt to tap into my dreams, wishes, fears and desires and as I accomplish or master each aspiration, I strike it out. My Bucket list reads as follows:

Actively Listen to Those That I Care About


Allow Events to Happen Naturally


Be Myself


Become a Teacher


Buy a Home


Detach w/Love


Enjoy Being Alone


Find a Church Home


Get Married


Go Back to School Summer 2009


Have Sex in the Rain


I will not look for happiness outside myself


I will push myself through fearful situations, telling myself I can make it


Journal daily


Keep My Cool w/tough Customers


Learn to Use a Sewing Machine


Let go of meaningless, emotionally absent relationships


Let Other People be Who They are


Let the Past Be Just That…The Past


Lose 20 lbs and keep it off


Make decisions and choices that enhance my self-esteem


Move Closer to Work


Pass INS 22


Play the Lotto


Quit Being the Victim


Read a book off “The List”


Rebuild My Self-Worth


Rekindle relationships that are worth it


Remove “Should” from my vocabulary


Save Some $$$: 6 mos worth of expenses


Smile More


Start a Family


Stop Picking on Myself for Picking on Myself


Stop procrastination at its onset


Stop Reacting and Think


Strive for balanced expectations of others.


Strive for healthy tolerance.


Take a Trip Somewhere I’ve Never Been (NYC, Savannah GA, Vegas, CA)


Value myself


Will Not Let Others Hurt Me


Will not tolerate abuse to keep people loving me


Will Not try to Trust Untrustworthy People


Worry About Nothing; Pray About Everything

Daily Quote For Fri 04 Jun 2010

“Don’t let people change you. No matter what happens be wiser the next time. But, don’t let it change you. There may be people in your life that have hurt you, but don’t make the next person who has the best intentions come along and you run them away because you think they’re going to do what the last person did to you. Don’t be afraid. In life you can’t live in fear of what people will say or do. If you lose love or a friend, then maybe you never had it.”—Tyler Perry (African American author, director, playwright, actor)

Daily Quote for Thur 03 Jun 2010

“All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but myself.”



—Ralph Ellison, "Battle Royal" (1914–1994) African American novelist, literary critic, scholar, writer.

Daily Quote for Wed 02 Jun 2010

"I'm no model lady. A model's just an imitation of the real thing." Mae West (1893-1980)
*LoVe*Me*