Daily Mood Quotes - February 8, 2012

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 251 – February 8, 2012

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Today I checked my daily mood quotes e-mail and read several that asked me, “what is my mood today?” “when will the daily mood quote return?” and “are you all right?” I have also received many new notifications for followers on Twitter and Facebook.

I have to say, I was very surprised and did not realize how many read and look forward to the Daily Mood Quotes blog. The e-mails brought tears to my eyes. I want to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and I hope you have enjoyed the quotes and stories that are shared daily. Beginning tomorrow February 9, 2012, I will begin writing again (it is my passion) and the daily mood quote will again be daily. Thank you, I never realized how many people the Daily Mood Quote reaches.

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - January 11, 2012

Daily Mood Quote

Day 237 – January 11, 2012

“Friendships are discovered rather than made.”

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

What is the difference between friendship and networking? I ask this question because recent events in my life raise the questions of what and why? What are your motives? Why are you talking to me? Why do you want to connect with me? I hate to be so cynical, but these are questions I have to ask. Allow me to give you a little insight into my life. In my family there seemed always to be an ulterior motive, or hook on everything that was done, or said. All favors were conditional and on a “what can you do for me” basis. Nothing was ever from the good of the heart, or just plain ol' love. Consequently, I don't have a great deal of trust for other's motives, when they suddenly pop back into my life after years of distance and want me to friend them on Facebook and invite them into my Linkedin network. “I have questions, queries, posers” that come to mind (thanks Number 5 played by Tim Blaney from the movie Short Circuit with Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg).

These are folks that I once thought of as friends, but now I wonder about that. The era of social networking seems to be becoming less social and more network. I feel that is a loss for all of us. Today people flock to “friend” as many people as possible to build their social profile online. But in the race to hook into the network, we often bypass the basic building blocks of friendship. The first of which is a genuine emotional, not digital, connection to those we know. You just can't get that without an in person experience. The second basic block on which real friendships are built is trust and that takes a while to establish and grow (especially with me, I once had a friend say to me, “you have some very thick walls people need to break through, but once they are through, the friendship is worth it). As in the fable of the bamboo grower, “It takes time.” The third block upon which friendship is built is shared goals, interests, or other emotionally connected experiences; be they positive, or negative. Emotion counts. If there is no emotion, there is no friendship, its that simple. That's how we connect to people and develop friendships. To call it anything else is a lie and I can’t support that and you can't get that from a “digital network.”

If it's just a way to “leverage” an acquaintance, let's be honest about it. Your not looking for a friendship, your developing a means, a way to get what you want, be it a job, a promotion, a status...whatever. Much like my mom, “I'll give that to you, if you do this for me.” I have to wonder if this was Mark Zuckerberg's intention for Facebook. I know I'm being cynical here, but it seems to me that we have taken a great idea and bastardized it into a “what can you do for me opportunity.” Both online and off, and no longer about “genuine friendship.” I have noticed that people's offline behavior is beginning to mimic this online “friending” fraud. Online habits seem to leak into real life. It leaves me wondering does anyone know what friendship is anymore, what it looks like or even how one is suppose to behave in public? Or, is it all about, “hey he/she is in a position that can help me move up, so I think I will friend him/her on Facebook, or Linkedin.” It seems as what was once a wonderful way to stay connected to family and your true friends has become the domain of networking vultures. Always circling, always drifting in search of that next connection to exploit.

To be fair, I know of some people who don't use Facebook for networking, for them it is about keeping in touch with family and sharing those precious moments with loved ones; that is awesome. I have had a friend for thirty years and she will be the first one to tell you, it took a long time for me to trust her and become friends with her. But when we did, we both will tell you, the friendship is worth it. Oh the stories we could tell, unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to stop laughing long enough to tell them. You can't get this through a random Facebook friend, whom you have never really met.

I know this sounds a bit curmudgeonly and I apologize, but when something bugs me I have to get it out. Three weeks ago, my dad died and I thought perhaps my siblings and I might become closer now that our parents are gone. In fact the opposite has happened. I have reached out, but I haven't heard from anyone since my dad passed. Perhaps they are still grieving, but that isn't what history has taught me. I believe I won't hear from them, unless I have something to offer them. Love with strings, friendships with strings (networking). I miss my dad very much, because his love didn't come with strings attached. They're just following an example was set many years ago by mom, “I'll do this for you, if you do this for me.” Much like networking. It's sad.

Can you tell the difference between “friendship” and “networking friendship” today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - December 19, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 226 – December 19, 2011

Lost time is never found again.

~Benjamin Franklin

A few weeks ago, I was informed that my father had cancer. Today, I was told, my father will die shortly and the only thing that can be done is to make him comfortable. First, I would like to thank everyone who reads daily mood quotes, those who have sent e-mails with questions and comments, all my Facebook Friends on Daily Mood Quotes Facebook page and my Twitter followers. Writing this blog is an enjoyable and exciting part of my daily activities.

Unfortunately, I will be taking some time off, because I would very much like to spend time with my father; his time is very short. As I have said before, my father is a wonderful man, he adopted me, gave me his name and raised me as his own child. He never made me feel unwanted, or that I didn't belong. Over the past seven years, since my mother's passing, my father and I had an opportunity to reconnect and we became friends. He is a wonderful, caring, loving man that I have had the gift to call “my dad.” The doctors say, he doesn’t have much time (hours – days), so I will take that remaining time and share it with my father, sisters and brother. Then we will say goodbye, except for me, I don't like to say goodbye. I'll just say “see ya later dad.”

Because, I will be away from my computer (it's a desktop, not a laptop) and focused on my family, I will not be blogging Daily Mood Quotes for the rest of December. Family is priority during this difficult time. I will be back on January 1, 2012 with more quotes, more movie quotes and great stories for the new year.

I would very like to wish everyone who reads Daily Mood Quotes a very Happy and Safe Holiday season. A personal message; Life is short make the most of it. My dad is in his mid 70's and I had hoped that we would have more time. But, that was not to be. Life is meant to be shared, enjoyed and cherished. Don't wait until it's too late to begin living a life that was meant to be shared, enjoyed and cherished with those you love and those who love you. See you in New Year.

Happy Holiday,

from Daily Mood Quotes

How will you use your time today?

Tune in on January 1, 2012 to read the daily mood quote

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Daily Mood Quotes - December 12, 2011

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 220 – December 12, 2011

“A system is a network of interdependent components that work together to try to accomplish the aim of the system. A system must have an aim. Without the aim, there is no system.”

~W. Edwards Deming

Now all we need to do is add an “ing” to the word network and the connotation changes. A recent conversation with a friend reminded me “that it isn't what you know, but who you know. You have to network, networking is how people get jobs.” Okay, can someone tell why I have spent nearly six years in college to earn a Bachelor's and Master's Degrees? Should I drop out now? Or, maybe I should change my major to include classes like, butt-kissing-101, how to schmooze your abusive boss-201, or, how to get a raise by learning to play golf-301. Tell me my friends what is broken about this “system?”

So it follows, that the best people for the job, apparently aren't the ones getting the jobs. So, why are there still colleges around, if getting a job is based on who you know and not what you know? I don't know about you, but this depresses me...aaalotttt (thank you Peanut from Jeff Dunham). I understand that people need to have good communications skills and it certainly never hurts to “play well with others.” But apparently getting work is based on being somebody’s brother's cousin's niece's second aunt's sorority friend's best buddy, or something like that. That's six degrees of separation I wish were seven! I would like to know, when did networking take the place of actual knowledge, skill and experience? As for me, my experiences in networking have all too often turned my stomach, because it requires people (especially where I live) to go out after work and drink with others they work with. And to quote Bartok the bat from the animated movie Anastasia “This can only end in tears!” A lot of gossip occurs in these outings and that's not something I want to be a part of, in the business world, or in any other part of my life. Gossip is corrosive-period. I have seen too many people's careers and lives destroyed, because of something they said or did, under the influence of alcohol. Even if you don't drink, things you say are often twisted against you in these scenarios. It's simply not worth it. There is an old saying, “With friends like “that” who needs enemies?” I guess when you have been stabbed in the back a few times, you have a cautious wall between you and unpleasant networking “opportunities.” The point is that if everyone is networking and working the system when the heck is anything useful getting done? Kind of explains one reason for a sagging economy... don't it?

So, let's talk about social networking via the internet. I belong to a few social network sites; Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and they too have their pros and cons. First the pros; if you have something to say, you get the opportunity to say it without interruptions (that's another blog for later), and you have a hard copy of what you said, so if your words would ever be twisted, you have the proof you need (sad we need to think like that). And it lets people connect with others with similar interests and even old friends. That's great and I am grateful for that. On the con side; it also opens you up to bullying, and online attacks, and everything you say online can end up as public record, to use as ammunition against you by random people, human resources departments and even potential vendors and lenders. Plus, there is the ever present specter of identity theft. Additionally, I have found that many human resources managers and executives hide behind the digital wall to exclude quality candidates from positions they are eminently qualified for, except for when they are someone's brother's, sister's cousin's niece’s nephew, who is looking for a job. Oooops sorry, that only happens here. Best to tread lightly through the digital minefield.

The point is, if we do not begin to assess people by what they know and how much they care, we run the risk of being at the mercy of people who may network great, but can't, or won't work worth a darn. Wrong skill set. Wrong attitude often leads to lost profits and high turnover. Erica Albright (played by Rooney Mara) said it best when she said to Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) in the Movie The Social Network, “I'm sorry you are not sufficiently impressed with my education.” I guess I just don't get it. Hiring a “network friend” is like hiring family, it's just bad business. Didn't former President George W. Bush hire many of his friends? See where that got us! Hmmm, enough said.

How will you view networking today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - November 5, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 185 – November 5, 2011

“The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort – the opening, terror. Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing - the opening a wonderfully joyous moment.”

~Andy Rooney

I am tabling the honesty and integrity discussion today. This morning I went to my Daily Mood Quotes Facebook page and saw a headline on the CBS Evening News link that read, “Andy Rooney dead at 92.” I am saddened, I understand that 92 is a pretty long life, but there is sorrow in such a great loss. Sadly, I never met Mr. Rooney, but on 60 Minutes when you listen to his verbal essays, it was hard not to connect with him, no matter if you agreed or disagreed with him. He had a persona that made you feel as if he was talking to you directly. Maybe that was just a good camera angle, or the father-like tone he had in his voice; either way a connection happened.

Everyone will have that one thing they will remember about Mr. Rooney. For me, it will be the direct approach he had about everything. It is one of the reasons why I speak my mind directly. Like him, hate him, agree with him, disagree with him, say hi in passing, ignore him in passing; it didn't matter, you respected him for his opinion and the fact that he had one and spoke it. That's why I liked and respected him.

What an amazing life he must have led because he stated (I'm paraphrasing here) “if he had to do it all again, he wouldn't change a thing.”

I dedicate this blog to Mr. Andy Rooney, thank you for the memories, the great words and stories you have told over the years. You once said, “Elephants and grandchildren never forget.” Well, I hope we will never forget you, I know I won't.

Rest In Peace Andy Rooney, we will miss you.

No movie quote today

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Daily Mood Quote - October 23, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 172 – October 23, 2011

“The best cure for an off day is a day off.”

~Frank Tyger

Yesterday, I took the day off. It was time to disconnect, become unwired, break free of the grid, or what is also known as the daily grind. I logged off for a day. Over the past six years, I have logged many, many hours on the computer. First with school work, research projects, papers, communications with fellow classmates on projects and presentations, work, The Daily Mood Quote, and family and friends... E-mails, Skyping, Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube; where does the madness end? It doesn't unless you say E-N-O-U-G-H!!! Much like Bruce Nolan (played by Jim Carrey) in the movie Bruce Almighty, when he said, “Bruce giveth and Bruce taketh away. Don't like it? Megabyte me” as he unplugged the computer. All right, I wasn't that harsh, and I did not unplug the computer. I just walked away.

I did that yesterday, I said enough and logged off for a day. Here's why, the weather was nice, I remembered I had a family and I was having a menopause day of gargantuan proportions. Every time, I looked at my computer, throwing it out through the sliding glass door crossed my mind. That's never good, so when my husband asked me what I was going to write about, I walked away. Ipods, Ipads, cell phones, apps, laptops, desktops; they all made me twitch yesterday. It was time for a change, even if that change would be short lived. So, I watched a little TV, the movie Die Hard (one of my favorites, I like Bruce Willis - as an actor). I also watched Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase and some of the World Series with the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals. I took some time to go to Wal-mart to pick up a few items and just enjoyed the day unplugged. Not even a cell phone call. It was nice.

I think Matthew Broderick said it best, when he played Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” and if you don't step away from technology for a moment, you're missing a lot. Even the great Andy Rooney took a day off. And so that's done; I can get back to addressing the needs of digital reality. The need for total immersion in real reality has been satiated for now.

The point is, well you know there's always a point... Anyway, We all need to step back away from whatever has our attention the majority of the time; be it the computer, the internet, a group of associates, a job, a religion, or anything that absorbs time like a sponge. Then take a deep breath and appreciate the little things we so often take for granted. No matter where you might be, there is beauty and peace of mind to be found if we disconnect, open our minds and hearts and let the best parts of real reality in.

How will you enjoy your day today?

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Daily Mood Quote - September 27, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 147 – September 27, 2011

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

~Author Unknown

A few weeks ago, I posted a comment on Facebook to my nephew about avoiding the negative stereotypes of being a parent. People had made mention “that his life was now over” because he was preparing to become a parent. They are expecting their first. I was excited for them. Unfortunately, my niece (my nephew's sister) became enraged by my positive and well meant input. She made some very mean and nasty comments against me on Facebook, a public forum format. Completely uncalled for, it really showed me a side of her that was quite surprising, disappointing and even a bit disturbing. It reminded me an awful lot of my mother, when she was on her rants. She obviously has an ax to grind and maybe some anger issues to deal with. I not really sure. To be fair and honest with you (thank you Clint Eastwood from In the Line of Fire), I don't really know my niece, in fact, I don't know many from my family. I was eighteen when I left home and joined the military. I didn't care to have much contact with them. I tried to live in the same town as my family a few times, once I couldn't leave fast enough, twice, couldn't run fast enough and finally, for my mother's funeral, a few days seemed like a lifetime.

Anyway, what my niece did was a form of cyber-bullying and if I would have engaged in her aggressive behavior, things would have spiraled out of control, into a situation that would have been inappropriate and a waste of time. While I know my point of view and a bit about my niece's life, I can't say the same for her. After raising five children; I know that life is only beginning when you have a child. Okay, sometimes being a parent can be frustrating and children can wear you right down to a nubbin (thank you Berenstein Bears), but it can be also the greatest joy a person can know. After all that's why we are here, to continue our species. I have walked those miles, my niece apparently has yet to figure that out. So, as with many people there is no possibility of a peaceful resolution. And that's the real shame of it: folks with intractable positions, no real knowledge and dark attitudes. No one likes or wants to be around an angry person, especially if every statement, comment, or loving and supportive gesture is greeted with a hateful statement, or a verbal argument. My niece is young and hopefully time will mellow her out. I will never know, because I used the “unfriend” button on my Facebook page. Simple enough.

In the movie Meet the Parents, Greg Focker (played by Ben Stiller) said to the Flight Attendant (Kali Rocha), “ If you would take a second, take the little sticks out of your head, clean out your ears, and maybe you would see that I'm a person who has feelings...” The point here is that it's oh-so-easy to lose objectivity when dealing with other's opinions and points of view. To often, we project our life's “issues” and unsupported opinions onto others, without first getting to know their side of the story. As a parent; I have found that there is always two sides to any story. Just ask two children standing in a room with a broken lamp. The key is to find the truth somewhere in the middle. Walk the mile, then make your observations. As with a real walk, a little distance usually offers a better perspective. As for me; I'm putting plenty of digital distance between myself and my family. That's just the way it is.

Who's shoes will you “walk in” before commenting today?

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Daily Mood Quote - September 19, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 139 – September 19, 2011

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.

~Ernest Hemingway

I think this is the first time I have ever used a quote from Ernest Hemingway, one of my favorite writers. Seems odd it took so long to quote such a noted writer. I guess it may have something to do with the quote itself, “trust.” An easy word to say, “I trust you” but it's apparently a hard word to understand, since it means so many different things to so many people. Here is what trust means to me. If you say it, you should do it; follow through. Its like making a promise, how many of us have left a trail of broken promises? Broken trusts?

In today's world it seems virtually impossible to trust anyone. A mistake you make ends up on Youtube, an email you write ends up on WikiLeaks, a conversation you have ends up the subject of a group discussion in the week's “after church” social gathering. What the hell? Where did confidentiality go? It seems as if you need to begin every relationship with little tests. Like putting a little air in a balloon to see if it leaks. All to often, you hear that darn hisssssssss...it's enough to make anyone a cynic.

In Mr. Hemingway's time, seems there were a greater percentage of people that could be trusted. Maybe it's because there were fewer ways to communicate. Then the Internet...it is a blessing and a curse. Why do we feel the need to blab everything about everybody, all the time. I feel bad for celebrities, it seems they can't go to the bathroom without it showing up on TMZ or Entertainment Tonight (ET). Imagine how a non-celebrity feels when their latest potty run is the subject of a discussion on Facebook? As Charlie Brown would say, “Good grief” (thank you Charles Schultz).

More and more our friends and loved ones seem to be driven to tell all about everything, all the time. Granted, there is a large percentage of the population you wouldn't ever trust (not picking on anyone but history has proven), anything that has a contract and fine print and some occupations. That's just the way it is. However, when adults and teens are relentlessly being bullied online after trusting “friends” “co-workers” “human resources” and even “family” with personal information, it is easy to see how we have entered an “Era of Paranoia,” rightfully so. And so, we have become less of a community. Here are some safe subjects; the weather, football, and the latest accident on the highway. Beyond that your taking a risk, data in the shredder and secure empty trash. That's a shame, we need to live behind walls, both real and digital, because we can't trust one another anymore.

How do we fix this? We begin by being trustworthy ourselves. In the Menards Sales Flyer this week, my husband read this quote to me this morning (funny where inspiration comes from), “If it is not the right thing to do, never do it, if it is not the truth, never say it. Keep your impulses in hand.” Something to think about. Another great quote came from Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, “In almost every profession – whether it's law or journalism, finance or medicine or academia or running a small business – people rely on confidential communications to do their jobs. We count on the space of trust that confidentiality provides. When someone breaches that trust, we are all worse off for it.” And we are always worse off for it.

Trust is a fragile thing and we are all its origin and its caretakers. If we are not trustworthy the community of humanity suffers a bit more every day. To be believed and to stand for what you say, these are elusive things, but things worth striving for. In the film version of Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, Gary Cooper as Robert Jordan said “A man fights for what he believes in,...” Such is trust and trustworthiness; these two are worthy of being championed, today and everyday.

How will you grow “trust” today?

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Daily Mood Quote - August 3, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 92 – August 3, 2011

The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.

~William Safire

This morning on my Daily Mood Quotes Facebook Page, I saw a remark that made me wonder who is winning. They wrote, “I think ta survive u have to be a ruthless person.” I have always taught my children, “Two wrongs don't make a right,” sometimes you have to walk away and let the universe do its thing. I have witnessed the universe, a higher power, God, whatever your belief structure in action. Nobody ever really gets away with bad behavior; it creeps back into your life in ways you can't even imagine. Sometimes, its more profoundly and directly realized than the action itself. Here's an example: A woman in a grocery store we visited, was behaving badly towards the staff, and other customers. Her entire disposition displayed that she regarded others as if they didn't matter and it was their job to serve her. Needless to say, she offended many people. She left the store and loaded up her car with groceries, leaving the cart sit there. Then she went to leave, but found that her car didn't start. The battery had died. She exclaimed it was a new battery and the car was “just in the shop”. Nobody cared and no one stopped to help her. Well not exactly no one; my husband and I did, we believe two wrongs don't make a right. Sadly enough, she didn't even say “thank you.” She just hopped into her car and drove away. So, who do you think came out better in the long run for that experience? I have to wonder if she spent the rest of the day feeling guilty about not saying thank you, or did other “universal actions” continue to unfold, until she got the point?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Character is higher than intellect.” You usually receive what you put out there. If you are a ruthless person, you will be treated ruthlessly. Maybe not by those around you in the immediate situation, but surely the cost will be extracted over time. If you treat people harshly, you will be treated harshly, this list and cycle can go on forever. I believe in the Golden Rule, “treat others as you want to be treated” even if they can not return the kindness, or the better behavior. It is a comforting thing to look in the mirror at the end of the day and know you have nothing to feel guilty about, something to feel good about... and you don't need to look over your shoulder to see if fate, or an enemy is closing in on you. Ahhh, that's a good night's sleep.

In the movie Spiderman, Uncle Ben (played by Cliff Robertson) said to Peter Parker (Toby Maguire), “This guy, Flash Thompson, he probably deserved what happened. But just because you can beat him up doesn't give you the right to. Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.” We all have the power to be ruthless or not, to be selfish or not, to be a good example or not, regardless of what we do or don't do, responsibility for it will come around and there is no stopping it. It is just the way things work. Be careful your choices, you will have to live with them.

How do you choose to do right today?

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