Daily Mood Quotes - October 28, 2011

Daily Mood Quotes
Day 177 - October 28, 2011

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the movie Seven Years in Tibet with Brad Pitt and David Thewlis, The Dalai Lama (played by Janyang Jamtsho Wangchuk) said, "We have a saying in Tibet: If a problem can be solved there is no use worrying about it. If it can't be solved, worrying will do no good"

I believe if we embrace these basic concepts, all of us will be successful.


Nothing else needs to be said...

How will you view life's questions and problems today?

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Daily Mood Quote - October 2, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 152 – October 2, 2011

“We acquire the strength we have overcome.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well, in my reading I have found that it is not Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome I suffer from, it is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD. I apologize for the error (see October 1, 2011 Daily Mood Quotes). Based on what I have read, I am inclined to agree with the doctor's diagnosis, because it has been nearly four years since this event and it still affects me in many ways. Primarily through an irrational fear of going to the doctor.

Here's the thing, while doing the research I realized that the ruptured appendix was the trigger that brought PTSD to the forefront of my life. There was an underlying event that had some control in my life and I didn't realize it, until I read the research. The underlying issues involved my childhood and my mother's doctor. I can remember going to several appointments with my mother as a young girl. The doctor came in the exam room, asked my mother what refills she needed, then wrote the prescriptions. He never examined her and never asked how she was doing. Then we were off to the drug store. Her addiction to prescription drugs, due to an unscrupulous doctor, precipitated a very difficult and abusive childhood. So, my distrust for doctors began at an early age.

However, through mandatory doctor appointments in the military, I slowly learned to begin to trust and communicate with doctors. I told them about my childhood and they took the time to listen; and be doctors, not a pill dispenser. Five babies later, and years of yearly doctors appointments and check-ups, I was doing good, staying healthy, eating right, exercising and getting the necessary check-ups women need to get each year; until that fateful event. I knew I should go and see my doctor, I had health insurance, but because I don't drive (the eyesight issues), it was too late to see my regular doctor. My husband worked an hour away and the alternatives were the “doc-in-a-box,” or an expensive trip to the ER. I chose the doc-in-a box” option. The rest as they say is history. Multiple wrong diagnosis’s ensued until SURPRISE, there I was in the ER anyway, with my life hanging by a thread. The appendix had burst, the infection was running rampant in my abdomen and the surgery went from routine to life saving. I will forever be thankful for the capable people who were on duty, that fateful Saturday evening.

But, the damage had been done to my body and to my great surprise my psyche. The flood of bad memories came back and all those old fears rose to the surface like a fishing bobber. My doctor's recommendation was that it's time to speak to a professional. He's right, I have been trying to resolve this issue through my own mental toughness, but it's just not working. I need a few ideas and problem solving solutions. I'll make that call this week.

In the movie Princess Diaries, with Julie Andrews (Queen Clarisse Renaldi) and Hector Elizondo (Joe), Eduard Christoff Philippe Gerard Renaldi, Prince of Genovia (played by Rene Auberjonois) wrote this to his daughter Mia (Anne Hathaway) in a letter, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” I guess even the strongest of people need help and a little guidance to get through the tough stuff. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “you gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along...You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” So, to my irrational fears I say: “I see you now for what you are, I'll gather my forces and defeat you.”

How will you face your fears today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - September 30, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 150 – September 30, 2011

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air...”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The only thing missing is “walk in the rain.” I did that this morning, it was pretty cool (about 50 degrees) with a spitting rain and moderate breeze. And although being hit in the face with spitting rain can sometimes be somewhat annoying, today for some reason it wasn't and I enjoyed the walk. Henry David Thoreau said “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” At least Emerson and Thoreau agreed on that! I have to also agree. Granted, it was a short walk (seeing the doctor once for a sinus infection is fine, twice is just plain stupid) and I didn't want to get a cold along with a sinus headache. I think I foresee the purchase of a treadmill in my future. I really don't want to lose any of the gains I have achieved from exercising thus far. At my age those gains actually mean something. It gets tougher and tougher to regain lost ground.

So, how does one live in the sunshine,when its overcast, swim the sea when you're 1000 miles from it and drink the wild air when your having an “ozone action day” and saturated by pollen (well at least that , the pollen, has really been “wild” this year)? I'm not sure, but I suspect living each day to the fullest might be a good place to start. It's Friday and I can't think of a better day to start reengaging in life. Smile as often as you can, appreciate the opportunity to embrace life and then embrace it, and sometimes when you have the opportunity, leap into life without looking (but only if your having fun, please don't do anything dangerous). In the movie Yes Man, Carl Allen (played by Jim Carrey) is a character whose life was crushingly disconnected and routine. He had a boring job and very few friends, until he attended a meeting that challenged him to say “YES!” to life. In that movie Terrence Bundley a motivational speaker (played by Terence Stamp) said a very insightful thing to Carl Allen (Jim Carrey) “You cant audit life my friend.” And so it is, “live” life, wrap your arms around it and find the good, even on the windy, rainy, cold days. There is no substitute and no better time to start than now.

How will you “live in the sunshine” 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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Daily Mood Quote - June 7, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 34 – June 7, 2011

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Over the past few weeks, I have found myself thinking about the road not traveled. I have been told by many that it is normal to wonder if your life would have been different “if” you would have changed direction , or “if” you had turned down another road, or just stayed put. Maybe, the better question might be, “Do you have regrets about the direction you have taken or the path you have traveled?” When I decided to leave home, the only decision I made was not to live the same kind of life my mother had. I wanted to be different, smarter, better. I wanted to travel, meet people, see what the world had to offer.

Well, I've done that...however, I did so without a road map. Would I have changed a few things? Well, I think everybody has 20/20 hindsight. The “would of”, “should of” and “could of's” of your life. But, like Tim McGraw sings in Red Rag Top “that'll drive ya out of your mind.”

Many years ago, I had a conversation with my father-in-law about returning to school to get my degree. My father-in-law told a story about a man, who had many opportunities in his life and because of fear, his own and those of his family, he never followed through on any of them. He missed opportunities that would have changed the direction of the family's lives. Now that man sits on a porch swing wondering “What if?” he would have said yes, instead of a lifetime of no's. Then he ask me, “Do you want to be 80 years old sitting on a swing wondering “What if?”

In the movie Mr. Destiny there is a dialogue between Destiny (played by Michael Caine) and Larry Burrows (played by Jim Belushi); it goes like this:

“Larry Burrows: How can my life change so much just because I hit one stinking baseball?

Destiny (Mike): Well, you see Larry, one's destiny is a very complicated thing. Every incident in a person's life affects everything else that follows it. Instead of missing the baseball, however, you hit it. Then you became a hero, married the prom queen, and so on, and so forth, until you find yourself exactly where you are. So you see, hitting that baseball has spun your life off in an entirely new direction.

Larry Burrows: Are you an angel or something?

Destiny (Mike): Not exactly, no.

Larry Burrows: Then what are you?

Destiny (Mike): Have you ever been faced with a decision, and you weren't sure what to do?

Larry Burrows: Yeah, sure, plenty of times.

Destiny (Mike): And then something inside you made you choose one direction over another?

Larry Burrows: Yeah. So?

Destiny (Mike): So that's me. I make the suggestions, and you make the choices. That's how destiny works, Larry - very subtly. Welcome to your new life, Larry. I hope you like it.”

Yep, another baseball reference, but in my defense it is summer. The point is that when we make choices, our paths continually change. Every choice, every day. Sometimes it's the smallest of course adjustments that make the biggest differences in our lives. That's OK, because if we hadn’t made the choices we did, then the things we love and cherish in our lives, might not be in our lives. Along with that is the inevitable cost of passage. There are bumps and scrapes, the mental and ego bruises and the hard-earned lessons. But, these lessons can be passed on, so that our children can chart their course more accurately, with less scrapes and thorns.

I have realized while writing this day's blog, I am exactly where I should be. While there have been mountains to climb and raging streams to forge, my path is the one I'm supposed to be on. And, I won't be 80 years old wondering “What if?” instead, I will have lived, and I will have learned, being exactly where I should be.

How will you chart your "path" today?

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