Daily Mood Quotes - November 10, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 190 – November 10, 2011

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.

~Attributed to Harry S. Truman

What was it Master Chief said? Oh, I remember (I'm paraphrasing), “when you're 18, you know everything, no one can teach you anything. When you're 25, you realize that you know only half of what you thought you knew at 18 and by the time you're 40 you realize you know nothing and you are now open to learning everything.” I thought he was a nut when he said this, until I turned 40 and realized that what I knew was nothing, I went back to school at 42, and earned a Bachelor's Degree at 46. I will achieve my Master's by 48. The interesting thing here is when I started grad school, I made the assumption that it was going to be much like my experience as an undergrad. Boy, was I wrong. Soooo wrong. I never knew how much is involved in learning and how learning never stops.

In my undergrad work I got an overview of my chosen field, leading to a degree. That's just the way it is with undergrad degrees. I thought then that I was stuffed with information. But in my grad program we dig deeper into the subject of the specialization, the “whys” “the history” “the future.” I found an understanding about learning and myself, that demonstrated, "if you fail to stay open to learning, no matter where it comes from, then you doom yourself to fail." Life is a unceasing highway of information and we must travel it with our eyes, ears and hearts open.

I recently ran into a group of people who have been doing the same thing for a very long time and believed that they need no new input. I am all for experience, but like I once heard “If a carpenter hammers nails wrong for 20 years, it doesn't make him a master carpenter.” or something like that and I think it applies. It's so easy to get into routines and bad habits. They creep up on us like thieves in the night. We begin to generalize, then compartmentalize, then we begin to overlook things that run counter to our experience. That's when the trouble starts.

What do I mean? Simple, when we think we know it all: that's just about the time that we run into someone, or something that directly challenges our view of things. We have to choose to accept or ignore the new facts that have entered our life. Funny thing about fate, it usually doesn't offer “door number three.” So, we too often choose to ignore the facts right in front of our face, or information that others are willing to offer, because “We know it all, we've seen it all and who could possibly tell us anything?”... or something like that. Ego, pure and simple. Unfortunately, that's how little problems become very big issues in our life. And we invite them in on the wings of our arrogance.

I have only one question; if you know of a resource that is available to you and this resource could help in a challenging situation, why wouldn't you use it? It's amazing that information can come from anywhere, from anyone. We all have built filters, those filters can run against us and hurt us as much as they protect us. Much like in the movie Titanic when Brock Lovett (played by Bill Paxton) said to his team, “26 years of experience working against him. He figures anything big enough to sink the ship they're gonna see in time to turn. The ship's too big with too small a rudder. It doesn't corner worth a damn. Everything he knows is wrong.” I believe in experience, it has a lot to offer, but in some cases hanging onto self-generated dogma can be detrimental, not only to you but to those around you. Especially to those whose care you have been entrusted with. Just look at the current Penn State University scandal. Enough said about that.

There are so many cases where overlooking the information right in front of you has caused tremendous damage, in-spite of the opportunity to adjust thinking and change course. An old saying goes, “don't cut off your nose to spite your face.” What do you think?

How will you view new information today?

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Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quote - October 16, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 166 – October 16, 2011

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

~Abraham Lincoln

An even though we know these words, recited these words and studied the man who said these words, we are still not equal. For approximately a month now, many have been and continue to protest economic inequality, not just in our country, but around the world. I wonder, are our voices being heard at all, or is it being tuned out because the ones the inequality hurts, the unemployed, the retired fixed incomes, disabled and recent college graduates don't matter to those who we put into office? Most likely not, Its money that talks, plain and simple. I read Rick Perry raised $17.2 million dollars in just a month in a half. How? Where? Who? Do you know how many families can be helped with that kind of money? Funny thing, it seems that no one cares about the families. The money will go towards, traveling fees (most expensive hotels, best food, etc...), commercials that will tell us how “bad” the opponents are and I'm sure some money will also go towards very expensive, personal items to ensure the image of Gov. Perry is upheld. Its image, not substance that matters right? Well, in a word, no. Looks like somebody (not the regular, everyday, taxpaying citizen) really, really wants this guy from Texas in the game, no matter how inappropriate his statements are. What is the motive? I have a few thoughts.

Last night, I watched the Texas Rangers – Detroit Tigers baseball playoff game and the camera picked up former President George Bush in the stands, sitting with the Texas Rangers owner, Nolan Ryan. I was amazed as I watched the President's body language, it screamed, “I don't have a care in the world, I'm enjoying life.” Meanwhile, the brave American soldiers that he and his shotgun toting buddy Dick Cheney sent into harms way, so Halliburton could make a few extra bucks, are still fighting and dying overseas. Lets not give any further credence to the facade; it was always about the cash and oil, really. It reminded me of the movie Titanic, where a conversation took place between Ruth, Rose's Mom (Frances Fisher), Rose (Kate Winslet) and Cal Hockley (Billy Zane), regarding the sinking of the ship:

Ruth: Will the lifeboats be seated according to class? I hope they're not too crowded.

Rose : Oh mother, shut up! Don't you understand? The water is freezing and there aren't enough boats. Not enough by half. Half the people on this ship are going to die.

Cal Hockley: Not the better half.

Rose thought him to be an unimaginable bastard. I would have left him too. Anyway, it has always amazed me how those who have so much, where given so much, don't really do much to balance the scales. Instead they better their position on the backs of others. I do wonder how they sleep at night? In the movie Independence Day, President Thomas Whitmore (played by Bill Pullman) said, “It's a fine line between standing behind a principle and hiding behind one. You can tolerate a little compromise, if you're actually managing to get something accomplished.” And, in the movie American President, President Andrew Shepherd (played by Michael Douglas) said, “...We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them...” Here's an idea for any politician running for President with the belief they can make “change” happen. Use your contributions, go to a food shelter and help pass out containers full of food (bought with your own cash) to families, who can't buy groceries to feed their family. Walk into an unemployment office and look at the faces of those who have lost their jobs. Walk into a Goodwill store, look at who is shopping. These are “We The People”, they're the voters, whose vote you need and they are struggling. They are the people who’s Constitution you are going to swear to protect and defend. Or, will you lie to all the world and God on Inauguration Day? George did. Face the facts, this country has serious problems... $17.2 million dollars? One month? Grrrrr. The election is not that far off and people are occupying Wall Street because they are fed up with greed. What you have on this earth is what you have, what you do with what you have, well that's a story only you can write. Ask yourself this question; what story do you want told?

What will be your “legacy” today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - August 10, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 99 – August 10, 2011

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

~Mark Twain

The funny thing is, it was more than 20 years ago, in fact is was 29 years ago that I set my sails and tacked out into the seas of life. (lots of metaphors today, “batten down the hatches!”) I was young, inexperienced, uneducated and untrained for life. I stepped on the plane and sat in my seat. I was nervous, scared and anxious, because I didn't know what to expect. I was also excited, enthusiastic and ready for something new and different.

The day was February 21, 1983, my “Independence Day” (thanks Bill Pullman as President Whitmore from the movie Independence Day). I was eighteen and on my way to Orlando, Florida for boot camp. It was a long road to be accepted into the United States Navy. Like many things in my life at that time, I had to fight to be accepted and eventually I was. Now, I found myself on a jet (my first ever) gripping the seats armrests, clinching my teeth and holding my breath as I watched the plane take off. I had a middle seat and it was exciting.

Now here I sit, many years later, looking back on life and trimming the sails for the rest of life. I can't say “my life” anymore because it's not just my life any longer. I have a husband, children, and pets and whatever adjustments are made, they must be made with everyone's input. I have met people throughout my life who control every aspect of their and their families lives, and I see misery, lack of enthusiasm for life and lost gusto for adventure. They have everything, a beautiful home, money, affluent friends, nice cars, etc... but no peace or genuine experiences to share “so they have everything and yet they have nothing” (thanks Iron Man). From canned vacations to desperately seeking social acceptance, they resign themselves to viewing life from a safe distance and haven't really braved the vast seas of their potential. The choice is; do you dare to set your sail into the potentially stormy seas of life, or stay “stuck” in safe harbor and only gaze upon the ocean of possibilities.

If you stay in safe harbor, you will have plenty of company. I haven't met many intrepid voyagers out here. Perhaps that's because the ocean of possibilities is so big and passages seldom cross. I don't really know. Granted, as anyone who has traded stocks on Wall Street will tell you, large rewards of any kind entail large risks. So, as you sail, you may come upon a hidden reef, or shoal and run aground. Even the best captains in history have done that. Or, occasionally like us, you may encounter The Perfect Storm of circumstances and be capsized without warning. That's the risk you take. But in my experience, you don your vest, man the life boats and paddle on. The alternative is to surrender and sink... that's not an option, so we paddle on.

In the movie, Titanic, Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) said to a group of wealthy passengers, “I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count.” The point is, life is a gift and we are the captains and navigators of our lives... and the sea? Well, she doesn't care, she just is. We can always appreciate it from a distance wondering “what if”, or we can sail out into the mysterious waters and embrace the journey. Amelia Earhart said, “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”

How will you set your sail today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - June 6, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 33 – June 6, 2011

Keep your heart open to dreams, for as long as there's a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living.

~Anonymous

I know, keeping dreams and hope alive is not always easy in this time of turbulence. Gasoline prices spiraling out of control, unemployment 9.1% (national average) and people are losing their unemployment, because their benefits had dried up before they could find a job. People are losing their homes, their cars and sometimes everything they ever worked for because greed seems to be running rampant. So, everyday people have to make tough decisions such as, which bill to pay? Do I choose to keep the lights on, or pay to keep the gas on? I know people making these decisions everyday and I see the stress on people faces at the grocery store, at Wal-mart, even while window shopping at the mall. It's hard times out there, no doubt. Don't stop reading now, this will get better.

I am here to tell you, 'You are not alone.” The struggles many of us are experiencing are crappy, big giant piles of poo-poo, but if we close our hearts, we'll lose our hope and then joy leaves the building. Hope gives us the ability to rebound, who remembers the “energy crisis” of 1979? When crude oil went from $15.85 per barrel to nearly $40.00 per barrel. Gas prices jumped to $.90 per gallon and you could only buy five gallons at a time. It may seem laughable now, but it put a lot of people out of work in 1979. People ground through it, they buckled down, looked towards the future and took it one day at a time.

In the movie Titanic, Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) says to a table of wealthy and powerful people, including Kate Winslet (Rose De Witt Bukater), “I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count.” Life can present obstacles and sudden challenges for everyone, even those who are well off, that is for certain. To get past them, its best to learn from the past, take each day as it comes and never stop dreaming about the possibilities of the future. For in those dreams there is hope and in hope there is great power. Hope has carried humanity through some of its darkest times. It is the single thing that helps us to rise above our problems and seek safe harbor to weather stormy times and to be ready to set sail again, once the storms have past. This too will pass, but for now, as Jack said, “Life is a gift....to make each day count”

How will you make today count?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading