I am trying something that two different teachers tried to teach me at very different points in my academic career. My sophomore English teacher, the incomparable Mr. Ron Ford who I was lucky enough to have as my senior English teacher as well, began each class with a quote or thought on the board (my favorite is still "Anything worth doing is worth doing well"). We were to seat ourselves at our desk and use the first ten minutes of class time writing about that topic or one of our own choosing. In college I was lucky enough to take Creative Writing from Nancy McLelland (http://www.adobehouseartists.com/nm/html/about.html). One of the semester requirements was to write every day. Every. Single. Day. We were to keep a journal, diary, log, however we chose to view it. The subject could be whatever we wanted ~ a novel we were working on, typical diary entries, opinions regarding current events, short stories, poetry, any combination we so chose. She didn't require us to turn this writing in, just that we put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) every day. I realize now that this is exactly what Mr. Ford was trying to get us to do as teens. I think it's a great idea, and something every writer should do. At least this writer should do. I don't always want to write about what is on my mind or heart because I may have lived with the feelings all day. I will often use this excuse to NOT write, because I just can't face more analysis of whatever topic has been with me that day. Since I am too chicken to call Mr. Ford and find out where he got his terrific daily thoughts in the pre-internet world, I decided to find a website that offered something similar. So begins my "thought of the day" blogging. Wish me luck that I can stick with it, at least a couple times a week if not every day. Whenever possible, I will reference the author of the quote. And wish me hope that soon I will have the courage to call Mr. Ford and pick his brain about where I can find even more thoughts/quotes to fuel my writing!
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ~ Leo Buscaglia
I love Leo Buscaglia!! He wrote great things about love and relationships. You should read his books. Anyway, I realize that this quote sort of fits with what I said about not always wanting to write about what has been with me all day, because sometimes those things are worries and stress. I would do well to remember this quote. Very wise. I've also heard something like "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.” (W.R. Inge). I should try remembering that usually these things I worry about never come to pass. Therefore, all that worry and misery for nothing. All that stress and obsessing, assuming that I am trying to prepare myself for the "crisis" when all I'm really doing is tainting this moment with negative, unhappy energy. If we spend our time with regrets over yesterday, and worries over what might happen tomorrow, we have no today in which to live (unknown author). I am so guilty of this practice. I need to stop obsessing about mistakes I made in the past and stressing about the "maybes" of tomorrow and learn to enjoy TODAY. Because, really, today is all we have. Yesterday is past, the future is uncertain, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. I want to be more carefree, enjoying each moment for the moment, in the moment. Obviously I expect to learn from the past, from the mistakes I have made. I expect to plan for the future. But there is no reason to worry and obsess so extensively. Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
Worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere (unknown author). I want to go somewhere, do things, experience life. I want to have fun, let the wind blow through my hair, smell the autumn air, listen to moving music, eat delicious food, dance, laugh, love, enjoy, smile, experience the fullness of life. I don't expect to be free from worry and regrets. But I do believe that I am capable of learning to let the majority of it go. I also believe that I deserve to be happier and freer that I am now. I believe that I am the jailer of my happiness. I am the culprit. My mind keeps me incarcerated with obsessive and anxious thoughts, always expecting the worst, believing the worst is happening right now.
I used to worry about what life was for - now being alive seems sufficient reason. ~ Joanna Field
I wish I would have read this quote when I got divorced. I struggled for months, maybe a couple of years, to get to the point where I lived life with this philosophy. I struggled with religion, spirituality, loss, loneliness, failure, the past, the present, the now. I wondered what it was all for. I finally healed enough to come to my own version of this quote ~ the purpose of life is to enjoy it, to do that which makes me happy, the only boundary being not harming others in the process. What a freeing thought!! I would like to get back to living my life that way today.
There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem. ~ Harold Stephens
Great distinction ~ a worrier obsesses about what might happen, how awful might it be. A concerned person sees a challenge, a riddle to be solved.
Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~ Mary C. Crowley
I'm not particularly religious, but I do believe in God and this one made me smile.
God will, in fact, be up all night. Why not give Him your worries (and mine) and have a peaceful night's rest? Not such a bad idea.
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ~ Leo Buscaglia
I love Leo Buscaglia!! He wrote great things about love and relationships. You should read his books. Anyway, I realize that this quote sort of fits with what I said about not always wanting to write about what has been with me all day, because sometimes those things are worries and stress. I would do well to remember this quote. Very wise. I've also heard something like "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.” (W.R. Inge). I should try remembering that usually these things I worry about never come to pass. Therefore, all that worry and misery for nothing. All that stress and obsessing, assuming that I am trying to prepare myself for the "crisis" when all I'm really doing is tainting this moment with negative, unhappy energy. If we spend our time with regrets over yesterday, and worries over what might happen tomorrow, we have no today in which to live (unknown author). I am so guilty of this practice. I need to stop obsessing about mistakes I made in the past and stressing about the "maybes" of tomorrow and learn to enjoy TODAY. Because, really, today is all we have. Yesterday is past, the future is uncertain, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. I want to be more carefree, enjoying each moment for the moment, in the moment. Obviously I expect to learn from the past, from the mistakes I have made. I expect to plan for the future. But there is no reason to worry and obsess so extensively. Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
Worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere (unknown author). I want to go somewhere, do things, experience life. I want to have fun, let the wind blow through my hair, smell the autumn air, listen to moving music, eat delicious food, dance, laugh, love, enjoy, smile, experience the fullness of life. I don't expect to be free from worry and regrets. But I do believe that I am capable of learning to let the majority of it go. I also believe that I deserve to be happier and freer that I am now. I believe that I am the jailer of my happiness. I am the culprit. My mind keeps me incarcerated with obsessive and anxious thoughts, always expecting the worst, believing the worst is happening right now.
I used to worry about what life was for - now being alive seems sufficient reason. ~ Joanna Field
I wish I would have read this quote when I got divorced. I struggled for months, maybe a couple of years, to get to the point where I lived life with this philosophy. I struggled with religion, spirituality, loss, loneliness, failure, the past, the present, the now. I wondered what it was all for. I finally healed enough to come to my own version of this quote ~ the purpose of life is to enjoy it, to do that which makes me happy, the only boundary being not harming others in the process. What a freeing thought!! I would like to get back to living my life that way today.
There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem. ~ Harold Stephens
Great distinction ~ a worrier obsesses about what might happen, how awful might it be. A concerned person sees a challenge, a riddle to be solved.
Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~ Mary C. Crowley
I'm not particularly religious, but I do believe in God and this one made me smile.
God will, in fact, be up all night. Why not give Him your worries (and mine) and have a peaceful night's rest? Not such a bad idea.
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