Sophocles is credited with this quote and it is one that really speaks to me. It is so easy to become complacent in our lives. But this is BORING!! You might not be able to learn something every single day, but I believe Sophocles was referring more to the Desire to learn.
If we are constantly on the look out to learn something useful, there will be many side benefits. You might end up speaking to someone that you normally wouldn’t – by being interested in them, you can make a positive impact on another person. You might end up being able to help someone else with your knowledge. You might turn out to be a much more interesting person!
Always strive to better yourself. You might like yourself more!
It could lead to a new career! That’s what happened to me and I now have a career (instead of a job) which I love and which allows me to take care of my kids when they need me. [shameless plug: Contact me if you have any real estate needs either in Virginia or elsehwere!! HomesByMischelle@gmail.com or text to 757-761-1119]
You never know which direction your life may take but the desire to learn will help ensure that your path will be interesting! Learning is easy – just pay attention to the people around you every day.
I was talking with a friend the other day and there seems to be so many negative things going on in the world, many of which touch our lives daily. When you get right down to the root of things, the problem to many of these becomes very clear: Selfishness!
Want to spend money on what you want? Don’t pay child support!
Don’t want to put worth effort on a woman / man in your life? Be lazy, ignore their feelings and walk away!
In a hurry to get somewhere? Speed! Who cares if you’re in a school zone or near a bus stop?
Want a job (or political office) but can’t appeal to everyone? Lie!
This list can go on and on. But, of course, there are going to be repercussions along the way. The bad part is, they don’t often effect the Selfish person. They go on about their lives and someone else is left to pick up the pieces behind them.
There is the single mom who works multiple jobs, goes without, comforts her kids and builds them up so they don’t think there is something wrong with themselves. She teaches her boys how to be real men and teaches her daughter how a man should treat her.
There is the man/woman who doubts themselves because someone they cared about walks away without explanation. It’s bad enough to get dumped, but to do so because you’re not worth the effort? That’s harsh.
How many kids are killed or injured each year because of careless accidents? We’ve all seen that car who zips past a school bus that has their lights on; been passed in a residential zone for going the speed limit; seen a near miss (or worse) when a kid runs out into the street and there is a car coming; joggers and cyclists who are run off the road.
WHO CARES?!? As long as I get what I want, who cares about anyone else? I’m entitled to “…”, I deserve to be happy, I work hard, I should have “x”, I can’t be late, inconvenienced, bothered by someone else’s needs, that would take away some me-time! Sometimes I hear “I didn’t mean …” “I don’t think of myself as selfish.” Guess what people? It doesn’t matter what your intentions are – results are what matters!
Results? distrust, financial hardships, apathy, hurt feelings, relationships that should happen but don’t, loss, low expectations, loss of family, etc.
What can be done? Who knows? I’m trying to raise my kids better than those who came before, point out selfish behaviours and the resulting chaos and hope that they become Selfless Adults. I try to surround myself with people who are Selfless. When there are those who display wanton selfish behavior – point it out to them! Maybe they will change, better themselves and Man Up.
Welcome to the real world – it’s messy. You don’t always get your way.
But here’s the kicker. I’ve found that if you try to do what’s right, if you try to put other’s first (at least sometimes) you end up getting some positives: you feel good about yourself, others think better of you AND, if you’ve picked the right person, when you do things for them, they like doing things for you!
Don’t be the cost in someone’s life – be their payoff.
I Hate Change. Really and Truly. I am most definitely A Planner. On a daily basis, I like to know what’s happening, when it is supposed to happen and what I need to do to make it happen “properly”. On a daily basis, I plan out every hour. I like knowing what’s going to happen. I like looking forward to future events – taking all the necessary steps to achieve a goal – well, that’s as much fun as the actual event! It’s a very safe way to live.
There are always exceptions – believe it or not – I hate planning all aspects of a vacation. Some of the best times I’ve ever had with my kids is when we get in the car, have a general idea where we’re going and just go! Recently, I woke them up, told them to throw some stuff in an overnight bag and we got in the car and left. Best Time Ever!
Recently, I found out an old friend had moved back to town and we both scheduled in lunch together for today. It was one of the best times I’ve had in forever! Catching up was totally amazing!! What brought me to tears almost though was the total acceptance I felt! To have someone that used to know you so well; to now be wholeheartedly be happy for your successes and to be angry on your behalf for the shitty things that have happened … well, it was my Unexpected blessing. I have the best friends in the whole world!
Lesson learned? Take the road less traveled. Take a chance on people. Get out of the box you’ve put yourself into. Unexpected can be wonderful!!!
… And Don’t Forget – If you need any real estate assistance – Call me!!
This quote is from Christopher Morley and when I read it recently, it really struck a chord with me. First, of course, is because the NFL season is less than a month away. I am such a sports freak and the start of football means that hockey isn’t too far behind and my fall lineup is all set! Sports teaches many life lessons and I thoroughly believe in everyone participating in some type of sports activity. I worked with high school athletes for many years and loved seeing the personal growth that would come about to most of the kids.
But, secondly, as a small business owner, I am trying to always stay focused on working hard so my business is a success. Starting your own business is scary! It comes with many sleepless nights, 80+ hours weeks, expenses when money is already tight and a huge learning curve. It also comes with some freedoms to run things the way you think they should be, no overbearing boss and no one telling you where you have to be and when. It allows you to schedule time to take your child to the doctor or attend a school function without an act of Congress to get off work.
As a single parent, I have additional cares – there’s only me – if I fail, I’m letting down my entire family and putting our future plans in jeopardy. I feel the weight of being an example of a strong, successful woman to my children; as a woman my daughter would be proud to emulate; as an example of the woman my sons should look for in a wife. Selfishly, I want them to look at me and be proud of what I’ve done.
The good news? I’m starting to show success in my profession. With each new client who hires me, with each contract that we write and is accepted, with each new closing, I become more confident and fall in love with my chosen job a little more. It may be hard, but if I act like I expect to be successful, I Will be more successful. In my undergraduate psychology classes, I learned about self-fulfilling prophecy and this saying supports that. If your thoughts are geared toward seeing yourself already succeed, your actions will start to follow suit. You will begin acting like you are going to succeed and then, you will realize you are succeeding! If you don’t believe you are going to succeed, how can you expect anyone else to believe in you? Act like you expect to get into the endzone. The only way to score is getting to the end of the field and over that goal line into the endzone. Then, the ball goes back into play and you have yet another opportunity to succeed; just like in life, you will have many opportunities to success at a variety of things. Don’t screw it up.
Let me close with this saying which was published upon his death by Mr. Morley’s instructions:
Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking.
Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually
be part of unanimity.
Christopher Morley was an American journalist, novelist, essayist and poet.
Let’s Go On An Adventure! These words were extremely scary to my kids the first time I uttered them. What was this? What craziness was Mom talking about?! We were just going to – gulp – get in the car and go somewhere! No lunches packed? No map? Unknown destination? In an earlier post I extolled the benefits of teaching our children how to plan and I haven’t changed my mind; it is extremely important. However, there are times when just breaking out into Spontaneity can be the ultimate good time. You know, The Road Less Traveled, the Unexpected, Stop and Smell the Roses.
There’s just something about waking up and deciding, “Let’s go somewhere”. I had always wanted to go to Fairystone National Park. There isn’t a whole lot to do there as far as some would expect but for nature lovers there is some great hiking and in the summer the lake is great for swimming, there’s kayaks, etc. The Legend of the Fairystones has always appealed to my whimsical side. But there was always a good reason not to go “it’s too far”, “we are too busy”, etc. One of my kids was on a NYLT retreat so after I dropped him off, I came home and announced to my other two children, “We’re going on an Adventure. Pack for an overnight trip and we’re leaving in 30 minutes!”. The excitement running through them was palpable. With giggles and “my mom is so crazy”, they quickly were ready to go.
Sometimes these Adventures come about when you are on a planned trip. Relax! Just because your vacation/trip/whatever isn’t going exactly as planned, doesn’t mean it is ruined. It means you’re going to have a great story to tell! Don’t most stories begin with “but” or “you wouldn’t believe” or “then this … “? Consider these deviations party of Your Adventure!
It is so easy to fall into a rut. I’ve had several life experiences recently which are teaching me the value of just stopping. The world truly won’t come to an end if you sit outside with the kids on a beautiful summer evening and watch fireflies instead of doing the dishes immediately; ignore work and work phone calls while you cuddle and watch a movie; or if you actually use your leave days (all of them) and spend time doing what truly matters in life. You don’t want to have regrets when it is too late to spend time with your loved ones.
Do my “adventures” always work out? Nope! But that just adds to the fun afterwards. One of our favorite memories is when our trusty gps led us straight through a cow pasture – and I’m talking about, reach out and touch the cows, a dirt track through the weeds kinda thing! Or when you get somewhere only to find out that there are no hotels close by and you have no tent and it’s pouring rain! But, somehow, one way or the other, it always works out – maybe just not like you thought it would.
tidewaterjewells 