Words ...to live by?

A friend sent an email that contained some funny (and true!) observations about life. At the end was the following quote that caught my attention. "Heal the past, live the present, dream the future." I thought about that statement because I have always been a proponent that people should not let their past define their future. I have also personally experienced not living the present; by that I mean participating with others to a point that we are making a difference in someone's life or surroundings.


Anyway, this quote seemed to very succinctly express my own feelings and I wanted to know where (or who) it came from. A quick internet search is crediting it to "unknown". So there was someone, somewhere (a Hallmark greeting writer perhaps?) who was able to summarize in 9 words what I've been trying to come up with these past few months. As well, there were some other quotes included on this page that I thought I would also share.

" The best way to predict the future is to invent it." -- Alan Kay

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." -- President Abraham Lincoln

"Heal the past; live the present; dream the future." -- unknown

"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose." -- Lyndon B. Johnson

"You better live your best and act your best and think your best today, for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow." -- Harriet Martineau, British writer, illustrator

"Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present." -- Albert Camus

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." -- Charles Schultz

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." -- Paul Boese

" I never think of the future - it comes soon enough." -- Albert Einstein

Only one "unknown" among these distinguished individuals. And when you see the quotes grouped like this, I think a theme comes through. The past provides a reference point for learning - not obsessing about what can't be changed.   Live fully in the present; participate!   And, the future can be shaped by the efforts we made in the past and present.

Surprising Ways to Save

"Real Simple" arrived last week.   I am happy to report for two months now I  have only kept the current issue until the next one arrives, then removed and filed away the articles from last months and then throwing away the magazine.  This is working very well.   (My next project for home is to see how we can incorporate recycling into our house.   We use way too many plastic and paper items not too.  I'm actually ashamed that we don't and will work on changing that)

ANYWAY....here are some tips in this latest issue I found surprising:

• Allstate and Progressive give cash back for paperless billing.  (We have Allstate and don't do this - so I will be checking into it!)
• AAA membership - 10% off online Target purchases when you go through AAA.com
• Price Break for Students or Teachers w/ ID's.  Apple, JCrew, Loft (15% off for teachers at Loft - you enroll at anntaylorloft.com)
• Recycling:   Apple - bring in an old Ipod and get 10% off a new one; MAC cosmetics - return six used products, get a lipstick.
• Rebates for using reusable bags:   Target, Whole Foods.
• Amazon.com has a free song of the day that is downloadable (mp3).
• Free E-Books at the Gutengerg Project (gutenberg.org) NOTE:  You do not have to have a "Kindle" or other reader.  You can download software to your pc and read them that way!  

So passing on to you this Wednesday - maybe someone will find interesting and helpful!

Winning

 Winning doesn't always mean being first. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before.
-- Bonnie Blair


I mentioned something similar to above about running, that an article I read said it wasn't about your time and beating others, it was about beating the voice in your head that wants you to quit.    I understand that better now, I think,  and I keep it in mind as I am running.   My goal is really about finishing anyway, not so much how fast!

Yesterday afternoon Boy 2 had  a JV football game.  He played the whole thing (offense and defense) and my husband and I saw him make some really nice plays.   It was a tough game with a tough team.  They had a chance to win it in the final minute and a half.   They marched down the field with determination, converting on at least one fourth down, if not two, all the way to the 2 yard line.   And they just couldn't get it done.

Husband warned me that Boy 2 would not be a happy camper when he got home and he was right!!!   Lots of frustration and "could have" scenarios were talked about until he finally just said he would be downstairs in his "cave".  (No we don't have a cave - its how he refers to our basement when no one is supposed to bug him!)

So while I see the "winning" in just getting better, that's not the case with a sophomore boy.   He takes the close ones even harder.   While I offered him my view that he played well, I knew it wasn't the time to go into a long speech about "winning isn't everything and look how much you've improved".  Nope, I just let him go and realize he has to work this lesson out for himself.    And, I'm sure his coaches wouldn't share my view!!!

Greetings to Keep

Image via Wikipedia

I spent a great weekend with my family and friends.   Friday night saw us traveling to our school's football game where we witnessed our team stay tough and hold onto a lead, winning the game 21-3.   Lots of birthday cake (Reece's Ice Cream Cake from DQ) too!    I received the most wonderful gifts and cards.   It struck me that the cards I received were so relevant to where I am at in my life today.  I feel like people must have spent some time just looking for that right card with just the right message to keep me inspired.   There were funny and serious cards and I kept them all.

I was thinking I wanted to find a way to take these cards and decorate my home journal.    In this way, I would be reminded of their love and wishes throughout the year.    But I'm not sure there is enough room to put them all.   I remembered that my sister had suggested how to "fix" a round table that has scratches in the wood surface.  Instead of refinishing, she suggested buying some specialty paper - a pattern/color to go with the room - and then having it and some glass cut to match the table top.  (The paper sits under the glass.)    This would:  hide the scratches, add color to my room, and allow me to re-use furniture that's currently in my store room.  I was thinking today that I could also use these cards and some other memento's from recent times instead of the paper and achieve the same result.    This would be used in a sitting room and I think these items would fit my decor perfectly!   I had already thought of framing a collage of some other items I've saved for the same room so I think it just might work.  Now its just figuring out how to take multiple items and form a circle.   If I decide to proceed I will let you know how it turns out!

It feels like this birthday was maybe a turning point for me.  A reminder that life moves forward and that you need to keep celebrating, ignoring your age :D and keeping a smile on your face.  Thanks to all who made it so wonderful!