Reading II Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are. (Mason Cooley, late college professor) The Coronavirus pandemic gave most of us a lot of time at home to do nothing—or to find productive activity. As Cooley says, reading can get us out...
Reading I The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page. (Rachel Anders, author) Literacy is one of life’s most importance achievements. Even with modern technology, we often have to “read” what’s being transmitted in cyber space. Opening a book may...
Pleasure Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it. (Søren Kierkegard, 19th century Danish philosopher) “Breathless” and “haste,” indeed, are two words that clearly express the pace of life in 21st century America. And it is also...
Impossibilities Every noble work is at first impossible. (Thomas Carlyle, 19th century British essayist) “It can’t be done!” Haven’t you heard that before? Who would have thought 20 years ago that you could sit in a meeting, separated from your colleagues by miles,...
Self-Control Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. (Michel de Montaigne, 16th century French philosopher) How often do we wish we could change things around us? We might say, “If only…,” and we are frustrated that we aren’t in control. Perhaps we should...
Contentment We are not born with the instinct for contentment; rather, it is learned. (Howard Dayton, author) Is it ambition, greed, or simple boredom? Whatever the cause, a lot of people seem to be dissatisfied with their place in or the pace of their lives. As...
Choices The choices that we make in our life, indeed determine the kind of results that we experience and the quality of the life that we live. (Sumeet Jain, engineer and educator) As children mature, they begin to learn what adults have known for a long time. There...
Stand Firm Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. (Abraham Lincoln) Standing firm is an admirable character trait. Being sure of what you believe and defending it strongly is important. But, as Lincoln suggests, what you’re standing on—your...
Opportunity You can never relive a moment. You can't relive an opportunity. But you can be ready for the next adventure. (Chris Suitt, minister) How often have you wished that you could “relive a moment”? Wouldn’t you like to take back those words you said in anger?...
Faith Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. (Martin Luther King, Jr., late civil rights leader) We talk about “people of faith,” but in reality everyone lives by faith. Whether it’s a small thing, like trusting the chair to hold...
Others A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. (Benjamin Franklin) We’ve all known people like Franklin writes about. The self-centered person is difficult to be around, and certainly almost impossible to engage in a meaningful two-way conversation....
Purpose Great minds have purposes, others have wishes. (Washington Irving, 19th century writer) “I wish I could run in the Olympics.” “I wish I could be a concern pianist.” The wish list could go on and on. We have wishes to be or to do, but wishing by itself won’t...