Your true self is enough. There is no need to be better than everyone else around you to be happy. True happiness comes when you are in harmony with yourself and no longer feel the need to one-up other people.
―
priorities
Quote for Today: Amor Towles
Like Robinson Crusoe stranded on the Isle of Despair, the count would maintain his resolve by committing to the business of practicalities. Having dispensed with dreams of quick discovery, the world’s Crusoes seek shelter and a source of fresh water; they teach themselves to make fire from flint; they study their island’s topography, it’s climate, its flora and fauna, all the while keeping their eyes trained for sails on the horizon and footprints in the sand.
―Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow
Image © Hamed Saber with CCLicense
Quote for Today: J. M. Barrie
Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.
―J.M. Barrie
Image © amenclinics with CCLicense
Quote for Today: Walter Farley
I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking ‘What have I achieved?’ rather than ‘What have I enjoyed?’ I’ve been writing about a subject I love as long as I can remember–horses and the people associated with them, anyplace, anywhere, anytime. I couldn’t be happier knowing that young people are reading my books. But even more important to me is that I’ve enjoyed so much the writing of them.
―Walter Farley
Public Domain Image via Pixnio
Quote for Today: Charles Duhigg
We know there are certain chemicals that are designed to give us a rush of pleasure. But, one of the most amazing things about being human is our capacity to override that pleasure. To either say, ‘I don’t need that pleasure right now. I’m going to ignore the craving.’ Or to find something else that we find a deeper sense of reward from.
Image: Flaming Cocktails © Nik Frey with CCLicense
Quote for Today: George Whitman
I may disappear leaving behind me no worldly possessions – just a few old socks and love letters, and my windows overlooking Notre-Dame for all of you to enjoy, and my little rag and bone shop of the heart whose motto is “Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise.” I may disappear leaving no forwarding address, but for all you know I may still be walking among you on my vagabond journey around the world.
Public Domain Image via Pixabay
Quote for Today: Audre Lorde
When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
—Audre Lorde, The Cancer Journals
Image © Scot Tares with CCLicense
Quote for Today: Martha Beck
If you’d rather live surrounded by pristine objects than by the traces of happy memories, stay focused on tangible things. Otherwise, stop fixating on stuff you can touch and start caring about stuff that touches you.
—Martha Beck, “Stop Worrying”
Public Domain Image via Pixabay
Quote for Today: Jon Ronson
We all care deeply about things that seem totally inconsequential to other people. We all carry around with us the flotsam and jetsam of perceived humiliations that actually mean nothing. We are a mass of vulnerabilities, and who knows what will trigger them?
–Jon Ronson, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed
Quote for Today: Shel Silverstein
Public Domain Image via the US Agricultural Research Service
Ol’ man Simon planted a diamond,
Grew hisself a garden the likes of none.
Sprouts all growin’, comin’ up glowin’,
Fruit of jewels all shinin’ in the sun.
Colors of the rainbow,
See the sun and rain grow
Sapphires and rubies on ivory vines,
Grapes of jade, just
Ripenin’ in the shade, just
Ready for the squeezin’ into green jade wine.
Pure gold corn there,
Blowin’ in the warm air,
Ol’ crow nibblin’ on the amethyst seeds.
In between the diamonds, ol’ man Simon
Crawls about pullin’ out platinum weeds.
Pink pearl berries,
All you can carry,
Put ’em in a bushel and
Haul ’em into town.
Up in the tree there’s
Opal nuts and gold pears–
Hurry quick, grab a stick
And shake some down.
Take a silver tater,
Emerald tomater,
Fresh plump coral melons
Hangin’ in reach.
Ol’ man Simon,
Diggin’ in his diamonds,
Stops and rests and dreams about
One…real…Peach.
—Shel Silverstein, The Garden from Where the Sidewalk Ends