Ah, spring.



I don't know about you, but spring does it to me every year. I adore spring, with it's sunshine, flowers, budding trees, baby animals, brisk mornings, mild days and cool nights. I feel like I'm surrounded by hope. I'm envigorated by the newness of it. Every. Single. Year.

It fills me with desire and energy to do things I have avoided through the dreary, though admittedly snuggly, cold of winter. In spring I want to be outside. I want to purge my life of stuff and habits that I feel are holding me down and/or cluttering my life. Spring is a much more inspiring time for me to make resolutions of change than any old New Year is, because in spring I actually feel like doing something about it, rather than just feeling like I should do something about it - whatever 'it' is.

Among the many other things it makes me want to do, it makes me want to write, write, write, to improve my writing skills, to research and query those agents and publishers, in short to progress. when everything in nature is so ardently consumed with growing, it makes me want to grow, too.

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.

Bern Williams

How about you? Any seasons that especially inspire you?

Bright Quote for the Day

A zebra cannot change its spots.

                                     Al Gore

Indeed it can't!

The thing that makes dumb quotes so fun is that they're easy to relate to. We all say things that don't come out quite like we intended. Sometimes we know it as soon as the words leave our mouths, sometimes not so much. Either way, the dumb quotes posted on this blog are definitely a case of laughing with, not at, people.

Stay tuned for more quotes at random times.

What is it About Books?

Quote for the day - Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. ...Reading is bliss.

                                                                        Nora Ephron



Almost like magic, don't you think?

Now go read.

Can This Be True?

Ya wanna talk about so many dreams?

This thing definitely looks strange and certainly sounds too good to be true, but if it works? How cool would that be? Too bad Naperville, Illinois is so far away from California. I would sign up for a session in a second. It's a Zen Bed.

 http://screen.yahoo.com/zen-bed-offers-effects-of-a-full-night-s-sleep-in-20-minutes-27862491.html

Sounds Like a Nicholas Sparks Novel

This is almost too sweet to be true! Who is going to write their novel?


http://screen.yahoo.com/high-school-sweet-hearts-reunite-after-more-than-50-years-27858762.html

Why Do It?

You may have read these words before, but repetition of good things is a good thing. The first version posted is attributed to Mother Theresa (great woman!) and reportedly hung on the walls of her home for children in Calcutta, India. Some say they were even hung in her own room.



There's another version, by Kent Keith, that is said to be where she got her inspiration. How would you like to be known as an inspiration to Mother Theresa? I've included both versions.

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Mother Teresa's version:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

 

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

 

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

 

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

 

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

 

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

 

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

 

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

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(I found pictures of Dr. Kent, but couldn't get them to paste here.)

Dr. Keith M. Kent's version:
He was only 19 when he wrote this!

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

"The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.

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Happy side note: I have a partial request from a publisher for my manuscript! As my son put it, it's like getting a callback. If they like my first 100 pages, they'll request the full. If they like that, they'll make an offer on it. If they don't like it enough to offer on it, then at least I know it was good enough to generate some interest. I'll keep you posted.