When I was a kid, there was no one I wanted to be more than Catwoman - to be specific, I wanted to be Eartha Kitt, playing Catwoman. She was sassy, ambitious, driven and walked like she owned the planet. A lot to admire there (if you can look past the whole 'being a super-villain' thing). Now, many years later, I still want to be Catwoman, but I've also grown to appreciate the wit and wisdom of the woman who played her with such sass and confidence.
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Booker T. Washington was one of my heroes growing up. I read "Up From Slavery" at least three times, and his biography a half dozen or more, and his wisdom, compassion, and courage inspired me, as it has many others. In honor of Black History Month, here are some words of wisdom from this survivor, educator, author, and presidential adviser.
Self-Reliance has been on my mind a lot lately - not just Emerson's magnificent essay, but the nature of self-reliance. What does it mean to be self-reliant? How does one achieve it? And is it worth the achievement? At times it seems that society as a whole is moving away from this concept. Oh, we do not say this out-loud, of course, but the underlying movement is towards a community that supports, molds, contributes, and has a say in all efforts, personal and impersonal. And while I love the idea of a community that work with, plays with, and supports one another, I can't help but wonder if we aren't losing an aspect of our humanity - our self-reliance and, by extension, our personal pride - in the process. So I turned to my old friend, Emerson, and was reminded, once again, why his wisdom is still quoted in our times. Here are some of my favorite quotes from his essay. Got a favorite of your own? Any thoughts on self-reliance? Comment in the section below! Whatever you might feel about the Pilgrims and their arrival and subsequent take-over of the American continent, Thanksgiving is a celebration of family, gratitude for the year's bounty, and the opening act for the whole Christmas season. Its meaning has always been to celebrate, not only our roots, but to remind us of the goodness we do have in our lives and to thank the God who made it possible.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone! TGIF! Here's a quote that inspired me today: Have a great weekend, everyone, and take time to make some memories!
It's Monday. And for many people, it's day two of the Nanowrimo, a month long writing challenge that has many authors scrambling to complete 50,000 words in a month. Its quite a trick to do, especially when you have a real job, a family, a social life, and two major holidays around the corner!
To all you Nanowrimo writers, best of luck! To everyone else who's dealing with the Monday Blues, here's a bit of wisdom from our old friend, Joseph Conrad, taken from his masterpiece, Heart of Darkness. Fall has finally come to New Hampshire. The green leaves are drying into mellow oranges, brittle yellows, and fiery reds. The air is so crisp and clean that breathing it is like drinking fresh, cold water - I fairly gulp it in as I walk along. The shops smell of pumpkin spice and the promise of coming holidays. Everyone is packing away their flip-flops and swim suits in favor of knee-high boots and comfortable sweaters that hug you like an old friend, and prepping fireplaces for long, cozy nights. If you haven't guessed it, I love this time of year. And for reasons I have yet to understand (though the name probably has something to do with it), it's in Autumn that I find myself quoting Robert Frost. So here, in honor of Friday and the beginning of fall, is a quotable from the man himself: In other news, Necessary Evil: the paperback is coming along nicely. To celebrate, down-load the eBook on October 2nd only. If you've read it already, leave a review! And if you haven't read it, now's your time to get it, on me. Tell your friends, too!
Happy Fall, everyone! So, in case you haven't heard: the Pope is in town. Yup, if you're in Philadelphia, Washington DC, or NYC, you might have notice a sudden influx of habited nun, collared priests, and bus loads of people waving papal flags and rosaries and selfie-sticks. Yeah, we're all pretty excited.
In honor of the Papal visit here in the US (which, sadly, circumstance prevent this Catholic girl from attending), here are some awesome quotes from my favorite popes. The first book that ever made me cry was Little Women. And when I say cry, I don't mean a gentile sniffle. I mean an out and out bawl - reading, first (spoiler!) Jo's rejection of Laurie's proposal, then (spoiler again!) Beth's death and Jo's devastating reaction to it was an emotional experience that rocked this 10-year-old's world. I've been an Alcott fan ever since.
So, for today's Words of Wisdom, here is New England's own Louisa May. So, I intended to write something charming and witty and instructional today. Something that would rock your world. Something that would send you into the long weekend with a smile on your face.
But, alas for good intentions, I got distracted by work, life, and too many John Wayne movies and Star Trek novels, so the article remains unwritten. But until next week, here's a quote from a lady whose devious plots and charming writing style still dominates the mystery world today. Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone! I meant to leave an awesome review and write and post a witty, scathing essay today. But, alas, this week was so enormously busy that I ran out of time and energy and wit to do either.
So I'll be running away for the weekend instead, escaping humidity and stress. Usually, I am not a huge fan of running away - I believe most problems/stresses/issues are best faced head on and dealt with in the moment - but some days, weeks, months, running away is seems the best way to get a proper perspective on the planet. Besides, I had a hard time turning down an opportunity to hang out in the gorgeous northern New Hampshire mountain region (seriously, my life is so hard). But rather than post nothing, here are some of my favorite quotes on the writing life. If you can't runaway this weekend, perhaps these will give you the needed boost to face your every-day stresses. Good luck, friends! Have a great weekend! Lucky Code: A Guide for Winning at Life by Gaynete Edwards From the back: Down on your luck? Need a lucky boost? This book offers a frill-free approach that dismisses the premise that luck is attained through charms or birthright, and instead provides readers with easily digestible A to Z chapters containing powerful codes to increase their chances of success and, of course, lots of luck! Our thoughts and actions shape the course of our lives. This book teaches you to direct them in such was that you cannot lose! Ms. Edwards provides just what she promises: an fun, fast-paced, and easy-to-read guide book to living a 'lucky' life. Each tenant is listed in alphabetically (such as Code C: Character Building, Code D: Dress for Success, or the creatively named Code I: Indebtedness - Just a Fancy Word for Gratitude), and gives the reader an explanation of the Code, actions to apply it, and inspirational quotes for encouragement. This book is encouraging while putting the emphasis on personal action: if you want your life to change, you have the ability to do so. "Luck", according to Edwards, is merely the organization of your life in such a manner as to create positive results - a definition I can really get behind. Written with a breezy, optimistic, and no-nonsense manner, Edwards is witty, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Best read with a journal, this book is highly recommended for anyone looking to up their game in life. For more information, visit the author's website. Being a New Englander, you knew I had to come to Thoreau sometime...
Moving forward requires letting go and Dream-Catching requires courage and tenacity. We are capable of all these things. Go forth and live your dream. Make Thoreau proud. |
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