Quote of the Week: Ralph Waldo Emerson
“You become what you think about all day long.”
If you like this quote, you may like these other things about and by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
You can find all of the other quotes I’ve shared here.
Tag: happiness
Quote of the Week: Debby Boone
Quote of the Week: Debby Boone
“Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream.” – Debby Boone
If you like this quote, you may like these other things about and by Debby Boone.
If you like this quote, you may like all of the other quotes that I have here.
Quote of the Week: Mister Rogers
Quote of the Week: Mister Rogers
There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.
Normally I would take the time to find a witty t-shirt or a piece of art to hang on your wall to go along with whatever quote I’m feeling inspired to share with you guys, but I just don’t have it in me this morning.
I also don’t normally give you any reference to why I share the quotes that I do. Most of them are self explanatory anyway.
My heart hurts. I am normally a positive person. I always look for what can be salvaged from any situation. At the very least learn a lesson from – insert calamity here – and find a way to make our lives better from it.
Unless you live under a rock like I do most of the time you know what’s happening in our world right now. What I’m finding the most difficult to swallow down though is people’s very casual use of the things that are happening as a political hammer. It literally makes my stomach hurt. And it makes me turn them off. Which defeats the purpose of what they are doing. Or not I suppose. Like feeds off of like. But if their goal is to change someones mind to their way of thinking, it is failing miserably, at least for me. I truly believe that you get back what you put out into the world. Which is why people who are unhappy continually reap what they sow into the world. That’s a very blanket statement and I HATE blanket statements, so I’m sorry. But I also believe it to be true, so I guess I’m really not.
Be kind. Just be kind. The only way I have ever seen anyone change their mind about something is by having an actual conversation with a person. Not repeating a news report, or giving a stern lecture, or a from on high sermon that condescends to another human; an actual sit on the front porch conversation. And if you feel like you didn’t change that person’s perspective at all after having a true conversation with them – shake the dust from your feet and move on. Hitting them with your hammer may make you feel better but I highly doubt it will give you the results you want.
Having conversations that change the world is awesome in my book, but I always want to be able to take some sort of action. If you want to feel like you are actually doing something here is a list of ways you can help the people of Afghanistan. I haven’t vetted most of these, so you’ll need to do that first.
If you don’t want to help them, but you need another organization that is doing amazing work to contribute to, I love what Shades of Grace is doing. They are being the literal hands and feet of Jesus in my opinion.
You don’t have to contribute money to be a help. Our local food bank loves it when strangers show up to help.
I hope that you are well, and that you have many meaningful conversations this week.
Tracie
You can find all of the other quotes I’ve shared here.
Quote of the Week: from Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Quote of the Week: from Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
“Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.”
― from Rebecca
If you like this quote, you may like these other things about and by Daphne du Maurier.
If you like this quote, you may like all of the other quotes that I have here.
Decluttering my life.
It’s a new year! And it’s time to resume clearing out all of the things that I do not need taking up space inside my home and life. It can all go live with someone who wants it, needs it and loves it. So let’s see what I’m donating to someone else:
I’ve started culling through the books. I have decided that books that have been read and that I know are available at our local library don’t need to be taking up space that other unread books can replace. Yes, it’s wrenching, but there is only so much space in my house….
A lovely leather folio. It’s red y’all! I love it. But I DO NOT use it. Ever. I had it stuffed in a cabinet. So it has to go. I offered it to everyone I know and no one else needed a lovely red folio either….
Sigh.
Clothes that no ones needs or wants….
More extras. I don’t know why….Yes, I do. I love dishes. Also, why do you need all of the extras that come with things. What I mean is this: I bought Denton a smoothie maker. He uses it everyday. But it came with at least seven or eight of those cups. Why?!? I asked him if I could get rid of some of them, because they are taking.up.space.
I have too many things….Example: This Longaberger terracotta bread warmer. Have I ever used this thing? No. How long have I had it? Uhmm, half a decade possibly. These are also excellent Martha Stewart 18/10 stainless steel skillets. But I have two full drawers of stainless steel skillets and that is not counting all of my cast iron. Too.Much.Stuff.
Tupperware. It breeds while I sleep. And this baking pan has lovely handles, but it doesn’t fit with my other baking pans because of the said lovely handles. So it needs to go. Who doesn’t have an extra shower head hanging around? Actually this one was in Hayden and Olivia’s bathroom until I started gutting it. I bought a new one with a rainhead shower for their new bathroom. Which I was VERY excited about. Denton thinks it’s ridiculous. Anywho, I’m pretty sure I have another one of these downstairs in Denton’s bathroom……You’ll probably see it soon, I haven’t made it to that room yet.
More Christmas stuff. A digital photo holder that I never use, a lovely clock and a diffuser that I don’t like.
Lamps. I have a thing about lamps.
See? 
Another dry erase board – this one is a calendar. But I already have a giant one that I use every day, so why do I have this one that was collecting dust behind my desk? More pampered chef tupperware. Pampered chef makes quality stuff. Here is my issue with this thing: It Is HUGE. It takes up so much space that I cringe every time I see it, which makes me not want to put it in my fridge. So it sits in my dining room, lurking there. Just pining to be used. And I’m never going to use it again, because it takes up too much space.
Suitcase! I bought everyone a new suitcase at the beginning of the year. This one has served me well, so now it can go and serve someone else well too.
Candle holders and candles for the candle making lady. I am going to finally learn to only buy the couple of candles that I love and stop “trying out” new scents. At my house we love Paris Cafe from Bath and Body Works and maybe a couple of others. That’s it. 
And finally my beloved magazines. They do bring me great joy and now I will send them off to be enjoyed by someone else.
Are you decluttering? Does it make you happy every time you drop things off? It makes me VERY HAPPY!