"Wisdom is knowing what to do. Skill is knowing how to do it. Virtue is in doing it well."
Think about it. How was the wisdom acquired? Through formal education? Life Experience? I'm sure you've heard of "The School of Hard Knocks."
How did you acquire skill? Someone taught you: formally or informally? Did you practice, as in practice makes perfect? That only applies if you practice the right things; if your desire is a good, or better product. You could practice forever and come out with an imperfect product or solution, unless you started with a good pattern, or plan. If there is a flaw in the pattern, practice won't help, unless changes are made.
So, you have the wisdom behind you, to use the skill you have acquired, which you use to the best of your ability. And knowing you have done something well, not only helps whatever product or situation is involved, but adds to your sense of well-being because you've done your best.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Hold Fast the Dream
Hold fast the Dream!
Though it may seem
that shining star
is much too far
beyond your grasp,
that you will never clasp
one small beam.
Even though,
don’t let go.
Hold fast the dream!
This was what I taught my children: That if there was something they wanted to do, which might seem beyond the possibilities they could envision,if it was a worthwhile thing, there was almost always a way to be found, but you had to look for it. And if in the striving, there seemed to be a diversion, perhaps this was just a step along the way; and also, perhaps might lead to a new perspective on what they might want to do. The above is what I want them and their children, and those that follow to remember.
Though it may seem
that shining star
is much too far
beyond your grasp,
that you will never clasp
one small beam.
Even though,
don’t let go.
Hold fast the dream!
This was what I taught my children: That if there was something they wanted to do, which might seem beyond the possibilities they could envision,if it was a worthwhile thing, there was almost always a way to be found, but you had to look for it. And if in the striving, there seemed to be a diversion, perhaps this was just a step along the way; and also, perhaps might lead to a new perspective on what they might want to do. The above is what I want them and their children, and those that follow to remember.
Friday, September 18, 2009
On-by - Keeping On
I found this, "On-by is a command to keep going, to ignore the thing distracting you," in "The Letters." A novel by Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger.
The book is a collection of letters, written to each other, by the two main characters in the book. The couple had lost their young adult son, their only child, in a tragic plane crash in Alaska; when starting on a new phase of his teaching carrer.
Sam and Hadley were having trouble keeping on, in adjusting to this most difficult occurrence in a formerly happy life. They couldn't seem to deal together with what they both felt, and a division crept in; with a separation as the result.
The father felt compelled to visit the place where his son had died. To reach the crash site, it was necessary to make part of the trip by dog sled. The above command, he learned, was one given to the sled dogs to keep them going without stopping.
The mother, an artist, left home too. She moved to a rather remote village in Maine, where she once again took up painting. The letters allowed them to put their thoughts and feelings into words that sometimes hurt, provoked thoughtfulness, brought back glimpses of a happier time, and in the end produced a good result.
I like the idea of this command: On-by, or keeping on is something we all have to do in circumstances we can't change. We may, or may not do that well; and sometimes, less well than others.
In other, less drastic circumstances, where you are trying to reach a particular objective; I think this command would be a good thing to bear in mind in holding possible distractions at bay.
The book is a collection of letters, written to each other, by the two main characters in the book. The couple had lost their young adult son, their only child, in a tragic plane crash in Alaska; when starting on a new phase of his teaching carrer.
Sam and Hadley were having trouble keeping on, in adjusting to this most difficult occurrence in a formerly happy life. They couldn't seem to deal together with what they both felt, and a division crept in; with a separation as the result.
The father felt compelled to visit the place where his son had died. To reach the crash site, it was necessary to make part of the trip by dog sled. The above command, he learned, was one given to the sled dogs to keep them going without stopping.
The mother, an artist, left home too. She moved to a rather remote village in Maine, where she once again took up painting. The letters allowed them to put their thoughts and feelings into words that sometimes hurt, provoked thoughtfulness, brought back glimpses of a happier time, and in the end produced a good result.
I like the idea of this command: On-by, or keeping on is something we all have to do in circumstances we can't change. We may, or may not do that well; and sometimes, less well than others.
In other, less drastic circumstances, where you are trying to reach a particular objective; I think this command would be a good thing to bear in mind in holding possible distractions at bay.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Can't Do What You Want - Do What You Can
If you can’t do what you want, do what you can. Words that have been a part of my life for a very long time. I couldn’t begin to count the times in my life that I have found it necessary to adapt my plans to this idea. Like it or not, there are times when we must adapt to circumstances, and the ability to do that means the difference in our happiness to misery quotient. Needless to say, I have not always been able to do that to the same degree. I believe this falls in line with the Christophers slogan, “It is better to light one small candle, than curse the darkness.”
" How many times are we frustrated because we want to do something, and for various reasons, we can't? So, do we complain? Make a fuss? Do either help? Perhaps they help a little in the sense that we might have released some tension. If we really can't do what we want to do, whether it is achieving a goal; or alleviating a troublesome situation, what can we do instead?
If we can't do a specific thing concerning the specific subject of what we want to do, perhaps we can do something else towards the same purpose, while waiting to do what was originally planned. As things work out, it sometimes happens that the original want might not be important to us after all.
If we can't do anything at all concerning the plan we had in mind, perhaps what we can do involves something else entirely. And who knows where that will lead? It might lead to something that will help in getting on with what we wanted to do originally. Or it might turn into something else altogether, developing into a new B & B. No, not a bed and breakfast; Blessings and Benefits.
" How many times are we frustrated because we want to do something, and for various reasons, we can't? So, do we complain? Make a fuss? Do either help? Perhaps they help a little in the sense that we might have released some tension. If we really can't do what we want to do, whether it is achieving a goal; or alleviating a troublesome situation, what can we do instead?
If we can't do a specific thing concerning the specific subject of what we want to do, perhaps we can do something else towards the same purpose, while waiting to do what was originally planned. As things work out, it sometimes happens that the original want might not be important to us after all.
If we can't do anything at all concerning the plan we had in mind, perhaps what we can do involves something else entirely. And who knows where that will lead? It might lead to something that will help in getting on with what we wanted to do originally. Or it might turn into something else altogether, developing into a new B & B. No, not a bed and breakfast; Blessings and Benefits.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Horizons
Today’s thought: “A horizon is nothing, save the limit of our sight.”
This quote is part of a longer prayer in the Devotions in the back of my Bible. It was meant for comfort in thinking of death, but I think the portion above can be applied in other situations also. Could it not be paraphrased to say, a horizon is nothing, save the limit of our thoughts? I will list the complete prayer, and leave it to you to think about. Needless to say, I don’t know the originator of the prayer.
“O God, teach our hearts to know that Life is eternal, and Love is immortal, and Death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Lift us up that we may see further; cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
This quote is part of a longer prayer in the Devotions in the back of my Bible. It was meant for comfort in thinking of death, but I think the portion above can be applied in other situations also. Could it not be paraphrased to say, a horizon is nothing, save the limit of our thoughts? I will list the complete prayer, and leave it to you to think about. Needless to say, I don’t know the originator of the prayer.
“O God, teach our hearts to know that Life is eternal, and Love is immortal, and Death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Lift us up that we may see further; cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Advice Nuggets
There are nuggets of advice/wisdom I've picked up along the way that sounded good to me; something to remember as words to live by. This is one of those nuggets [and I will probably add others to this blog, as they surface in my mind] is the following; though I don't recall where I read it.
"Anything that won't bend will break."
I decided long ago that I didn't want to break, so I visualize the willow, which bends with the wind, and rises straight again with its passing.
"Anything that won't bend will break."
I decided long ago that I didn't want to break, so I visualize the willow, which bends with the wind, and rises straight again with its passing.
My Parents: Life's Lessions I Learned From Them
These are some of the basic things I learned from my parents by word and/or example.
1. My parents did not teach me that I was better than anyone else. They did teach me that I was as good as anyone else. That old, ‘Hold your head up high and walk on through the storm,’ idea. We all have the same rights, not more or less than anyone else.
2. Regardless of what anyone else does, I and I alone, am responsible for my own actions.”Yes, yes, I know he/she did this or that.” Still, I bear the responsibility for what I do.
3. This I learned from my mother, which she may not have put in these exact words; but the message came through loud and clear. Doing something because someone else is doing it, is the poorest possible reason for doing anything. We, or at least I, learned rather quickly that saying, “But everyone else is going to…” was a sure show-stopper with my mother. I suppose all kids want to be like the other kids, want to do the same things, as I did - up to a point. Kids don’t want to be different. However, for whatever reason, I refused on my own, some of the things the other kids might want to do. It doesn’t make you popular to go against the grain, but the lesson is worth the learning. Being different makes you what you uniquely are. Being like everyone else helps you get lost in the crowd.
1. My parents did not teach me that I was better than anyone else. They did teach me that I was as good as anyone else. That old, ‘Hold your head up high and walk on through the storm,’ idea. We all have the same rights, not more or less than anyone else.
2. Regardless of what anyone else does, I and I alone, am responsible for my own actions.”Yes, yes, I know he/she did this or that.” Still, I bear the responsibility for what I do.
3. This I learned from my mother, which she may not have put in these exact words; but the message came through loud and clear. Doing something because someone else is doing it, is the poorest possible reason for doing anything. We, or at least I, learned rather quickly that saying, “But everyone else is going to…” was a sure show-stopper with my mother. I suppose all kids want to be like the other kids, want to do the same things, as I did - up to a point. Kids don’t want to be different. However, for whatever reason, I refused on my own, some of the things the other kids might want to do. It doesn’t make you popular to go against the grain, but the lesson is worth the learning. Being different makes you what you uniquely are. Being like everyone else helps you get lost in the crowd.
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