Grammar, vocabulary and articulation tend to imprison more than they liberate. Far too many people feel inadequate and embarrassed or even ashamed of their lack of ability in this area. Some blame a lack of proper education, others accuse themselves of not having listened while being given a good education, but the truth of the matter is that you can start where you are, always!
Category: Observations on Life
The Dignified Life – The Choice is Yours by Gregg Hake
Every thought, word or deed you express either carries in it the compelling tone of dignity or the disquieting sound of lowliness. The choice is yours. Remember. The choice is always yours.
Victor Wooten, Amazing Grace: The Flow Experience Revisited
Every once in a while you hear or see something worth sharing. I heard this solo by bassist Victor Wooten years ago...it's definitely one of my top ten favorite musical performances of all time. Victor exemplifies the unmistakeable "flow" experience described so meticulously by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his book, "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience."
Bobby McFerrin, Oprah and the Music of Life
A friend of mine once told me that he sometimes listens to a complex piece of classical music 10 or 15 times before he has enough of the "strings" to make it all the way through without being distracted. Isn't that a wonderful way to put it? I certainly thought so. Music tells a story, whether in actual words or simply in feeling content, and the stories help to condition our understanding of the world around us. In fact, it helps us to understand ourselves.
The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry
Good morning, my friends. I thought that you would enjoy this short story to start your day. It describes a young couple in love on a mutual quest to give the perfect gift. Do your best to give to those around you and you will be rewarded with a happy and fulfilling life. THE GIFT …
The Little Prince – How to be a Valuable Person
Think about these points today, but do not dwell on them, as their converse unlocks the joy and wonderment of a noteworthy and memorable life. Be deliberate about appreciating the capabilities of those around you, have pride in your fellows, embrace and share your own value, care for that which you are borrowing from those who follow you in the future, take time to smell the roses, breath out and dare to engage with life...with vigor, creativity and gusto!
Trust your Instruments
Flight training should be required for all teenagers. Replete with valuable lessons that can be applied to any situation, learning to fly is one of those all-consuming activities that allows even the busiest person a moment of respite, a peace that comes only from complete concentration. My aviation career began at the age of fifteen. My flight instructor, Mack, was an …
The Pony in the Dung Heap, Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Roosevelt and You
If you were able to take snapshot of every aspect of your life - your work, personal situation, home, family, friends, finances and your sense of self - and look at them like flashcards, what words would you use to describe them? Some aspects of your life may appear more promising than others, but no matter what the factors are, you can always stand to improve your outlook and consequently your approach to handling your life. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."
Monty Roberts, Compassionate Leadership and Principles of Horsemanship
Man's conquest of the natural world has not always been achieved through gracious and entreating means. I imagine that in times of dire necessity (such as the early pioneering days or in times of war) shortcuts are perceived as being optimal versus an approach based on compassionate leadership, but in times of plenty, can these types of methods be justified?
An evening thought…
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "A man is related to all nature." Whether you look out over a beautiful scene or zoom in to enjoy the industriousness of a soldier ant, it is hard not to appreciate and relate in some way to the beauty and wonder of the natural world. I came across …
Gregory Hake 