Being Rational

... being rational with someone who is irrational is pointless.

(Sandra A. Crowe, Since Strangling Isn't An Option, p. 258)

31 May 2014

Feeling Better

You'll feel better about yourself once you realize that completing something is a worthy goal in itself.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 20 March)

******

Yesterday I spent time on the phone with the Micro Center help desk.  I tried to renew my ESET virus software on May 13th and thought I'd been successful.  Later I noticed that I was getting a message when I booted the computer telling me there was a problem. I'd printed out the pages with all the information.  The person working the Help desk took remote control of my computer and then talked me through the steps. It wasn't too difficult. I think the problem was caused when I didn't sign on as Administrator.  I'm still confused about this.  At any rate all of the feedback indicated a good install. The messages at sign-on this morning looked correct.

30 May 2014

Is It Worth The Effort?

With some people, you really want to put an effort into the relationship, with others, you don't want to deal with the person. How can you evaluate what's at stake? How do you know when to hang on and when to let go?
(Sandra A. Crowe, Since Strangling Isn't An Option, p. 242)
29 May 2014

Thinking Of The Whole

Do not disturb yourself by thinking of the whole of your life. Let not your thoughts at once embrace all the various troubles which you may expect to befall you. But on every occasion ask yourself, "What is there in this which is intolerable and past bearing?" For you will be ashamed to confess. In the next place, remember that neither the future nor the past pains you, but only the present. But this is reduced to a very little, if you only circumscribe it, and scold yourself if you are unable to bear even this.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter VII, 36)
28 May 2014

Whatever Happens

Whatever may happen today, I will think of it as a challenge which I am well able to meet.  If it is good, I will receive it gratefully as a special gift.  If it is not good, I will deal with it as well as I can, knowing it will pass if I do not let it overwhelm me. I will not let the good make me complacent, nor will I allow the not-good to drown me in despair.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 27 May)
27 May 2014

Patience

Patience is very necessary for each of us, because many troubles befall us in this life. No matter what we do to live in peace, life cannot be without struggle and sorrow.
(after Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 12)
26 May 2014

Choices

Every day you make hundreds of choices ... and the quality of those choices determines the quality of your day and your life.
(100 Days Of Prayer For Women, p. 241)
25 May 2014

You Can

Because a thing is difficult for you to do, do not think it is impossible for any man; but whatever is possible for any man to do and right for his nature, think that you can achieve it too.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter VI, 19)
24 May 2014

Change

What people resist about change is being changed. They want to be enticed and supported, but not forced. They like to think that changes in their behavior are born of their own motivation to be better people, and they want to take credit for their own growth. They don't want to be made to change; they want to make the change themselves and they want to think it was their idea.
(Sandra A. Crowe, Since Strangling Isn't An Option, p. 35)
23 May 2014

Your Past

Do not run the risk of making your past your future.

(Cloud & Townsend, God Will Make A Way, p. 212)

21 May 2014

Apology / Amends

... we need to distinguish between amends and apologies. Apologies are appropriate; however, they are not substitutes for making amends. ...

It is important to apologize when necessary, but it is more important to commit to changing the unacceptable behavior.
(The Twelve Steps For Christians, p. 150)
21 May 2014

Change

My friend, do not trust the way you feel at the moment, for your feelings will soon change. All your life you are subject to change, even if you do not want to be. Sometimes you are happy, sometimes you are sad, sometimes you are calm, sometimes restless, now full of devotion, now not, now studious, now lazy, now solemn, now lighthearted.  The person who is wise and well instructed in spiritual things is above these changes, not paying attention to his own feelings or which way the wind blows. Instead, he directs his full attention toward reaching his desired goal.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 33)
 20 May 2014

Addiction

Addiction is an inability to stop a repeated and compulsive use of an activity, behavior, or substance in spite of negative consequences.
(Cloud & Townsend, God Will Make A Way, p. 218)
19 May 2014

Home

There is no better training ground for forgiveness than in the home. The importance of our relationship, the constancy of it, the intimacy and vulnerability all work together to make it likely we'll often fail to live up to each other's expectations.
(Harry & Emily Griffith, This Love We Share, 14 November)
18 May 2014

Marathon

A well lived life is like a marathon, not a sprint -- it calls for preparation, determination, and, of course, lots of perseverance.
(100 Days Of Prayer For Women, p. 30)
17 May 2014

Life Is Not Fair

May I gently but firmly remind you of something you know but may have forgotten? Life is not fair. That's not pessimism; it's a fact.
(Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment, Vol. II, 26 March)
16 May 2014

Holding A Conversation

It's all right to hold a conversation, but you should let go of it now and then.
(Richard Armour in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 24 January)
15 May 2014

Material Possessions

You cannot be fully satisfied by material possessions, for you are simply not made to enjoy them.  Even if you owned every good thing in the world you would not be happy and blessed, for your blessedness and joy is in God, who created all those things.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 16)
14 May 2014

Silence

How can we possibly think, read, meditate, or write in a journal with noise bombarding us?
To learn to sit comfortably alone in silence, we need to try it in small steps.
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 8 February)
13 May 2014

Knowledge

Knowledge is not merely to be accumulated; it should give us direction for living.
(The One Year Book Of Bible Readings, 27 October)
12 May 2014

Mother's Day 2014

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!

(Psalm 133:1 (TNIV) in Daily Guideposts - 2013, 20 January)

11 May 2014

Understanding

Understanding is the key to right principles and attitudes, and right action is the key to good living.
(Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 125 found in Daily Reflections, 16 February)

Melva, Cyndi and I went to the huge multi-family yard sale in the University Park community today.  I hit the CD Jackpot.  At one house I bought 15 CDs for $15.00.  I got some country, some Bluegrass, some jazz and many latin discs.
10 May 2014

Pay Attention

Photo: National Geographic

Pay attention to the vital few.

Ignore the trivial many.

(John Paul deJoria in Hero by Rhonda Byrne, p. 149)

9 May 2014

Acceptance

Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate my 75th birthday by posting messages on Facebook, sending cards, posting Email and taking the time to call me.

Acceptance is the ability to deal with reality, in both heart and mind. When we accept the way things are, we stop fighting for what cannot be and become content with what is.
(Cloud & Townsend, God Will Make A Way, p. 176)
8 May 2014

75th Birthday

Thank You for the year just ahead

For the hope it holds

For the promise it proclaims

For the expectation of greater things

For the anticipation of what lies in the distance

For the opportunities You'll give me to bless others and for others blessing me

For 365 unseen days overflowing with Your grace.

(Jonathan Dukes in Prayers For Every Need, p. 237)

7 May 2014

Wishing

There's nothing odd about wanting our beliefs to be supported by facts. Yet we must recognize that wishing does not make something so and that we cannot invent the truth to please ourselves. Be willing to think clearly and judge rationally - and to accept the truth, like it or not.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 16 January)
6 May 2014

Behavior Patterns

Whenever you change your behavior patterns, people don't know what to make of it. At first they will insist on maintaining their own behavior patterns, hoping to keep up the familiar game. Then they will probably be a bit confused. Ultimately they will change in response to you.
(Sandra A. Crowe, Since Strangling Isn't An Option, p. 179)
5 May 2014

I Yam, What I Yam!

That child who is eternally present in our thoughts and dreams may be full of weakness and faults, but that is who we are. We are who we are as much because of our gaps and failures as because of our strengths.
(Thomas Moore, Care Of The Sould, p. 51)
4 May 2014)

Thinking

... thinking too much or in a negative way is almost as dangerous as not thinking at all.
(Hope For Today, 5 February)

The power to reason can be dulled when we fail to detach ourselves from the emotional content of a problem.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 3 February)
3 May 2014

Denial

The blindfold of denial can keep us from seeing the reality of our lives.

(after Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 23 January)

2 April 2014

May Day - 2014

Many of us have painful memories we carry with us like pictures in a wallet. We keep these memories alive through feelings generated by these moments. Why are we so attached to unpleasant memories?
(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 5 January)
1 May 2014