Everything Which Happens

Everything which happens either happens in such a way that you are formed by nature to bear it or not to bear it. If what happens to you is within your strength to bear, bear it without complaining; if it is beyond your strength, do not complain, for it will perish after it has destroyed you. Remember, however, that you are formed by nature to bear everything which your own opinion can make endurable and tolerable, by thinking that it is either your interest or your duty to do so.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter X, 3)
31 March 2015

Real Life

Real life is not measured by how much we own.

(The One Year Book Of Bible Readings, 12 October)

28 March 2015

Difficult People

Difficult people are those who impede action. Their motivations may differ, and our opinions of them may vary, but they stand between us and our ability to make something happen...
(Sandra A. Crowe, Since Strangling Isn't An Option, p. 48)

In dealing with difficult people, I try to remember that everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
(Mayor of Atlanta Bill Cunningham in Since Strangling Isn't An Option, by Sandra A. Crowe, p. 238)

In those for whom alienation from everything and everyone has become a way of life, you will note suffering from depression, anxiety, and even physical deterioration, which often results in institualization or death.
(Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, The Sky's The Limit, p. 288)
27 March 2015

You Done Me Wrong

Does another do me wrong? Let him look to it. The disposition was his and the activity was his. I have what universal nature wills me to have, and I do what my own nature wills me to do.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter V, paragraph 25)
25 March 2014

Your Weaknesses

You know your weaknesses. You also know the situations in which your weaknesses are most vulnerable. Stay out of those situations.
(Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment, Vol. II, 28 May)

Every achievement worth remembering is stained with the blood of diligence and scarred by the wounds of disappointment.
(Charles Swindoll in 100 Days Of Prayer For Women, p. 31)
24 March 2015

Good Choices

Yosemite

To make good choices, I must develop a mature and prudent understanding of myself that will reveal to me my real motives and intentions.
(Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island, in One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 25 May)
23 March 2015

Making Peace With Things

If you want to make peace with the things in your life, you must first understand and make peace with yourself. There is no other way.
(Cindy Glovinsky, Making Peace With The Things In Your Life, Introduction, p. xiv)
22 March 2015

Happy People

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but the people who have learned to live with those things that are less than perfect.
(James Dobson in 100 Days Of Prayer For Women, p. 131)
21 March 2015

Polluting

Photo taken prior to 20 Mar 2015

Fred & Bobbie's House in White, Jim's House in Yellow

Photo by Melva

It may be difficult to heal our bodies and minds after years of polluting ourselves with chemicals and negative thinking, but we do have that ability.
(Perry Tilleraas, The Color Of Light, 3 June)

******

I heard that later today we could expect Spring to arrive.  There is some confusion.  This morning when I looked outside for the first time snow was falling.  At 3:00 p.m. it is no longer snowing but the roof of the house across the street is snow covered.

Mr. Dickie

20 March 2015

Our Judgments

Our judgments are often based on our personal likes and dislikes; consequently, our private prejudices can easily overshadow our sound thinking.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 14)
19 March 2015

Influences

Melva's practice photo with my camera

It's easy to be affected by outside influences.
Let's pay more attention to what really matters when making choices.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 44, 12 January)

******

I spent time this morning creating folders in my Downloads folder. Then I moved photos and music to the appropriate "new" folders.  I should do this more often. It's an easy way to quickly group "sets" of files together. I also remembered to "tag" the photos I downloaded this morning. Organization is work that pays dividends later.

Mr. Dickie
18 March 2015

Why Art Thou Troubled?

Melva's basement amaryllis, winter 2015

Photo by Mr. Dickie 

Why art thou troubled because things do not succeed with thee according to thy desire? Who is there who hath all things according to his will? Neither I, nor thou, nor any man upon earth.

(Thomas a' Kempis in One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 26 August)
16 March 2015

 

Grievances

Storing up grievances is more than a waste of time; it's a waste of life that could be lived to greater satisfaction. If I keep a record of oppressions and indignities, I am restoring them to painful realitiy.

"The horror of that moment," the King said, "I shall never, never forget." "You will, though," said the Queen, "if you don't make a memorandum of it." (Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass)

 (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 18 August [Note: One of my favorite pages from this book.])
15 March 2015

The Sun

The sun ... in its full glory, either rising or setting -- this, and many other like blessings we enjoy daily; and for the most of them, because they are so common, most men forget to pay their praises. But let us not.
(Izaak Walton in Whispers Of Blessing, Day 240)
14 March 2015

Immatuity

Little Free Library at University Park, MD

A person remains immature, whatever his age, as long as he thinks of himself as an exception to the human race.
(Harry A. Overstreet in Night Light by Amy E. Dean, 21 June)

******

I wrote a blog post about using Facebook messages for file sharing. I uploaded the post today to my Genealogy blog.  I also shared the post with my "secret group" on Facebook.  I also posted a link to my Obituary blog about the legality of using obituaries in our genealogy projects.

Melva and I went to four thrift stores yesterday looking for something we didn't find.  I found one book that I was seeking, a like-new hard-bound copy of Daily Guideposts - 2014. For several years I purchased a year-old copy of this annual publication shortly after the start of the new year. I enjoy using this book in my daily reading program. I'm still reading the 2013 copy because I set it aside for a while last year. I probably mentioned before that I have read all of these books published between 1978 and 2012.  I no longer own copies because I needed to free up some space.

I also bought a copy of Moravian Daily Texts - 2013 which is also designed for daily reading. I remembered that I own an earlier edition of this publication and enjoyed it.  There were about a half dozen annual copies, for different years, on the shelf.  I thought one year would be enough.

The third book I purchased was Prayers from the Heart - Inspiration for Every Day!  This book is also designed for daily reading, with each day numbered.

I bought the self-titled CD, Lawson Creek Grass.  I'm not familiar with this Bluegrass band from Alton, VA.  I think it is fun to buy an album once in a while by someone I've never heard.

This morning I'm listening to some Aker Bilk music downloaded from Freegal the county library free music service.

Dick Henthorn

9 March 2015

The Valley of Other People's Problems

The Valley of Other People's Problems

• Other people's problems,
• other people's priorities,
• other people's principles,
• other people's people,

can get in our way, hold us back and take us off track until we develop the strength to be honest with ourselves.
(Iyanla Vanzant, Faith In The Valley, p. 133)
7 March 2015

Addiction

San Francisco, CA

One of the hardest situations to deal with is someone else's addiction. It's painful to watch a friend or relative hurt himself or herself day in and day out.
(Perry Tilleraas, The Color Of Light, 11 June)
6 March 2015

This Day Belongs To Me

C&O Canal Boat - Cumberland, MD

Photo by Mr. Dickie

This day belongs to me. I can do wonderful things with it, creative things, including the creation of order in my surroundings and in my mind. Nobody else owns my particular segment of time, so it depends only on me how well I will fill every moment to the satisfaction. ... live one day at a time. This is that day.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 30 July)
5 March 2015

Hands Off

If I learn nothing more in ... [my program] than to keep hands off what is not truly my business, this alone will lighten and brighten my life.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 27 October)
4 March 2015

Myth

In popular usage, a myth has come to mean a story that is not true. Historically speaking that may well be so. Humanly speaking a myth is a story that is, always true.
(Fredrick Buechner, Listening To Your Life, 27 October)
3 March 2015

Things

Things are brought in, either by you or by someone else. If you're an adult, you have a legal right to choose what things you bring or allow into your space. Not all of us, however choose to exercise this right.
(Cindy Glovinsky, Making Peace With The Things In Your Life, p. 23)
2 March 2015

Maintaining Hope

Mr. Dickie @ Busboys & Poets

Maintaining hope comes from seeing the potential in every situation and staying positive despite circumstances.
(John C. Maxwell, Leadership, 22 August)

Remember that men will go on doing the same things even if you should burst in protest.
(Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter VIII, 4)
1 March 2015