January 18th, 2006 by Michael Moncur in Biography
Only one of the people we list quotations from has the distinction of being a scientist, writer, inventor, newspaper editor, college founder, and one of the founding fathers of the United States.
Yesterday was the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth, and a museum exhibit is celebrating this with information about his life. There’s also an online exhibit. Wikipedia also has a good biography of Franklin, or you can read his autobiography.
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January 17th, 2006 by Laura Moncur in Motivation
It’s the middle of January. If your New Year’s Resolution was to exercise more, then you’re probably hurting right now. You might even be considering throwing in the towel. Exercise is one of the most vivid examples of painful experiences that are good for us.
Of course, there are other things that are painful that in the end are good for us: divorce, death, moving, having children, sickness, and the list goes on. It’s hard to look at them like that, but the truth of the matter is we come away from those experiences stronger and better people. If we are strong enough to survive that list of pain, then we are better people for it.
If you are dealing with muscle aches right now, focus on your desired outcome. Imagine what your life will be like when you reach your goals. Vividly envision what you will look like and how it will feel when you cross that finish line. You are worth it.
If you are dealing with pain of a more serious kind, my advice is the same. Focus on your desired outcome. Imagine what your life will be like when you survive this difficult time. Vividly envision your new future after you have surmounted this barrier. You are worth it, so you will survive it.
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January 16th, 2006 by Michael Moncur in News
Today the US celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. day. While you might have the day off school, please take a moment to learn about Reverend King’s life and his message of nonviolence and civil rights:
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January 13th, 2006 by Laura Moncur in Motivation
I don’t want to believe this quote. I refuse to consider myself the prisoner of my own experiences. I control what I think. I can change my thoughts about my prejudices. I refuse to give the responsibility of my beliefs over to the vagrancies of my mind.
Poor Edward R. Murrow. This quote tells me so much about him and it makes me sad for him. He lived his life with such morality that I’m surprised by this quotation. I believe that we can escape our prejudices and we are not prisoners of our minds and experiences. It grieves me that such a great man believed the opposite.
Here are a couple of biographies about Edward R. Murrow:
For all of the Edward R. Murrow quotations, click here:
Edward R. Murrow Quotes – The Quotations Page
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January 12th, 2006 by Laura Moncur in Motivation
This is one of those quotes that sound so good when you first read it. “Yes, Mr. Sandburg is right,” we say to ourselves, nodding seriously, “I should be careful how I spend my time.” It’s only when I’ve sat here looking at this “profound” quote for the last five minutes does it start to fall apart in my mind. I want to dig up Carl out of his grave and argue with him.
It’s true that I don’t want ESPN, CNN or MTV to decide how I’ll spend my coin of life, but I’m a lot more willing to let my friends spend it for me. Last week, Mike and I were in Las Vegas for a convention. We usually go to Las Vegas with Stacey and Dan, my sister and her husband, so this trip was strange to me. It’s so easy to let them decide what they want to see in the loud and bright town. When I have to choose for myself, I usually end up writing in my journal in the hotel room.
I am perfectly willing to let my dearest of friends choose how to spend my coin of life. Most of the fun for me is sharing experiences with them, both the good and the bad. I’m sure Carl Sandburg felt the same way, even though he didn’t make the exception in his famous quotation.
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