“Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.” ~ Frank Tyger (1929-2011), nationally published editorial cartoonist & columnist Don’t you relish a truth wrapped in just the right amount of laughter? Listening is an art, really … but even more than that, listening is a gift. It’s such a beautiful way to consider someone else more …
In Others’ Words: Hero (Guest Post)
To celebrate her latest book release, Lakeside Family, my friend, Lisa Jordan, shares a quote with us today. “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” ~Christopher Reeve (1952-2004), actor In Lakeside Family, Nick Brennan feels like nobody’s hero. After his father abandoned his family, Nick promised …
In Others’ Words: Wake Up (Guest post)
Today I’m at the MOPS Convention in Dallas, teaching a workshop on cyberbullying. So writer Susannah Friis shares a favorite quote with you. “I wake up every morning determined to both change the world and have a [heckuva] good time. Sometimes that makes planning my day difficult.” ~ EB White (1899-1985), American writer I love this quote because …
In Others’ Words: Now
Living the past is a dull and lonely business; looking back strains the neck muscles, causing you to bump into people not going your way. ~Edna Ferber (1885-1968), American novelist I can’t transport myself to the future, except when I escape in the pages of a spectacular novel. And I know I can’t go back to days past. But …
In Others’ Words: Teachers
I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. ~Lily Tomlin as “Edith Ann” (1939), actress I registered my caboose kiddo for school this week. We bought school supplies weeks ago. Today she went with her BFF and got locker supplies. Middle school, here they come! Funny, I never bought locker supplies when …
In Others’ Words: Trust
“One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life.” ~E.M. Forster (1879-1970), English novelist As a novelist, I spend a lot of time with imaginary people. I don’t just hang around with them — I actually expend many hours and much energy getting to know these fictitious characters. I …
In Others’ Words: Chaos
“Our real discoveries come from chaos, from going to the place that looks wrong and stupid and foolish.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk (1962-), American novelist & freelance journalist It has been a haphazard summer. “Haphazard” is just a three-syllable word for chaos. And “chaos” is a two-syllable word for “Would somebody please tell me when I’m going to have …
In Others’ Words: Art & Life
“You don’t have to make something that people call art. Living is an artistic activity, there is an art to getting through the day.” ~Viggo Mortensen (1958-), actor Friday is always a look-back-over-my-shoulder kind of day for me. The week has finally run into the weekend — hooray! — and I mentally shift gears from “weekday” life to “weekend” life. …
In Others’ Words: Comfort
“Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand-in-hand.” ~Emily Kimbrough (1899-1989), American author & journalist Sometimes I trip myself up all by myself. I rush through my day and forget an all-important something on my To Do list. Or I say something I shouldn’t. Or don’t say something I should. I doubt …
In Others’ Words: Achieving Success
“No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.” ~Brian Tracy (1944-), self-help author It’s one thing to have a dream. It’s something all …