In Others’ Words: The Certainty of Happiness

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 12 Comments

What determines your happiness: your circumstances or your attitude? I would have to say there were times … are times … I allow my circumstances to determine whether I’m happy or not. Things go right — the way I want them to go — and I’m happy. All good. Things go wrong? I’m fighting against the drag of my emotions. …

In Others’ Words: Preparing for Tomorrow

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 7 Comments

  Even as I prep this post, I’m mulling over the quote: “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” I agree with H. Jackson Brown Jr.  . . . and then, part of me trips over the words “doing your best.” “Doing your best” doesn’t mean today went exactly as you planned. “Doing your best” doesn’t mean …

In Others’ Words: Adding Beauty to Life

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 20 Comments

  We all know people who add beauty to life. I also believe each one of us wants to be like author L. M. Montgomery, in that we would like to add some type of beauty to life. Sometimes, though, we get tripped up. We don’t think we add beauty to the world because we think it has to look …

In Others’ Words: Don’t Change the World

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 8 Comments

  We’re told to dream big. To push harder. Aim higher. Reach for the stars. To be somebody  . . . oh, sure, be you … but make certain you are this a-ma-zing, people-are-gonna-stand-up-and-notice-you version of you. Change the world. Or don’t. Or maybe it’s a matter of redefining the word “world.” There’s a great big world out there — …

In Others’ Words: Planning and Planting for Shade in Years to Come

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 11 Comments

How often do we think about how our actions today will affect someone else in the future? I can get so caught up in the here and now — crossing off all the things on my To Do list that I accomplished — that the future encompasses only a few days from now, and not much further. Oh, sure, I’m …

In Others’ Words: Hope to Win

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 7 Comments

For some people, hoping to win might fall into the category of “”wishing doesn’t make it so,” — a quote attributed to novelist Lev Grossman.  But there’s something to be said about mindset, isn’t there? You have to think like a winner — believe you can win — if you’re going to act like a winner. Perform like a winner.  …

girl standing on a beach at sunset

In Others’ Words: Where Have You Been?

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 17 Comments

 Where has life taken you? That’s not a rhetorical question. I want to know: where has life taken you? What geographical locations have you seen? Cities. States. Provinces. Countries. What mountains have you climbed or skied? What lakes or oceans have you plunged into? Where have you sat and watched the sun rise or set? What place holds your heart …

In Others’ Words: Decide What It’s About

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 9 Comments

  Perspective changes everything. As my husband and I wandered through a local park early one morning before my daughter’s day-long volleyball tournament, I paused in front of this wire bench. The surrounding trellises were mostly bare. What few leaves remained were brittle and brown. The landscape was awash in grays and browns. And it had its own certain beauty. …

In Others’ Words: Finding Your Theme

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, perspective 6 Comments

  Mention “theme,” and most people are transported back to English class, when the teacher asked, “What is the theme of this book?” Some of us had fun with this question about the central idea in a novel or short story or poem or play, and some of us started counting the days until summer vacation. And then some of …

In Others’ Words: The Power of Quotes

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 14 Comments

I have always been a word person. My mother used to say she thought I was born with a dictionary in my hands. (Now that is an odd visual.) And I have always appreciated quotes, savoring the discovery of someone else’s way with words that makes me pause and think or even laugh out loud, thanks to their fresh perspective.  …