Choosing to Own Our Days

Beth Vogtacceptance, age, change, childhood, choices, confidence, contentment, expectations, gratitude, hope, Life, perspective, Quotes, time, trust 9 Comments

  I wake up several times each night. I know I’m not alone in this repeated I’m-asleep-now-I’m-awake middle of the night routine. The first thing I do when I wake up is glance at the alarm clock on my bedside table. It’s an illuminated model with oversize red digital numbers I purchased several years ago for my mother-in-law who battled …

The Fallacy of Doing Our Best

Beth Vogtchallenges, confidence, expectations, goals, In Others' Words, Life, lifequotes, perseverance, perspective, Quotes, Reality, success 9 Comments

KLowering the Bar to Achieve More by @bethvogt Success, my friends, isn’t always about giving our best effort. Sometimes success is doing a little bit less. Can I get an “amen!”? Over the years, my family has learned to ask, “What’s the wise choice?” And sometimes the best, wisest choice is to stop trying so hard. There are times when …

In Others’ Words: Two Ways to Be Happy

Beth Vogtexpectations, In Others' Words, Quotes 7 Comments

I shared with a friend this week how my emotional margin is depleted and how, at the same time, I’m pushing to meet some self-imposed goals. She listened. This friend always listens. And then she spoke some much-needed truth to me. About how my circumstances probably weren’t going to change right now. And that maybe, instead of pushing against the …

In Others’ Words: What Each New Day Brings

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 5 Comments

I’m writing this blog post in a hotel room in Minnesota. A rerun of Iron Chef is on the TV. My husband and daughter are discussing our plans for tomorrow — a college visit and then flying home to Colorado. When I’m done with this blog post, I need to pack. And I’m tired. Of course, I have good reasons …

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: The Serious Business of Joy

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 13 Comments

I often expect to find joy here. Now.  And then I’m reminded that joy is other-worldly. Oh, sure, we can catch glimpses of joy in our lives here on earth. As we love and are loved by others. And I always, always hear echoes of joy in the laughter of children. But the love and grace and forgiveness of God …

In Others’ Words: New Day, New Choices

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, quote about life 6 Comments

Sometimes, simple is best. New day. New choices. It’s today. There’s nothing I can do to undo what happened yesterday — except, maybe, offer an apology if an apology is needed. But that doesn’t change the choices I made yesterday. It’s merely the choice I am making today. I can base today’s choices on the ones I made yesterday — and …

In Others’ Words: Make a Mark

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, quote about choices, quote about life, Uncategorized 21 Comments

So often we talk about yesterday. And really, while we can savor the past … or learn from the past … there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, we can do to change the past. And so often we talk about tomorrow. And really, while we can plan or dream or “what if” our way all the way through the next 24 hours, …