#36 Thought

There is much more depth to that statement as it would first appear.

Think about it.

#35 A Different Drummer

Thoreau's passage about 'marching to his own drummer' was likely the first quote

 that I remember paying attention to.

. It struck a cord with me perhaps because it gave me permission to be a little different.

WEEK 6: HENRY DAVID THOREAU

February 4-10th

Henry David Thoreau
July 12, 1817- May 6, 1862

Thoreau, an American author, poet, philosopher & naturalist left a great deal of wisdom in his short lifespan.  He is likely best known for his book 'Walden', in which he wrote about his four year stint in Walden's Pond in order to 'live deliberately'.  

One of his friends was Ralph Waldo Emerson. You can just imagine the creative and inspired discussions between the two of them. Perhaps one of them went like this: "What do you think we should do to ensure our perpetuity?"  "Well, Ralph ... for one, I think you need to make your name more memorable ... Ralph Emerson doesn't sound important enough." "Well, do you think Henry Thoreau does?" "You've got a point ... let's stick in our middle names." "Good idea, Ralph." In fact though, I suppose most people know them simply by their last names - 'Thoreau' ... 'Emerson'.

Being known as an anarchist, his book Walden was inspirational to Mahatma Ghandi, who read it 1906, declaring Thoreau to be "one of the greatest and most moral men America has produced."

Thoreau, who had contracted tuberculosis in 1835 died at 44 years of age, after three years of declining health suffering the effects of bronchitis. As his health failed, he became bedridden, editing his unpublished manuscripts, writing letters and journal entries and impressing his friends with his tranquility and peace of his eminent passing.

He apparently said to his Aunt Louise, in response to her question as to whether he had made peace with God: "I did not know that we had ever quarreled."  His last written sentence was: "Now comes good sailing."

Wikipedia: Henry David Thoreau

#34 Burning

Some very important wisdom in this. 

The lesson ... slow & steady endures longer.

#33 No Hurry

#32 A Butterfly

#31 Goodness

Oh. My. Goodness.

#30 Single Step

My friend Jan on our adventure in Ireland.

We took the step and wound up a thousand miles away.

And loved every minute of it.

#29 Three Treasures

Yes indeed ... all three of those are wonderful treasures.

Oh to have an abundance of them at all times.

#28 Stop Thinking

Is there not a huge amount of truth in this?

Everything stems from this one thing.

WEEK 5: LAO TSU

LAO TSU

6th Century BC

Maybe 4th or 5th

#27 Love & Light & Vision

I think I would have said 'knowing' is love and light and vision. Knowing what is important.

There are a lot of people that have a great deal of knowledge in some things,

but it doesn't bless them with love and light and vision.

#26 Tolerance

The 100 year old grandmother of a friend, when asked what was one of the greatest

changes that she had witnessed in her lifetime, said "People are more tolerant."

I hope so.

#25 Life is Good

These are the hands of my beloved aunt who celebrated her 96th birthday last week;

and the hands of a beloved Friend who will always live in my heart.

#24 Soar

This is what our women's group WINGS is all about ... we SOAR!

#23 Brave & Patient

I snapped this little guy today and thought he was perfect for this quote.

It was a frigid morning... but he was brave and patiently waiting for a joyous summer day.

#22 Walk with a Friend

Walking alone is lovely too, but there's nothing quite like walking with a friend.

#21 Adventure or Nothing

This is the sentence that I quote the most. This is the quote I live by.

 It's tatooed in my brain, front and center.

WEEK 4: HELEN KELLER

Week 4 we celebrate:

HELEN KELLER
June 27, 1880 - June 1, 1968

For many of us born in a certain era, when we think of Helen Keller, we picture Patty Duke in the 1962 movie, 'The Miracle Worker'.  Ever since then, I have been in awe and admiration of Helen.

To be born in the late 1800's and accomplish what she did as a woman was impressive as it was, but to do it being blind and deaf is remarkable. She has always been the epitome of strength, courage, determination and perserverence to me.

Born in Alabama, she lost her sight and hearing to illness at 19 months. In spite of that, she lived a remarkably adventurous life - travelling the world and meeting famous people.

She had her first book published at 11, wrote an autobiography at 22 and went on to pen ten more books. She was an activist, speaking out for women's suffarage as well as labour rights.

Helen lived a full, rich and long life, leaving a legacy of wisdom and inspiration that was born of 'walking the walk'.

Wiki info to read more.

#20 Sweetness of Friendship

My beloved friends ... who know all about laughter and sharing of pleasures.

And of the joy in the little things.