Can You Live a Life of No Regrets? #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday #WQWWC

It’s been quite a while since I’ve made the time to contribute to the BeWoW/Writers Quote Wednesday effort – too long. But life seems to get in the way often these days and I just haven’t.  But a thought has been nagging me for a while so here we go …

Curtesy of Wikkimedia (click image to see more).

 Back in the 1980s I recall seeing George Burns on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson being his usual, unpredictable, hilarious self during an interview. Mr. Burns answered a question from Carson which I can’t recall , but will never forget his answer:

“Don’t believe everything they tell you. I use salt. I smoke 15 cigars a day. I have three or four martinis a day. If I don’t like the food, I send for ketchup. I’m almost 90 and I have no regrets.”

Being young and naive I was inspired; this was how I was going to live my life: with no regrets! And I managed do that for a while – until I got older and wiser and realize just how badly I’d failed my attempt to do this. (For those interested, you can find similar quotes like this one on the web.)

The other night as I was putting my grandson to sleep I sang an old hymn to him, one that I’ve sung him to sleep with for years. But on this night he asked about its meaning, which I explained to him. I was happy he remembered the song and was interested in it,but it reminded me of how much better I could have done with my own children if I had spent less time at work and more time with them: one of my a biggest regrets I have.

I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to make up for some of that time, though it was with a high cost. And I look forward to being a bigger presence in my grandsons (the one here now and the one coming in July) in a positive, godly way. 

Regrets are, in my opinion, inevitable; we are human and we falter and make mistakes. The most important things are how we recognize, respond, and recover when we do fail. Whatever it is that needs done, do it in humility, love, and with great urgency. And learn from them! Don’t waste precious time on regrets; recognize, respond, and recover from them and move on. Life is too short to live in the past. 

Great Ideas #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday

As the old year winds down I usually do a little assessment of it and “grade” it according to my judgement. While I look at all aspects of my life, I focus primarily on the spiritual side. I’m not done with my assessment as of this writing; I’m writing on Monday, scheduling for today. 

I don’t “do” resolutions; studies and personal experience show they don’t work. But last year I discovered this idea of One Word; focus on a single word for the year and see how it works in your life. I liked it. I’m in the process of getting my word for 2016 now. 

As I’ve been pondering the last year I came across this quote I wanted to share.  

Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings. – Charles Douglas Jackson

In setting goal and making plans we tend to go big; there’s nothing wrong with that. However, it seems most of the time we don’t have a full plan for getting from where we are to where we want to be. Then when the inevitable fork in the road comes we are lost. 

This year I pray that we each have a happy, healthy, blessed year. And I hope we all get our landing gear in order before we see out on our trips. 

Although I know there’s not an official Writers Quote Wednesday this week, I figured that shouldn’t stop me from linking to it anyhow. As far as I know Ronovan’s BeWoW is still on but I may be wrong in that. Nevertheless, this post is linked to both. 

Merry Christmas

About once every 19 years there is a full moon on Christmas Day. Before today, the last one was in 1977 and today was the second of my lifetime. The next time this will happen will be 2034. It is indeed an extra special day in some way I think. 

Christmas Day full moon
a bright celestial delight –
rare experience 

  I hope each of you had a joyous day, remembering that the reason for this holiday centers completely around gifts: the gift of the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and the gift of His redemptive life, death and resurrection. 

Amy Carmichael #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday

I came across this quote and image on my Facebook feed several days ago and saved it for today.  

Image courtesy of the Banner of Truth; click rhe image for more information.

 

“Let nothing be said about anyone unless it passes through the three sieves: is it true? Kind? Necessary?”

– Amy Carmichael

It speaks volumes to me about how we ought to act but, seemingly nowadays, don’t. This is one of those rare times when I really hope my perception is off. 

This post is linked to both the BeWoW and Writers Quote Wednesday communities; make sure to check them out!

Memories #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday

Once we have finished out our days here in this life our possessions will quickly be dispersed, assets liquidated, what will be left? Memories. 
The memories of the time we spent and things we did – our real legacy – is the only lasting thing we will leave behind.
  

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” ~ Billy Graham

How will you be remembered? Do you care or have you thought about it? Today is the day to begin improving on anything you feel could be better. Why today? Because tomorrow may not come. 

This post is linked to both the BeWoW and Writers Quote Wednesday communities. 

No, I’m Not Very Good at Scheduling

Welcome to Wednesday! Yes, the day many of us post related content for Writers Quote Wednesday and BeWoW. But I’m a goof and fouled up my scheduled post for this week; it published yesterday instead of today. (Can you hear that Homer Simpson “Doh!” in the background?) 

If you missed it, today’s post can be found HERE. 

Thanksgiving #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday

 Being Thanksgiving Eve I thought that a quote about being thankful would be most appropriate for this week’s BeWoW and Writers Quote Wednesday post. I think that this one pretty well sums up my idea of what thanksgiving ought to be.  

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
– Henry David Thoreau

Thanksgiving shouldn’t be just a day of feasting and football. Thanksgiving should be a way of life that we choose daily. 

Generosity #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday #Quotes

I ran across a quote this weekend that struck me because it was so simple and yet so profound.   

“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
― Khalil Gibran

I’ll be honest: I didn’t recognize the name when I read it. It wasn’t until I read about him (click his name for more) that I realized he was such a well known writer and poet; he is the third best selling poet in history in fact. 

This post is connected with both the BeWoW and Writers Quote Wednesday communities. Be sure to check them!

Thank You #VeteransDay Nonet

To all that have served, thank you for the sacrifices you made.

A day to honor those who have served
Given so much for so little
Who poured out their blood sweat tears
To protect our freedom
A grateful nation
And her people
As one voice
We thank
You

(Inspired by THIS POST by Jane Doughtery.)

It Could Be Worse #BeWoW #WritersQuoteWednesday

The title of this post pretty well sums it all up: no matter what your situation, there’s someone that is worse off than you are.

 

“No cases of eye strain have been developed by looking on the bright side of things.” – Unknown

 
(Despite looking, I could find no attribution for this quote. I did find it in multiple place and variations but no idea of who it came from.)

Be thankful for what you have, where you are, and where you’re not.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(This post is linked to no the BeWoW and Writers Quote Wednesday communities; make sure to check them both out.)