#1329 Our proper work

Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.  ~ Susan Sontag

To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.  ~ Mary Oliver

Where attention goes, energy flows and results show.  ~ T. Harv Eker

You learn something every day if you pay attention.  ~ Ray LeBlond

The greatest gift you can give someone is the purity of your attention.  ~ Richard Moss

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand.  The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.  ~Alexander Graham Bell

Quotes about attention

- Where are you directing your quality attention?
- How can some focused attention enrich your life?

#1328 Make you great

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.  ~ William Arthur Ward

To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.  ~ Confucius

Doing what needs to be done may not make you happy, but it will make you great.  ~ George Bernard Shaw

Quotes about doing

- In what aspects of your life could you do more?

#1327 Everything is practice

To practice any art no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.  So do it.  ~ Kurt Vonnegut

What I have achieved by industry and practice, anyone else with tolerable natural gift and ability can also achieve.  ~ Johann Sebastian Bach

Practice doesn't make perfect.
Practice reduces the imperfection.  ~ Toba Beta

Tomorrow's victory is today's practice.  ~ Chris Bradford

Everything is practice.  ~ Pele

Quotes about practice

- What practice may help you to grow?

#1326 The wise choice

Be a yard stick of quality.  Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.  ~ Steve Jobs

The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your contribution.  ~ Kurek Ashley

Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.  ~ Henry Ford

I believe empathy is the most essential quality of civilization.  ~ Roger Ebert

Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.  ~ William A. Foster

Quotes about quality

- When have you produced quality work?
- Where could you enhance your efforts....work, relationships, attitude, contribution?

#1325 The Beauty of Life

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems - not people; to focus your energies on answers - not excuses.

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say thank you?

The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.

Quotes by William Arthur Ward

- To what extent do your sails require some adjustment?
- Life involves: learning, growing, changing, overcoming, caring, serving, daring, befriending, and giving. Where could you direct some attention?

#1324 A feat of association

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. ~ Truman Capote

I want to change my punctuation. I long for exclamation marks, but I'm drowning in ellipses (...). ~ Isaac Marion

I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world. ~ Mother Teresa

Life is a journey. Time is a river. The door is ajar. ~ Jim Butcher

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. ~ Victor Hugo

Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. ~ Edna St. Vincent Millay

Happiness is a china shop; love is the bull. ~ H. L. Mencken

An idea is a feat of association, and the height of it is a good metaphor.  ~ Robert Frost

Quotes about metaphors and life

- With which of the above metaphors can you identify?
- What other metaphor(s) about life is meaningful for you?

#1323 Where you need it

The world is full of people looking for spectacular happiness while they snub contentment.

The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate.

There's nothing like having grandchildren to restore your faith in heredity.

Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.

Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.

Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.

Quotes by Doug Larson

- How content are you?
- What insights have you gained about life?