Thought For Thursday - Bacon

"Age appears to be best in four things,  - old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read."

- Francis Bacon

Thought For Thursday - Lincoln

"I have never had a policy. I have simply tried to do what seemed best each day, as each day came."

- Abraham Lincoln

Thought For Thursday - Anonymous

"Every mountain means at least two valleys."

- Anonymous

Thought For Thursday - Goethe

"One ought every day at least to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words."

- Goethe

Thought For Thursday - Confucius

"Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated."

- Confucius

Thought For Thursday - de L'Enclos

"That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful."

- Ninon de L'Enclos

"You Kids...!"

I love Mom. She is so easy to please, and gets excited with the simplest things.  But tell her you've got a secret and she can't hardly stand it. (Personally, I can wait; tell me when you feel like it). So, the other day when I told Mom I had a secret, I was actually telling her for my own enjoyment. It doesn't take much to amuse me either.

The secret I had been holding onto was something recently printed in a book. This something is what Mom had a habit of saying when we were kids. I had the opportunity of submitting Mom's quote a while ago, and it came as a surprise to me when I was informed that it was included in "Mother Knows Better - Sense and Nonsense from American Moms" by Patti Murphy.

Being a young mother Mom had her hands full, and rightfully so. There were five of us kids all born within seven years. We learned to behave, mind our manners and show respect for our elders. However, with five siblings so close in age there were bound to be times when one of us would be pickin' on one of the others, Mom would hear about it, and it was then that Mom would express her now-famous saying.

When I told Mom about the book she had to have it right away. Yesterday she called me to tell me she had received it, and how tickled she was. She informed me that both our names, and her quote are on page 54. Oh, and she plans on carrying the book in her purse. Probably, so she can whip it out and make us kids read it if we get on her nerves again.

"You kids are bound and determined to do everything in your power to irritate me!" - Marilyn O'Dell

I love you, Mom.

Thought For Thursday - Aristotle

All friendly feelings toward others

come from the friendly feelings

a person has for himself.

                 - Aristotle

Thought For Thursday - Smith

"Sometimes the path you're on is not as important as the direction you're heading" 

- Kevin Smith

Thought For Thursday - Feather

"If you can't say no, you can't expect to live within your income"

- William Feather

How Far Can it Get Ya?

I am a firm believer in the power of doing, get it done, no better time than the present, and get your butt moving. But, on a rare occasion, it's difficult to get a task done when I lack the drive to make the first move.  I do find, however, that when I get enthused about a project time flies and the job gets done.

What does it take to get enthused? Find something good about whatever you need to do. Maybe it's a word or a color, you are doing it for someone else, or the fact it won't get done unless you do it. And then the next step is just that: step, move, get going. Your reward will be accomplishment, and that can take you far.

Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thought For Thursday - Furstenberg

"You're always with yourself, so you

might as well enjoy the company"

- Diane von Furstenberg

Thought For Thursday - Landers

They say Valentine's day is for lovers. It could also be for couples who woke up today on each other's nerves. Because if they really think about it, I bet they could find something they really like about the each other.

The following "Twelve Rules for a Happy Marriage" is from an Ann Landers column from many years ago.

1. Never both be angry at once.

2. Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire.

3. Yield to the wishes of the other as an exercise in self-discipline, if you can't think of a better reason.

4. If you have a choice between making yourself or your mate look good - choose your mate.

5. If you feel you must criticize, do so lovingly.

6. Never bring up a mistake of the past.

7. Neglect the whole world rather than each other.

8. Never let the day end without saying at least one complimentary thing to your life partner.

9. Never meet without an affectionate greeting.

10. When you've made a mistake, talk it out and ask for forgiveness.

11. Remember, it takes two to make an argument. The one who is wrong is the one who will be doing most    of the talking.

12. Never go to bed mad.

Thought For Thursday - Tynan

"A critic is a man who knows the way but can't drive the car".

                                           - Kenneth Tynan

Thought For Thursday - Wright

A doctor can bury his mistakes,

but an architect can only advise his clients

to plant vines.

                  - Frank Lloyd Wright