Change Your Plans but Refine Your Goals

30 Apr 2015 1 Comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , , , , ,

Quotes and Notes #176, April 30

“Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.”—John C. Maxwell—

My wise brother, Tom Schulz, once said, “I like to set my goals at the end of the day. That way I reach a 100% success rate.” I don’t think that he thinks I listen, but I often do.

We must have the ability to change our plans as they develop. When a part of the plan goes wrong, analyze the fault and quickly change the plan to what works. At the same time, we must keep sight of the overall goal but as the plans teach us, we may wish to refine the parameters of the goal. That’s good, too.

To refine the plan and the goal with grace, follow this advice:

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.”—Lao Tzu—

Set a goal to make people smile today.

Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz  “Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

The ability to bend with the wind makes things much more fun.

The ability to bend with the wind makes things much more fun.

On Dogs, Philosophy, and Dog Heaven

29 Apr 2015 7 Comments

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , , , ,

Quotes and Notes #175, April 29

“Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.”—Diogenes—

You may feel secure in telling your dog your most secret, personal, and private feelings because the dog will never betray you. All your dog asks in return is a lot of care and petting along with a bacon treat every now and then.

And as for philosophers, try this:

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.”—Mark Twain—

But Dogs are short-lived compared to philosophers. Now and then we are left with only fond, loving memories. RIP, Speck Coondog who went to Beulah Land on April 29, 2015 and is now chasing squirrels and bacon treats in Dog Heaven.  We will miss you, Speck.

Share a big smile today

Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz  “Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Speck Coondog in younger days.

Speck Coondog in younger days.

Not all Those Who Wander are Lost

28 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , ,

Quotes and Notes #174, April 28

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.” 
 —J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring”—

Our happiness and well-being is always there if we look for it hard enough.

Share a smile

Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz  “Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

All who wander are not lost.

All who wander are not lost.

Curiosity brings Satisfaction…

27 Apr 2015 1 Comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , ,

Quotes and Notes #173, April 27

“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.”—Linus Pauling—

My favorite questions have usually started with, “I wonder what would happen if…? I can remember getting in a lot of trouble as a child by looking for answers to these questions. I learned that it was interesting to throw tubes of Uncle Fred’s oil paints on the sidewalk, stomp on them, and watch the colors shoot out onto the grass and cement. I also learned that there were dire consequences to such actions. Now, being older and more experienced, I have learned to be a bit more careful in choosing my experiments, but finding the answers to the questions is still a great source of happiness and satisfaction.

And, thinking back on the oil paints, I don’t remember the punishment (though I’m sure there was one), but I do remember the glorious line of red paint that shot out of the experimental tube.

Share a smile

Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz   “Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

"I wonder what mysteries I can solve today?"

“I wonder what mysteries I can solve today?”

The Difference Between Dreams and Plans

25 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , , , ,

Quotes and Notes #172, April 25

“In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.”—Patti Smith—

Find Joy in life. Throw up your arms, free your mind and laugh into the sky. If the sky is stormy, laugh louder.

For today, and each day as it comes, take the time to make some precise plans and then carefully sneak up on them, grab them, and make them happen.

And share a smile.

Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz  “Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

See the valley through the woods.

See the valley through the woods.

Celebrate Arbor Day

24 Apr 2015 2 Comments

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , ,

Quotes and Notes #171, April 24

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”—John Muir—

“Other holidays repose on the past. Arbor Day proposes the future.”—J. Sterling Morton—

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”—Anonymous—

I sometimes look up into a tall tree and wonder at the amount of serenity it would take to be able to calmly watch the sun move across the sky all day.

To use that sunshine and other elements of nature to make my own food and sustenance.

To turn slowly as the sun moves and then, in the night, to turn back and be ready to welcome the sun the following morning.

It has a sort of calming effect, doesn’t it?

Share a smile

Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz  “Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Serenity

Serenity

Unnecessary Stress?

23 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , ,

Quotes and Notes #170, April 23

“Letting go helps us to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance…This frees us from unnecessary stress.”—Melody Beattie—

“Letting go” can be a powerful concept.  Sometimes we just need to let go of things or situations that we no longer need in our lives. Often it’s merely an idea that some thing or some thought is valuable when it is actually merely clutter.

Look at it as unnecessary weight that is holding down the other end of the see saw. Try to get rid of enough of this extraneous matter to allow you to end up with your feet lightly and comfortably on the ground with you in control. This is balance.

Share a smile

Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz

“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Letting go of unnecessary things, situations, and ideas helps to maintain balance.

Letting go of unnecessary things, situations, and ideas helps to maintain balance.

Humor In Everything

22 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , , ,

Quotes and Notes #169, April 22

“Humor is perhaps a sense of intellectual perspective: an awareness that some things are really important, others not; and that the two kinds are most oddly jumbled in everyday affairs.”—Christopher Morley—

Become more aware of the way happenings fit together and you will find the humor. It seems to me that there is a humorous side to just about anything. I remember a children’s book that I used to read to my son when he was young, the tag line to each scenario was, “Could be worse…” –and that somehow always seemed to be funny. Optimism and humor can be practiced and, thereby, made stronger.

Share a smile

Everything is going to be all right

“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

What can I say?

What can I say?

Enjoy the Day–Repeat Tomorrow

21 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , , ,

Quotes and Notes #168, April 21

“Earth is crammed with heaven…But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.—Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Aurora Leigh”—

Enjoy the sunrise, enjoy the sunset, and enjoy everything in-between. After all of that, enjoy the evening and the night. Repeat.

Look around you and find the joy.

Move around and spread the joy.

As you make others happy, you make yourself happy

Share a smile

Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz

“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Minolta DSC

Before Looking Down

20 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by John P.Schulz in quotes and notes Tags: , , ,

Quotes and Notes #167, April 20

“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone…just remember that all of the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”—F. Scott Fitzgerald—

It is easy to look down on someone who is maybe not quite as intelligent as you are or who is less fortunate in one way or another. It is easy to think of someone as less intelligent when, in fact, they are less educated.

It is easy to look the other way when we see someone with a physical disability or when it is obvious that someone needs sustenance, or shelter, or clothing. It is easy to silently dwell on our own problems while someone is telling us of theirs.

But with a bit of practice, we can learn to view these limitations in others with feeling, with caring, or with understanding.

And it all starts with sharing a smile

And realizing that Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz

“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

iris

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