Monday, January 17, 2011

And Mr. President said it best....


America is a land of big dreamers and big hopes. It is this hope that has sustained us through revolution and civil war, depression and world war, a struggle for civil and social rights and the brink of nuclear crisis. And it is because our dreamers dreamed that we have emerged from each challenge more united, more prosperous, and more admired than before.


BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jun. 4, 2005



I will never forget that the only reason I'm standing here today is because somebody, somewhere stood up for me when it was risky. Stood up when it was hard. Stood up when it wasn't popular. And because that somebody stood up, a few more stood up. And then a few thousand stood up. And then a few million stood up. And standing up, with courage and clear purpose, they somehow managed to change the world.


BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jan. 8, 2008

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Unleashing the Leash

“Experience is a hard teacher, because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.”


I am especially thinking about this quote and a few others today for a number of reasons. For starters, I can attest that this past year has given me a fair share of tests, but what I’ve come to realize is more important…which is what I’ve done or better assumed…what I must do with the countless lessons that I have take from the experiences.

Realizing lessons are only of value when you use them to better yourself; I am convinced that it’s time to put them into action, not in the form of an annual resolution, but as my lifestyle constitution.

In the words of other noteworthy wise folk like Woody Hayes who said-there's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you, and Robert Kennedy reminds me that –only those that dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly, and one of my all-time favorites-it is never too late to be what you might have been, George Eliot. I have garnered the advice from that of both old and equally wise counselors in my quest to find solace. Now, it’s up to me to follow through.

I am the first to admit that I am not one who hastily accepts change when it comes to my personal resolve. I am not sure whether that should be attributed to my own success/failures, instilled childhood beliefs or simply my stubbornness to accept change…whatever it is, it has kept me from walking on the wild-side of life. I have tamed this longing by trying “safe” new and different things to quench my desires. Now hoping not to have cheated myself…..I need to let my hair down (literally, I ‘ve been rockin’ this bun far too long).

Let’s really see what happens in Life.