The very last survey question we ask the amazing individuals featured in our Creative People, Living Green series (by the fabulous Leela Cyd Ross) is what favorite quote or personal mantra they live by. I love reading the answers, because they unfailingly serve to remind me of simple, fundamental truths I would do well to remember! Here I share a few of those words of wisdom, and then ask you: Do you have a favorite quote or personal mantra you try to live by?
Timothy Wastell, Chef at DOC: "One of my favorite ways to look at life is to refuse to stop learning and trying to better yourself and your surroundings."
Beret Halverson, Program Assistant at OSU's Master Gardener Program: "Eat lots of vegetables, make your bed every day, and balance. It's all about finding balance."
Lisa Jones, Pigeon Toe Ceramics: "Don’t make something unless it's both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful."
Emily Christensen, Filly Designs: "You have plenty of time."
Heather Hollern, Quince Flowers and Events: "Follow your passion in life and don't get too complacent. Every now and then, it's important to take a blind leap."
What About You?
(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)
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Dream a little. Sweat a lot.
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea."
Isek Dinesen
wing it till it works...
If all else fails, reboot.
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” - Mark Twain
Three, framed and in my home, one is the quote alleged to have come from Goethe though its authorship is much debated:
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Begin it now."
Another is from Nelson Mandela:
"There is no such thing as part freedom."
And from Anais Nin:
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than
the risk it took to blossom.”
(which I've also seen phrased as 'you'll only change when the pain of changing is less than the pain of staying the same')
"Oh, how daily life is." It helps me to focus on the now.
Take the rock out of your shoe instead of learning to limp comfortably.
"Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it"
~Edward Bok's Grandmother~
Whatever you're thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you're worrying, you are planning. When you are appreciating, you are planning...What are you planning?
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."
"The most successful people are those who are good at plan B" James Yorke
I know too much who freak out and react when things don't go their way. When things don't go my way, I look for productive solutions or a way to move on in peace.
"Everywhere is in walking distance if you have the time." Steven Wright
I allways take my time to do things the wright way in one go, it saves a lot of time.
"We do what we must, and call it by the best names." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, you must go to work. You must clean the bathroom and do your laundry. But there's nothing saying it can't be an adventure.
"The world is too big to be in competition with everyone. The only person I have to get better than is myself." - from the TV show MASH
"Young man, as you go through life, you'll find these things have a way of working themselves out." My father's college advisor.
"Assholes are everywhere" - me.
This from so many experiences getting frustrated at people's ill behavior. It is good to just remind yourself that there are a lot of jerks out there and you can't control them...
Make your way all confidence+love. Respect space+time+boundaries. Yours+others.
I tell myself this everyday.
Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead.
"Everything always works out." And its sister: "Everything will be OK."
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
"The pain which is not killing me make me stronger."
and
"Nemo impune lacessit"
"Everything's impossible until it's done."