Something to live by

I have a new respect for the saying, "Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today." It's so simple. Somewhere I read that most people overassume what they can achieve in a week, yet don't realize the power of a decade. A lot can be done in 10 years.

Some of my 15 year goals include:

Be MBA crowned

Sing and play for the U.S. President

Speak and write in three languages

Be a published book author

Live abroad

And yet, none of these are possible if I don't do today the little things that will get me to these big goals. I must handle paperwork to register for school, I need to practice scales and write song after song to work on my craft, and it's past time to start studying a language seriously. So, chickadee, never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.

Worth Your Time

It's a rare thing to be able to recommend without reservation a newer movies these days but I have one! Check out the indie film, SAINTS AND SOLDIERS. You'll be glad you did. Thanks Stephen for letting me know about it!

Random Opinion

I've had an interesting email discussion with a friend over the last week regarding human interaction.

It's been thought provoking for me and I am posting this little snippet of one my responses because I think it encapsulates something I've been thinking about over the past couple of years:

"Better to be single your entire life than marry a foolish person. When I'm single, I may be lonely sometimes, but my fate isn't tied to a foolish man's. We all know what the Bible says about foolish men and women. When I'm single, all I have to blame for failure is me. (Which is oddly satisfying because I can change me, but I can't change someone else.) And what about foolish parenting? Gosh. Better to have no kids (and I really would love have to kids, so this is saying something) than have kids with a foolish man."

I hope the right fit for me is out there, but I don't worry if he's not. Who's responsible for my life here on earth? A husband? No. Me.

My parents gave me something truly priceless when they started the process of teaching me the tools needed to make an interesting, productive life- rich in wisdom and meaningful in eternity. That's what counts.

That's why, if I marry- he will be one wise guy. :)

Money Quotes

I was reading an article recently and these two quotes jumped out at me:

"There is no dignity quite so impressive and no independence quite so important as living within your means."

Calvin Coolidge

"A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went."

John Maxwell

Now why didn't I think of that?

Ladies and Gentlemen, the length of the Amazon river was recently swam by a 52 year old man. We're talking 3272 miles of strokes! (Think of the drive from Seattle to Miami. Phew!) Slovenian Martin Strell, who has conquered the Missippi, the Yangtze and the Danube, took on the mighty Amazon by swimming 50 miles a day for 66 days. And, despite my thoughts that his biggest worry would be the piranha and other scary animals...the ocean currents in the Amazon were actually one of the largest threats to not being able to complete the arduous journey. Yes, currents so strong, that at times he was moving his arms and legs but traveling backwards. I can only imagine his relief on arriving in the old city of Belem to a cheering crowd! See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6389845.stm for an interview, his route and more.

Interesting note: This may prove my Dad right about a long held opinion. Strell was formerly a guitar teacher at a Slovenian Music school before becoming a pro swimmer. Dad, if you're reading this, you've gotten a point in your favor.

Mankind's Predicament

My cousin Philip is in China through a study abroad program right now. Check out his last two blogs re: a desperate situation near where he lives, it's worth the read. www.philsjourneys.blogspot.com.

Reading it made me wonder: Is helping others to survive even when survival is questionable in quality worth it? How much do I value life? More specifically...people? What am I willing to give and do for another person? I'm not guaranteed that that person will become a responsible citizen or a good person or even thankful. Is doing good because it's the right thing enough for me? Who am I trying to please when I give money or time? My own ego? My feelings of guilt for being born in a land of plenty? God?