Words to Live By

It seems to me that today’s world is fuelled by a relentless search for inspirational quotes and words of wisdom. A quick scan of Instagram posts will confirm the proliferation of “arm chair quarterbacks” and self help gurus, telling us how we can become a better version of ourselves, to never give up and that they (whoever “they” are) believe in us. In short, we can be whoever we want to be if we just follow their well intentioned, advice.

Amidst this deluge, it can be difficult to find meaning in any of it. It becomes a blur as you scroll through post after post in search of something that resonates. Or perhaps, as often happens, you’re not searching at all, and suddenly, there it is, staring you in the face. You’re stopped dead in your tracks, there is a symphony playing in the background and fireworks are exploding around you. Not really 🙂 but you have discovered a quote that hits home so intensely that you are momentarily both stunned and excited. You’ve hit the jackpot! You vow to incorporate the quote into your daily life. Your world is about to change dramatically as a new day dawns! Perhaps I exaggerate but you get my drift.

In a sincere effort to be of assistance and although they hold no formal counselling qualifications, Big, Middle, Little Sis and Biscuit would like to share the words of wisdom that have shaped their “life path.” Take it or leave it… that is entirely up to you.

It’s a Dog’s Life

By Biscuit and Little Sis

Hi everyone. Biscuit here. Because Little Sis has been very busy this week at work, she asked me to step in for her, and contribute to this weeks blog. So, I put on my thinking cap, and put myself in her shoes to see what I could come up with, but then I got a headache, and my feet started to hurt. Once I took my cap and shoes off, I felt much better, and the creative juices began to flow.

You may not know this, but we in the dog world have some really inspiring canine role models. Snoopy, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, and the greatest dog of all, the Littlest Hobo, just to mention a few. At many points in my life I have looked to these dogs for guidance. I have read all their inspirational books from Lassie’s “Who let the Dogs out” to the Littlest Hobo’s “You, Me and the CBC”. Both great reads. In my opinion the Littlest Hobo is truly one of the greatest Canadian dogctors (dog+actor……get it? ) of all time. From the episode where he tried to save a remote town from being taken over by Russian spies to the time he helped a stranded person on a snow mobile, I just can’t get enough. He truly deserves a place on the Canadian Canine Walk of Fame. Sorry, I got caught in the moment, back to business.

All of these dogs have not only provided great TV shows, movies, and books, they have some of the best inspirational quotes in all of Dogdom. Quotes like ” Hard work = lots and lots of treats“, “Who wants to go for a car ride?“, and “Are you going to eat that?” These quotes have resonated with me to some extent, but frankly I prefer to live life on my own terms and they are pretty much already a part of my daily routine.

As I was pondering this, I got distracted by a squirrel who was sitting outside my window….. just out of reach. How do they move so fast? Reluctantly I gave my head a shake and got back to business. I was now more determined than ever to find the perfect quote. Some might say I was like a dog with a bone. I decided to have a nap while I searched for inspiration…. maybe it will come to me in a dream.

My nap was interrupted by Little Sis when she came home after a long, hard day of work. We were chillin’ on the couch eating some popcorn, and watching TV when I asked what her favorite quote was. She said,”I knew the day that I first saw you at the pound what my favorite quote was.” She smiled and said “Happiness is a warm puppy.” It was then I realized my favorite quote would be “Happiness is a warm human, who feeds you popcorn, when they know they are not supposed to.” After that I drifted off to sleep, as my work here was done.

Quotes, Quotes and More Quotes

By Middle Sis

At various times throughout my adult life quotes have provided guidance, motivation, inspiration and comfort. Over time I have learned that when a quote “hits you between the eyes” its useful to spend some time thinking about why that is and how it applies to your life.

Some quotes such as ” Be the change you wish to see in the world” by Gandhi and “Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart” by Roy Bennett have been touchstones in my life that I come back to again and again.

In my work life I would often post quotes in my office. The tried and true “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today” spoke to my tendency to be procrastinator and Steve Jobs “A leader leads by example whether he intends to or not,” reminded me that words and actions, no matter how small, have consequences. And a quote I found only recently from Life’s Little Instruction Calendar:

“Don’t enter your next meeting as a beige station wagon. Be a roaring red convertible with the top down.”

Doesn’t that just bring a smile to your face? I can think of many a meeting I attended where this advice would have come in very handy.

Growing older and being retired for a few years, my quote collection is now leaning more towards personal introspection, and with COVID affecting our lives so drastically, I find myself gravitating to quotes about hope and getting through difficult times. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain” seems particularly applicable as we approach the 18 month mark of dealing with COVID, and I can’t tell you how many times I have said to myself over the past several months, “This too shall pass.”

So as you can see, picking a favorite quote was no easy task for me. As I sat at my desk pondering what to do, I looked up at the shelf above my desk and Eureka! there it was. A quote that I framed and gave to my husband on one of our anniversaries. Neither of us can remember which anniversary but its the thought that counts, right? 🙂

Just for Today, Smile

By Big Sis

Perhaps it’s due to a short attention span or just plain old impatience, but I have difficulty with quotes that are more than one or two words. I have no time for long winded ones that go on and on. The shorter, the better.

Imagine my delight then when I recently came across an old Dear Abby column that I had clipped from the local newspaper many years ago. It was a classic OMG! moment. I didn’t hear a symphony or see fireworks but it stopped me in my tracks. She used it as a basis for her New Years Resolutions, but it is so applicable as a guiding light in other ways. In fact, it is apparently a well known credo for Alcoholics Anonymous and other large organizations.

It resonated with me because it was the perfect thought at just the right time. Thanks to Covid I was struggling with both my diet and fitness routine. I had become lazy and somewhat apathetic about just about everything, and then I realized that one can pretty much put up with most things for a day. It’s not as if you are looking at a timeline well into the future. Whatever comes at you, is challenging you, or is so irritating that you are at your wits end, you just deal with it one day at a time. An over simplification perhaps but one I find very meaningful. Just for today…. something worth pondering?

My only other life quote is “Smile.” It may not be technically perceived as a “quote” but it meets my criteria for brevity and the good news is it’s versatile and is often a tension diffuser. After all who can resist a smile? The bad news? I am not a natural smiler. In fact, I think I am an outstanding candidate for a resting grumpy face award. (In my defense, I am preoccupied with reading about world problems and it is very taxing.)

So, what to do? Well, my brevity requirement is well suited to posting reminders at various daily touch points. I am planning to put post it notes on my bathroom mirror, above the kitchen sink and in my laundry room. I would like one in my car but it will likely not stay put, so I’ll place one on the front door. It’s the last thing I will see as I leave to go out into the world to spread joy at every opportunity.

In case you are wondering, I am smiling furiously as I write this. 🙂 Have a smiley day….just for today that is.

Betty Would Love That!

We plan on publishing a new post every Monday so stay tuned for our next one entitled ” It’s Your Move.”