"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Seize your life!"
This is an anonymous quote that I saw in a cute little store in downtown Ann Arbor.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Endings and Beginnings
Good endings lead to happy beginnings. Happy beginnings can be found even in the most unlikely places.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A Golden Apple
I found today's inspiration as I was cleaning out my desk to move home from Ann Arbor to East Lansing. I came upon this inspiration unexpectedly last year, when I was encouraged by friends to attend a lecture by the fabled University of Michigan Professor Ralph Williams. He is a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University. This year was his retirement year, and he received the first ever Golden Apple Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award. The Golden Apple award is given to notable professors at the University.
Unfortunately, I heard about Ralph too late in my college career to actually take a class of his, but once I listened to him speak, I understood what all of the hype was about. I mean, this man is U of M's own celebrity--anyone who has heard of him loves him. His unique way of speaking to audiences is truly impressive; each word is spoken with the utmost care, each syllable as if its utterance is of necessity to the point Ralph is trying to make. Consequently, Ralph makes each audience member feel as if he respects them and their presence, and expects greatness for them.
The second time I saw Ralph speak was during his "last lecture," a speech historically written by retiring professors as their ideal course lecture. The following quotes are his (as directly as I was able to note them).
"Create an image of that which you love to pass on."
"Live who you are."
"Get out of your way and get better the next day."
"On my watch, on your watch....be alert on your watch. Speak, don't be silent."
Unfortunately, I heard about Ralph too late in my college career to actually take a class of his, but once I listened to him speak, I understood what all of the hype was about. I mean, this man is U of M's own celebrity--anyone who has heard of him loves him. His unique way of speaking to audiences is truly impressive; each word is spoken with the utmost care, each syllable as if its utterance is of necessity to the point Ralph is trying to make. Consequently, Ralph makes each audience member feel as if he respects them and their presence, and expects greatness for them.
The second time I saw Ralph speak was during his "last lecture," a speech historically written by retiring professors as their ideal course lecture. The following quotes are his (as directly as I was able to note them).
"Create an image of that which you love to pass on."
"Live who you are."
"Get out of your way and get better the next day."
"On my watch, on your watch....be alert on your watch. Speak, don't be silent."
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Purpose
The point of this blog is to find something to be inspired by in every day. This inspiration can be drawn from past, present, and future, from all kinds of sources, drawing from my experiences and experiences of others. Here's to hoping that it will provide a way to find a reason to smile and be at peace in every day, not matter what is going on.
Today I was listening to the Avett Brothers. One of their songs, "The Weight of Lies" presents a good life philosophy in this verse:
The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere
I like this less because of the undertone about lies than for the idea that when you leave a place and embark on an adventure, it is better to be inspired by what is to come than weighed down by what has happened in your past. As one of my friends says, put the past in a box in your closet; you will know it is there, but don't let it effect you actively. Instead, keep in mind what you strive for and what you hope to receive each day that you live.
Today I was listening to the Avett Brothers. One of their songs, "The Weight of Lies" presents a good life philosophy in this verse:
The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere
I like this less because of the undertone about lies than for the idea that when you leave a place and embark on an adventure, it is better to be inspired by what is to come than weighed down by what has happened in your past. As one of my friends says, put the past in a box in your closet; you will know it is there, but don't let it effect you actively. Instead, keep in mind what you strive for and what you hope to receive each day that you live.
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