She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.
– Elizabeth Edwards
This quote is for all those who have had to be stronger, and endure longer, than they ever thought possible.
Take a step back, breathe and try again.
You will weather the storm.
An appropriate quote for today, as winter storms batter the Cape: Finally! We desperately need the rain.
Cape Weaver 1
I think this is a female Cape Weaver, but I’m prepared to be informed otherwise!
It was pretty hard to see clearly (even after having washed the windows!) as I was sitting way back in my lounge. This is the original shot –
Cape Weaver 2
There is a saying that goes something like this: “If you stay in one place long enough, eventually the whole world will pass by.”
I can’t find it on google. (I know!) It could be a Chinese proverb quoted by Sun Tzu, an interpretation of Confucius, or an old Japanese saying: “If you sit by the river long enough you will see the body of your enemy float by”.
All I know is this: as I sit on my chair in the lounge, one bird after another alights on my fence. I have seen Cape White Eyes, Mossies, Cape Robins, Bulbuls, Pigeons, Olive Thrushes and Fiscal Shrikes; even squirrels from time to time. And now this Cape Weaver.
So I do begin to feel that all I have to do is sit here and wait for the world to come to me. Or at least all the little animals.
Forget the times of your distress, but never forget what they taught you.
– Herbert Gasser
It is often hard when you are going through tough times ever to envisage things getting better. I read once to ask yourself, will I still have this problem five years from now? The answer is usually: No.
There is also the saying, “What does not kill you makes you stronger.” To which you start to reply, “Then I must be invincible by now!”
So if you are going through a tough time, remember it will not last. Something will change, even if it is only that you accept it.
And that you need the bad times to appreciate the good times!
The Dell – Kirstenbosch
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.
– Author Unknown
Happy Trail-blazing!
See also The Road Less Travelled.
You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.
– Mahatma Gandhi
I think many of us, myself included at times, have the thought, “I’m only one person, what difference can I make?”
But Gandhi has it right. Do it anyway.
When many people do one thing it soon starts to make a difference; be it something so simple as recycling, donating blood or helping out at charity organisations. Over time each individual contribution mounts up and together with others, the results become noticeable.
I hope that together we can make a difference to the damage we have all done to the Earth and begin to reverse the effects, so our children’s children can enjoy it, and maybe see a tiger in the wild.
A day without chocolate and vodka is a day worth forgetting. I suggest repeat consumption until your day improves – or you forget what it was you were trying to forget.
– Scifi
I thought it was time for a little home-brewed wisdom. I’m feeling too daft today to have a serious discussion!
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
– Martin Luther
OK so I didn’t plant an apple tree today, but I did prune my roses; a tad early as it turns out, because I thought it was the end of July already, not a week off, and you’re only supposed to prune your roses on 15th August.
This date I got from an elderly neighbour, who had the most magnificent rose bushes blooming in glory year after year. Everyone else around would notice when she pruned hers and quickly go off to prune their own measly specimens, myself included!
Well, it is sunny and pleasant and next weekend it may be pouring down with gale force winds. So ’tis done.
This doesn’t really fit in with Martin’s quote above, but I do like it.
Each new day is an opportunity to start all over again . . . to clarify your vision.
– Jo Petty
This is a variation on “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” but I do believe it is worth remembering.
We mess up all the time: well I know I do. You forgive others, so forgive yourself, and start afresh and try to do better. It is all we can ever do.
So you ate a whole chocolate cake yesterday and slipped from your diet just a tad. No matter; today you can start over and not eat a whole chocolate cake!
Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing.
– Euripedes
When I first read this it appealed to my scientific nature. I always question things and always try to learn new things; but why not share the answers?
I encouraged my kids to ask questions and helped them find the answers. So I didn’t understand this quote, since part of being a scientist is sharing knowledge (or it used to be.)
Then I thought, maybe Euripedes means never stop questioning. Even if you think you have the answer, still question?
i don’t know. Dash it Jim, I’m a scientist, not a philosopher!!
The best portion of a man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.
– William Wordsworth
While these little acts of kindness may be unremembered by William, I am sure they were never forgotten by those he was kind to.
I know I will never forget those instances where someone, often a perfect stranger, was kind to me.
post script: A note on the Grammar here: It is entirely correct to say “is” instead of “are”, because it agrees with the singular “portion”. However, I’m pretty sure nowadays you’d get “are” written, because it ‘sounds’ right; agreeing with the plural list that follows.
