Let's Talk About Words

      Lady Bird Johnson was quoted as saying, "Any committee is only as good as the most knowledgeable, determined and vigorous person on it. There must be somebody who provides the flame ." Be that flame in your family, in your work and in all of your life. Don't wait for others; add the excitement.           Author Susan Marie Schulhof          http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach." -Anne Morrow Lindbergh     Some things are just meant to appreciate. Maybe save one or two items to draw your memories to to you. Collect small amounts of what you love.           Author Susan Marie Schulhof          http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"It's where we go, and what we do when  we get there, that tells us who we are." -Joyce Carol Oates     When I was younger, I don't think that I thought of the long term ramifications of choices that I made. As I get older, I realize that our choices define who we are, so I try to choose wisely.           Author Susan Marie Schulhof          http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

     Albert Schweitzer said, "You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others-something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it." I have a difficult time watching others do something for me that I was raised to do and feel that I am actually capable of doing myself. There are others that grow up accustomed to that and probably take it for granted. Everyone, at least once in their life, should volunteer to serve others. It will touch their soul in ways that they can't imagine when they honor others.           Author Susan Marie Schulhof          http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"A human being has a natural desire to have more  of a good thing than he needs." -Mark Twain     Maybe because I am focusing on being healthy by walking and eating better, today's quotation made me think of overeating. I am studying and learning about serving sizes, and it repeatedly shocks me when I read what a serving size is and how many calories only one serving size has. It is important to be aware of what and how much I eat . I struggle to not turn a snack into a meal sometimes.           Author Susan Marie Schulhof          http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"More people are ruined by victory , I imagine, than by defeat." -Eleanor Roosevelt       I have read that lottery winners often end up lonely and unhappy as well as poor. I wonder how can that be. I can only imagine how glorious my life would be if I won a million dollars. Would I brag and boast and waste my winnings? No, I hope that I would help others in needs and be humble in victory .           Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think." -Lorraine Hansbury          In my family, we often have the radio or television on even when no one is watching or listening. I even listen to music when I am out walking. I read recently that God speaks to us during moments of silence. I am going to learn to live with some silence every day because quietness is important.                                                           Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"A meowing cat catches no mice." -Yiddish Proverb     Talking about exercise is not exercising. Reading about eating healthy, is not eating healthy. I have been walking every day for almost 100 days and it feels good to move my body. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

" Patience is the companion of wisdom." -St. Augustine     Patience is an area of my life that I struggle with daily. I want changes to happen quickly. I am not a very patient person when it comes to new things. I tell myself often to be patient. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"There's only one corner of the universe you can be  certain of improving, and that's your own self ." -Aldous Huxley      I often try to change other people around me , especially the ones that hurt me. There truly is only one person that I have the power to change and that's me and only me. I will t hink of ideas to improve my own life . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes-the finer things of life- would make you happy. My concept of happiness is to be filled in a spiritual sense." -Coretta Scott King     I can't even describe what I feel from Good Friday and Easter Service at Willow Creek this weekend. Going to  church fills me with peace . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning,  and  yet I am happy . I can't figure it out. What am I doing right? -Charles Schultz     I am looking for purpose, direction and meaning in my life yet while I search, just being alive makes me happy . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Where would you stand when Jesus was on his cross?"

" Tenderness is greater proof of love than the  most passionate of vows." -Marlene Dietrich     This quotation addresses the age old idea that actions speak louder than words. We can tell our children that we love them; we can express our passion to our boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, yet are we "doing" little things to show we care. Stop in the midst of a busy day and give your child a hug. Look your loved one in the eye and ask "How was your day?" Tenderness is undervalued. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

 "The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it." - Ralph Waldo Emerson     This is one of my goals in the next year. I would like to make where I live a home and spend time having my loved ones over. I will stop making excuses and I will decorate my house with family and friends . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

   According to Oliver Wendell Holmes, "It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes life worth living." I have faith that life is good, and I am excited to find my life purpose. Even though it can be challenging at times, I love all of life . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

" Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved." -Helen Keller        I loved today's positive quotation as I read it, but I was in even more awe when I saw that it was said by Helen Keller . How amazing is all that she could understand and communicate to others even though she could not see or hear? I admire those who grow strong under adversity . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"One person with a belief is equal to a force of  ninety-nine who have only interests." -John Stuart Mill     I have always had many interests in my life. I like to paint; I am passionate about caring for children, especially infants, and I have always enjoyed writing . Only in recent years have I come to truly believe that I can really be a writer . It meant everything to me when my daughter, Morgan, as well as my mother and sister read the rough draft of my book Riding Waves . I know and believe that I can do anything with the support of my family. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking  new landscapes but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust       It is amazing to me when something or someone that I see every day appears to change without really changing at all. Things can look different when you choose to really look. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

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Henry David Thoreau said, " Our life is frittered  away by detail...Simplify, simplify."     I work full-time; I have three daughters; I have walked 30 minutes or more every day for 70 days ; I have been writing a blog post every day since September 1st, and I wrote my first book. In order to fit everything in that I want to accomplish, I need to prioritize each day . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

      Jesus Christ himself said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." It is easy to point other the faults in other people, yet we ourselves have our own imperfections . No one in this world is without flaws and foibles. Only perfect people should criticize others. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

"You can do anything in this world if you are  prepared to take the consequences ." -W. Somerset Maugham      As I make choices in life, I try to think about what the consequences will be, and then determine if that is the outcome that I want. If I act without thinking, often I make mistakes and create negative outcomes. I can not control all results, yet consequences are the natural response to actions taken by me and by others. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

       Mary Roberts Rinehart said, "To be kind to all, to like many, to love a few, to be needed and wanted by those we love, is certainly the nearest we can come to happiness ." I struggle often to unravel the mystery of why things happen and what the purpose of life is. Mary's advice seem so simple, but I still feel like there is more for me. I still want to think, pray and search to uncover the mystery of my life. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

" Prosperity is only an instrument to be used,  not a deity to be worshiped." -Calvin Coolidge     When I was at a meeting last week, a story was told about a man who gave large amounts of money to various charities and his church . When he was asked why he worked so hard when he had plenty of money, he responded, "So I have more to give." That was such an amazing response, and I want to incorporate that type of thinking into my life. I chose to have more money in my life so that I can help others more. Money can help me live better. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor ." -Seneca     Every time I clean out my closets and drawers, I feel a sense of calm . It feels wonderful to walk into the house when everything is in it's place. It also opens my life up to bring to me more blessings . Too much clutter makes me poor . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed one." Mother Teresa     I have searched my whole life to give back and help others . I have donated money and volunteered my time, but I want to do more. After a 24 year gap where I went back to my Catholic roots to raise my daughters in the faith that I was brought up in, I am returning to Willow Creek Church in South Barrington. Last week and this week, I have helped to fill seed packets to help in Africa and other Latin American countries in need. Even though, I haven't been training, I also signed up to run/walk a 5K Saturday to give Aids orphans an education. If you are like me and want to give back, we don't need to find some grand scheme to do it. Help just one person . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy ." -Sir Isaac Newton     I just finished watching the movie A Long Walk to Freedom about Nelson Mandela. I was inspired and moved to make a difference in the world that I live in, but his words "No one is born hating another person...a person learns to hate. We can be taught to love..." just touched my soul. I  want to "unlearn" how to hate. I choose to make friends , not enemies even with those that hurt me. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and  what you do are all in harmony ." -Mahatma Gandhi    I believe that the thinking can be the post difficult part of this equation for me. I choose to be a loving person. I say loving thoughts; I do loving things, but then I get angry and upset when others don't treat me the same in return. I tell myself that I shouldn't think those thoughts , but it is challenging at times. Harmony is Be=think+say+do . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice." -Henry Ford     I think that this quote is important in two different ways. It is important to be self sufficient and be able to take care of yourself in case something ever happens to your significant other. I also feel that it is crucial that everyone finds time to take care of themselves . I remember when my daughters were little, I never took time to read or exercise. I felt that since I was a mother, I should just attend to their needs, but I ended up more frustrated over every little thing. It is paramount that you take care of yourself. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Hope costs nothing." -Colette    This is my mantra lately. Believe in the goodness of life, and live in hope . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

     Audrey Hepburn was quoted as saying, "Everything I learned I learned from the movies ." I don't agree that movies are the only place I learn from, but I do feel that movies can teach me about life. As I was watching the movie   About Time last week, I was simply amazed at the message of the movie and how it related to my life. I can discover the lessons of my life as I get lost in a movie . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com