Let's Talk About Words

   Now that my girls are grown and I am no longer an infant teacher, at times I feel like life is so unimportant. I just go through my days working, eating, sleeping and spending a little time with my loved ones. What is the purpose? Why am I alive? At work, I try to make a difference by supporting the teachers I oversee; I volunteer at my church and organize the Bright Space Volunteer Program through work, but it doesn't feel like enough.    I was running errands today when the thought came to me that it only matters that I am trying, and what is important is what I am BEING while I go through my days. This isn't a new concept to me, but I needed the reminder. If I feel sad or if I am resentful t hat there isn't enough time in my days to do more, then I am BEING negative. I want to be joyful and grateful instead. I think it is time to start my gratitude journal again! Thank you for these negative feelings that made me remember to be thankful. http://www.amazo...

   As I look upon this year of blogging, I have learned so much about myself and about life. The beauty of life, I have found, is not in the beauty that we can see, but in the beauty that we can feel. The beauty of a simple joy that comes from truly living life. Thank you to everyone that has read my blog this past year. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

" Change before you have to." -Jack Welch Sometimes in life, we resist change so much that we have it thrust upon us. We lose our jobs; a relationship ends; we face a health crisis. Don't wait to be forced into changing your life;  initiate the change . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

    Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late ." We often put off doing things for ourselves and for others, but we never know what the future holds. Do it today. Don't be too late . https://www.facebook.com/susanmarie.schulhof.7 http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one that gets burned." -Buddha We have all been hurt; we have all been wronged, but the only person that you are hurting by keeping that hurt is yourself. Let go. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

    Simone de Beauvoir said, "Live with no time out." You can not stop time so keep living life . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

     Lily Tomlin once said, "I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized that I was somebody." There is also a great song by  Matthew West  that says "I turned my eyes to Heaven and I thought God , why don't you do something?" In the song,  God's response was "I did. I made you." We are all responsible for making changes in this world because God made all of us. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

    "If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. When you set your goals , aim high. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Yesterday was wood; tomorrow is ashes. Only today does  the fire burn brightly." -Eskimo Proverb     This is an important concept that stresses the importance of living in and enjoying the moment . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"There is always room at the top." -Daniel Webster      I was recently promoted at work, so now I partner with approximately 22 teachers to help them do their job as teachers . My first goal in this position is to help them succeed and grow since I was a teacher for 13 years. If the teachers are successful, they help the students to be successful! Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

   Tennessee Williams said, "Make voyages! Attempt them! There's nothing else."  Since I can't really afford flying and fancy resorts, my girls and I love to take road trips . We learn about the world we live in, but we also learn about each other and ourselves. Even though I think that finding a way to travel and see the world is important, we should all find ways to make our lives an adventure . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

    I love this quote by Thomas Edison, "I have not failed. I've found 10,000 ways that won't work." Can I view all of my struggles in life in this fashion? All my mistakes can show me success? All my past relationships can show me what I want in my next relationship? All my struggles can show me how to grow and learn? There is a song by Casting Crowns called Thrive that says "It's time for us to more than just survive.  We were made to thrive." Thrive in your struggles. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com      

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead to an understanding of ourselves." -Carl Gustav Jung     As a psychology major, this idea intrigues me. I once read that others are a reflection of ourselves, a mirror so to speak. What can I learn when people lie and are dishonest, about myself? I know that I am always truthful with others, so why does it bother me so much. Am I lying to myself about something? Do I just need to learn to remove those people from my life? Thoughts to ponder. Can I see others flaws in myself? Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"What does not destroy me, makes me stronger ." -Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche Learn from your life. Grow stronger . Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"What we need is not the will to believe , but the wish to find out." -Bertand Russell I think that this is true of many things in life. We need to want to learn; to chose to understand, and to intend to discover the meaning in all areas of living. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

    "The story of love is not important- what is important is that one is capable of love . It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity," according to Helen Hayes. I have loved and lost; been full of joy as well as full of sadness; have laughed and cried, but I still keep myself open to possibilities. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"Don't find fault, find a remedy." -Henry Ford How true are those words? It is easy to pick apart and criticize others, but how about finding a solution to the problem instead. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

Anais Nin, said, "The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery." I love that about life. We live in a world where there are continual opportunities to learn and grow. You can never know all that there is to know. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

"The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow." -H.G. Wells    I can usually keep things in  perspective in my life. When I am tempted to feel sad over the trials in my life, I just remember that everything changes. What hurts today, may heal tomorrow. The sun will come out tomorrow. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

    Simone Weil said, "All sins are attempts to fill voids." I love this quote because if people with addictions or even unhealthy behaviors could determine their voids and fill them with positive things, their lives would be much better. I will try to fill the voids of my life, so that I will sin no more. Author Susan Marie Schulhof http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com