Let's Talk About Words

      "Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow", said Norman Vincent Peale. I think that people refer to a person's heart when they really mean a person's soul or whole being, as in the saying do it with your heart and soul . Sometimes falling in love with someone or following your dreams takes that leap of faith; that throwing of your heart over the fence to make it become a reality. It is scary sometimes to take that chance of failure or rejection, but isn't your happiness worth it? Happiness begins in your heart, follow those feelings. Read my words and see my quotes  at http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com or follow my page at https://www.facebook.com/susanmarie.schulhof.7?ref=hl

     "Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."                                                          -Ralph Waldo Emerson   I agree that doing things to make other people happy , in turn makes me happy. As a parent, there is nothing better than a smile on your child's face when you bring joy to their day. January 5th is my youngest daughter's 18th birthday. My oldest daughter is 21 and my middle daughter is 19. I am shocked that so many years have flown by. It is probably politically incorrect to admit this, yet my biggest dream in life was to be a mother . I will also admit that it has  been more challenging that I expected, but I would not change a thing. Being a mother has brought me immense happiness . There is nothing better than sharing my happiness ...

     "I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."                                                        -Laura Ingalls Wilder     Sometimes in life I have set my sights too high thinking that if I can attain them, they will bring me happiness . I wanted an ideal job; I wanted to make a lot of money; I wanted to have a wonderful spouse; I wanted to have perfect children. By desiring these things to make me happy, I was always striving , always searching . As I get older, I have come to understand that it is the simple things, like Laura Ingalls Wilder believed, that will bring me the happiness  that I seek. I feel happy when the infants at work give me a hug. I feel happy when my children and I spend time laughing and having fun together. I hav...

    "More persons, on the whole, are humbugged by believing in nothing than by believing in too much."                                                              -P.T. Barnum    P.T. Barnum was a businessman and entertainer. He was remembered for founding the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus . He obviously believed in much to create and develop such a wondrous event such as a circus.  I think most entertainers and creators would need to believe to do what they do. They might be disappointed at times but the alternative thought of believing in nothing would keep them from ever creating. Believing in nothing is like just giving up and never trying. I would rather believe in others, and trust in the overall goodness of life and humankind, even if it does lead to disappointments s...

      Guillaume Apollinaire  was a french poet and writer who was born in 1880. He  was quoted as saying, "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy ." What do I need and want in the 21st century to be happy ? Quite often, I think to myself that my life would be much better if I could just win the lottery and have more money. More money to  travel, to have money in the bank, to wear the latest styles and buy the latest technological gadgets and gizmos.   Would all of that  make me happy? Perhaps, or perhaps I would just keep wanting more and more, never quite feeling that elusive feeling of happiness that I am seeking. I can justify that having more money would give me security in the future, but there is no guarantee that I will be here "in the future". Or I could explain that then I can give my children more, but sometimes those given money without working for it, never feel the pride and sense of self t...

                                          I am impressed with other people's talents whether it is in being great at a sport, singing songs, being an award winning actor or various other talents. I have always felt that I am "a jack of all trades but a master of none", meaning that I can do many things but have never been extraordinary at any. Having a gift or talent is something that you were born with or as some call it "god given". I do think that we all have some special gift or talent, but what sets those apart from others is that they realized their special ability and pursued it. That is what they should be proud of; that is what should be applauded. I hope that my daughters discover their gifts and pursue them with their whole heart and soul. At 49, I am still looking for mine.

        When I set a goal or when my to do list gets too large, there are always excuses to make. I am too busy; I don't feel well; I am overwhelmed. Thomas Jefferson's quote states that with the right attitude, you can achieve your goals, but nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong attitude. Some days I wonder if I will achieve this goal of writing in my blog every day, but after reading this I know that I will achieve this goal. I will have a positive attitude, and I will deal with any challenges that come my way.

            The dictionary defines good as that which is morally right; righteous. Is that your definition of good? I strive to be an honest person, a kind person, a loving person, but is that a description of a "good" person? We see goodness in ourselves and in others, but is the label of goodness a judgment or a quality? I choose to be the qualities of  honest, loving, kind and fair but who decides what is good? Is a person good if they volunteer and help others, yet in their heart they dislike the ones they are helping? Or talk negatively about others? It is important to show goodness to the world, but have goodness in your heart as well.

        Eric Hoffer said, "To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are." I agree that in order to grow, change and become a more evolved person, we should look at our behaviors closely. Others will look at a person and say that they are stubborn or lazy or any other description, but that person can't see that about themselves. It is difficult to look hard and accept the truth about our own faults, but that is truly the only way to change. I have always been a reactor. I am not confrontational so when others treat me bad or say mean things, I hold it in for too long and then explode. Numerous self help books claim that you can not control what others do; you can only control how you respond. I want that to be true about myself. I no longer want to just "react" to the people and circumstances of my life.  I want to change. Read my words and see my quotes at http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

          Making decisions in life, especially when it comes to your children, are difficult to make. I am always fearful of making the wrong decision, so sometimes I just avoid the issue. I will pray on it, talk to other's about it and do tarot card readings all in an attempt to be told what to do. Fear holds me back in many aspects of my life; even affecting decision making. Not choosing or feeling like you are not making a decision making is probably the worst action I could take. I promise myself today to be strong and face my fear of failure and making mistakes. Not choosing has lead me to many mistakes in my life already, so why not try choosing now?

      We all belong to groups in this world; groups like families, friends, race, class and religion to name a few, but we all belong to one larger group as referred to as humankind. I read once that in order to be loving person, we must be loving to those we dislike, or those we feel don't deserve our love. It is easy to be a loving person towards those that we care about and treat us well, but how about others? I would like to believe that I am a "loving" person, but I do struggle with this perspective. Can I be loving to all of humanity? Can I be loving to those who have hurt me the most? Read my words and see my quotes at http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

      The fact is that we all fail in life but should we keep trying or give up? I must admit that I don't fail that often, but that is because I don't try new things that often either. After not making the cheerleading squad in 7th grade when my friends made it, I only joined and tried things that I was sure I could succeed at or at things that did not make cuts.  I have tried to encourage my children to keep trying, but I have not taught them by example. At 49 years old, I will look for opportunities that I can try even if I risk failing and if I fail, I will try to learn from it.

      Ingrid Bergman said, "Happiness is good health and a bad memory". I have always had a bad memory, yet my mother can remember everything that happened to her as well as to all of us. Sometimes it is frustrating when I can't remember happy memories like others, but it is a blessing to forget the horrible times of my life. I have faint remembrances of some things but most things, no matter how hard I try, I just do not remember. It would be nice to pick and choose what we want to remember forever, but I since I can't choose, I think that I will keep my bad memory and good health.