Let's Talk About Words

    " Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life."                                                                       -George Arliss      My parents raised me to be a very competent person. I learned how to cook, clean, pay bills, shovel snow, mow the lawn, check my oil, do laundry, hook up electronics, paint a room and more. My mother and father expected a lot from me, but they also taught me by their example. My father was very hard working, and my mother still is. Because I have always been able to do much of what I set my mind to do, I rarely had to ask for help. That can have a negative effect though because it often enabled others to do less or made them believe that I didn't think that they could do it we...

    Joseph Addison said, "Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up it's empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors ." Even though Joseph was an author that died in 1719, his words still ring true today. As I write these words , I hope to entertain as well as to be useful. When I read other peoples words , I love to get lost in the book and be entertained, but I also want the book to make me think about my place in this world. As you read my words and ideas, my wish is that thoughts about your own life will come to the forefront, that my words will spur self discovery and understanding of yourself. I believe that the words I write come from the very best part of who I am, from my soul .  I hope that you can see the truth of your life through the truth of mine. Read my words and see my quotes at http://susanmarieschulhof.blogspot.com

    "In wisdom gathered over time, I have found that every experience is a form of exploration."                                                                -Ansel Adams     Ansel Adams was a photographer and environmentalist known for his black and white photographs of nature. I can agree with his quote about experiences being a form of exploration . While exploration is defined as the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it; experience is the process of having things happen to you. It makes sense that all of life is an exploration , but sometimes we continue to only explore known situations. The picture above, with the quote, was taken many years ago at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. I remember the first time that I went there with my children, we all...

     William James said, "It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome."  When I decided to publish my book Fun4Babies , I was really nervous. I had many ideas and had even put together a whole marketing plan to help sell the book. I work in the Early Childhood Education field, so I felt that I had many contacts with teachers and parents of infants. When I received my first package of books , I told my Director, Katia Pannarale , who was so excited for me. My Assistant Director at the time, Sarah Torres, informed me that they wanted to purchase a few copies for in our resource center. Then when I came into work shortly after, they had set up a display with my name and a copy of my book . That gesture touched my heart. Katia has been so supportive in my publishing endeavors, telling others proudly that come to Deer Park about my book, as well as allowing me to hold a book sig...

      Thomas Szasz was quoted as saying, "A child becomes an adult when he realizes that he has a right not only to be right but to be wrong ." I am not sure if a child becomes an adult by this realization, but I agree that everyone should learn this truth . We live in a society that expects perfection in school, in our looks, in our work and in our families. The list could continue. We desire this need to always make the right choice from ourselves and from others. I don't want to be wrong , but it is okay if I sometimes am. The world does not end when I am wrong, nor does it when my children and loved ones are. I want to take chances and try to make educated choices, but if I choose wrong, I want to feel that it is alright to choose again. I do not need to punish myself or even be disappointed. Being wrong reminds me of the corn maze at the pumpkin farm. I hate going in them because often the choice you make leads to a dead end or circles back to where you start...

    The quote by Dag Hammarskjold says, "The more faithfully you listen to the voices within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside." He was a Swedish diplomat and Secretary-General of the United Nations. This sentence indicates that he valued the importance of  listening  to yourself. I would believe that during his life, he considered advice from others as well as offered some often. I feel that this quote also relates to how people communicate with one another, as well as hearing your own inner guidance. Often when I am at a meeting or in a discussion with someone, it is hard to stop talking, or even to stop thinking, and really listen to what others are saying. My mind comes up with responses and suggestions even as I am hearing them speak. I have read about a process of mirroring what others are saying to ensure that each person is listening when someone is expressing their feelings, ideas or thoughts. The purpos...

    " Humanity is just a work in progress."                                                    -Tennessee Williams    I read the newspaper; I see the news on TV, and I hear what is happening in the world around me. I am often shocked and disheartened by much of what I hear and see, but I am an optimist by nature. I believe in the best from others; I believe that the world is a great place to live; I believe in mankind . Although I have experienced and witnessed sadness as well as evil, in my own life as well as the lives of others firsthand, I am still full of hope. For every story I read or hear, I notice one of people helping. There are so many organizations and people working to make this a better world to live in, to help others and to make a difference.  We can each improve ourselves individually, but what a...

   "What if you woke up today with only the things that you thanked God for yesterday?" When I googled this quote I found numerous discussions about it as well as various plaques and items to purchase with this quote. I am disappointed in myself to admit that when think about what I would have woke up with today, it would have been nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I have read that a parent or teacher should notice and comment when children are getting along and to refrain from only interceding when they fight, to diminish the attention given to the negative behavior. Expressing gratitude is similar to that for me. I talk and pray to God when negative situations occur, but what about when my life is going smoothly?  I do remember to s ay thank you when something really fabulous happens,   but what about the every day people and situations? Thank you God for the  crisp fall air. Thank you God for a good day at work. Thank you God for a smile from my daug...

"...true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."                                                             -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross    My interpretation of this quote would be once again referring to a person's soul . I believe that we are all powerful souls that take the form of a human body to learn and experience life. While we are living our life here on Earth, we encounter different situations and circumstances. It is quite easy to be happy and positive when we are confronted with pleasant or joyful people and experiences. What about difficult ones like illness, abuse, or even just a mean person? Can we keep our inner light , or our soul , shining brightly or does it waver and dim? My light definitely weakens  since I often struggle to see the positive in negative situations a...

      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...

      Norman Cousins said, "The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference." When I started volunteering at WINGS years ago, I attended a two hour training to understand the women and children staying in the home that I would be volunteering at. As I saw the slide show and listened to the woman speak, I realized that if it had not been for my mother's help, I could have found myself homeless and without a job when I got divorced in 2001. Even though I had a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, I had not worked in 9 years plus my daughters were only 5, 7 and 9 at the time. I had no money saved and received very little child support. I learned that these women were not on drugs or trying to get free food and shelter. They did not have anyone to help them watch their children; they did not have the money to buy a car to be able to drive to a job. It was a vicious cycle of lacking causing more lacking. In a world where we hear story after story ...

       "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."                                                                      -Albert Camus      What does Albert Camus mean by this quote? Flowers are perceived to be beautiful, therefore my simplified interpretation would be that the color changes of the leaves in the fall are as the flowers are in the spring. Spring is thought of as a renewal and rebirth of nature; whereas Autumn is a breaking down and preparation for the dark, cold winter.  To look deeper into the comparisons to life,  t here are different seasons in one's lives as there are changes of seasons in weather, although not near as predictable. There are the wonderful times in life when everything is new and fresh and life is pa...

         My quote , "Get lost in doing what you love to do" couldn't be more fitting for me when I am being creative. There are times when all of the babies are healthy and happy that time flies by in my work playing, teaching and taking care of them, but usually my days at work go by more slowly.   I love to draw and paint, and reading books has always been a time thief, but I enjoy writing more than I ever thought possible.   Writing is when I get lost.  Many of you know that I started a fiction book more than 10 years ago, but that I put that one  aside to begin a new book called Riding Waves last year. So far, I don't lack for ideas but instead there is not enough time in my days to write.  When I had the idea to write every day for a year in this blog, I never imagined the joy that it would bring to me. I am continually looking for pictures that I could take for  my quotes,  taking and editing the pictures and thinking ...

     Babe Ruth was quoted as saying, "You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime." I have been at Chicago Cubs games where one player had hit after hit, yet never scored. He needed the other players to bring him home. My daughters all played on their Homecoming Powder Puff games where each team had over 200 players. Each group took the field for only 4 downs; obviously those wins took a team effort . In addition, d uring their years in the Barrington School district, they have had many assignments where they had to work together in a group to receive a good grade. At times they complained when one person did not do their share, but I thought that it was a great skill for the school to teach. Most careers in their future will entail working with others often, if not all of the time.  I, myself, have been working with my co-teacher, Jenny, for over 12 years in an Infant class...

      "You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers . You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions ," as said by Nagie Manfouz. I enjoy talking to other people; I even love sharing my words , thoughts and ideas, as you can tell by my blogs and books. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college with a Bachelor's Degree, so I have always placed a high value on receiving an Education.    Reading fiction books as well as non-fiction books aid in my fondness for continual learning about myself and others.  I pride myself on being a good listener, yet I have never thought of the value of asking questions nor the importance of the type of questions to ask . Coincidentally, my daughter, Sydney, was working on an assignment Tuesday night for her Honors English Class that entailed writing two-three questions that could be offered on an AP test. As we were discussing how this assignment aids in the development of a persons criti...

   "You are a powerful spirit that has come to earth to learn."                                                              - Gary Zukav in Seat of the Soul             If you believe this quote as I do, then you must spend time alone to hear the yearnings of your soul , to understand all that you are here to learn.  Your inner being or soul speaks to you through feelings and emotions. We sometimes get lost in our heads, trying to think or reason our way out of a problem. I think that is important to do when confronted with a problem or decision, but some time should be spent not thinking, just quieting your mind. I have read that our minds are a person's personality talking whereas your soul speaks to you in those moments you stop the thoughts of your mind. I have tried medita...

     Ralph Waldo Emerson was quoted as saying, "Earth laughs in flowers." My sister, Amy, and I went hiking yesterday at Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington Hills. As we walked, I took picture after picture of all of the beauty that I saw. I have lived in this area for 12 years and never even knew that this place was nearby. I am grateful that others before me had the wisdom to preserve these parts of our planet for us and for future generations to enjoy. People blame others for the destructive of our planet. They accuse construction companies for all of the new buildings and the clearing away of the trees or condemn big businesses for the destruction of our ozone layer with pollution. It is easy to cast blame on others, but what is our role in taking care of our planet Earth? We can be involved in our government if we choose, but we can also use these forest preserves and nature centers that were kept for us. It was a beautiful day, and many schools had the...

     Carl Reiner's quote is, "The absolute truth is the thing that makes people laugh." He is a comedian, writer, actor and Emmy winner. Humor is interjected into some of the more difficult situations in television shows, movies and books. Those are the ones that I can relate to because even as I cry, I can also laugh. I laugh with, not at, the mistakes of others. I smile as a way of understanding, sharing and connecting because we all have hardships and struggles in our lives. My first fiction book that I am writing  Riding Waves is about a young woman trying to find her way in life, balancing her needs with the challenges of a new relationship. It has dark moments, but even during those times, there is humor. There is laughter to her story just like in life. Often while sharing a story with someone about something bad that happened to me, I instantly feel better and can even begin to see the humor. Sometimes when the day just keeps getting wor...

         There is much talk about the passion or lack of it in a relationship, yet passion is a feeling that we can have in all areas of our lives like my quote says. There was a time many years ago that I lost all passion for life. I was not running, nor painting or even reading books which are all things that I love to do. I did not hate life, yet I was very indifferent. I had little interest in anything. I made myself start to do things that I use to enjoy and was able to connect with the passion inside of me. I am not sure if the feeling of passion towards a person, object or activity is innate or chosen, all I know is that passion needs to be stroked to flame strong. I am watching the runners in the Chicago Marathon today, and it makes me want to go for a run. I read the Chicago Tribune Newspaper, and it makes me want to write stories that others will read. Find something that speaks to you then develop and encourage those feeling. Indiff...

                                       How do you approach life? My quote today asks if you take chances or do you play it safe? If you are like me, some areas of my life I play it safe whereas others times I do take chances. I am pretty safe in my parenting choices, my career path and my financial decisions. Traveling is the one area that I love to take chances in. My daughters and I have went on short trips over their spring breaks, and I think that it even surprises them when I say that we have a destination but we will "fly by the seat of our pants" to arrive there. I love that feeling of freedom.  My dream would be to just get in the car and drive with a vague destination like California or Yellowstone in mind. I would drive until I see something that interests me and stop. I have a deep yearning to see the world, and would want the freedom to explore it all. I almo...