Quote of the Day

"Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency." Maya Angelou

How true. As she ever was, Dr. Angelou was spot. Courage is the one thing we cannot afford to skimp on. Especially when working to improve ourselves and the world around us. We must be brave to attempt lasting change. We must stand strong in the face of discouragement, whether it be from personal doubts or public disapproval.

While thinking about this quote and about what drives me to write these blog posts and to stand up for others in life and online, at first I am tempted to dismiss my own bravery, as though it were nothing to really consider. But it is. It does take a certain amount of bravery to sit down to a keyboard and a blank screen and come up with new ideas to share. It takes courage to put in the work of researching facts and photos, and to write them up and (hopefully) make them appealing to the folks who may be reading them. Before I can even begin to worry about my posts being ignored at best, or ridiculed at worst, I have to overcome my own little hater.

My question for you:
Where does your courage come from?

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Quote of the Day - Frida Kahlo

I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” - Frida Kahlo

I was reminded about this quote the other day while watching the episode of Six Feet Under (one of my favorite shows filled with great, complex, and truly strange characters) when Ruth (the mom) goes to a meeting of The Plan (a self-help kind of group), and the instructor has everyone do an exercise where they imagine everyone else is laughing at them, telling them it's a joke and to laugh once they get it. It takes some of them only a few seconds to get it, while others take a while longer. But Ruth doesn't get it. She just gets mad.

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Question of the Day

What's your idea of a perfect autumn afternoon?

I'm feeling nostalgic for what I think of as 'real autumn' from when I lived in Michigan many years ago. I loved wrapping up in warm jackets and crunching through the leaves. And visiting apple cider mills for a cup of warm, delicious cider and a soft, fresh cake donut.

Autumn in Northern California is nice, but feels a lot like slightly cooler summer. It's still sunny, and sweaters aren't needed yet. Heck, I'm kinda jealous of all the pictures folks are sharing of their fancy socks. I'm still in sandals.

But I'm looking forward to cooler temps when snuggling up in a warm blanket with a cup of tea and a good book is a viable option for a lazy afternoon.

What about you?

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