How Do You Gauge How Happy You Are?

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Apologies to everyone who was looking for their quote today. We had serious thunderstorms move through yesterday and we lost power. It was like the heavens opened up and decided it was time for a deluge!

Anyway, today's quote was from a U.S. President. We hear a lot of quotes and sometimes don't realize they were said originally by American Presidents. Even a culture often grows up over time around the thought in that quote, so it is with this one.

Generations later we are now addressing how to work our attitudes to improve our lives. Well, Abraham Lincoln, who knew an awful lot of terrible adversity, certainly understood what it took to build and maintain a positive attitude.

He lost 69 elections and he lost all his children over a span of time. He was also President during the trying times of America's only Civil War and was ill with a slow disease. His wife went into a terrible depression upon the loss of their youngest son from illness.

Lincoln was a strong-willed kind-hearted man who even brought his political enemies into his administration in the effort to govern the country in a bi-partisan manner. Lincoln is most famous for several of his inspiring speeches and deciding to dare to go against the tide of convention and free America's slaves. He was all about doing the best job possible for the sake of ALL the American people.

Quote

"People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - President Abraham Lincoln



quotes, politics, positive attitude, presidential quotes, American Civil War, United States, History, Civil War, President, List of Presidents of the United States

Does Happiness Elude You?

From Denny: One of the beauties of coming from a family of very long-lived people is that you don't lose the institutional memory of historical events. Another plus is that you don't lose what former generations taught in the way of good character. What is in fashion in one generation is often out of fashion in the next and, so, we lose the cultural continuity of good values.

Like in any family there were those in mine who were, well, slugs, when it came to good character. To a person they lived miserable anti-social lives, unhappy the majority of the time because they focused too much upon themselves. In my book there is nothing wrong with being good to your self. Just try to make the same good faith effort for others as you would yourself and your life is enriched!

For instance, I enjoy writing all these many blogs. It gives me a creative outlet for color, design and writing about anything and everything that interests me in this world of awesome wonders. Writing these blogs also gives me a chance to share with others as if these blogs were the ultimate social site of sharing! By sharing with others a person can enrich the lives of others while they enrich their own.

Then comes the Joy as was taught in previous generations. This kind of Joy has lain dormant for the past 25 years or so, drowned out by business greed and the drive to unbalanced excessive and financial only success. There are a lot of facets to the concept of success. Monetary wealth and accumulation is only a small part of the equation. This much power and large wealth requires the learning of real wisdom in order to not be destroyed by such power. I could get into what the ancient Kabbalists have to say about the power inherent in money and how to prepare for basically trying to grab a tiger by the tail but that would be another very long post! :)

Perhaps it's time for global society to rediscover some of the ancient wisdom of past societies, learning to appreciate the success of others as well as their own. Happiness can be an elusive creature to those who are calculating and refuse to dig deep into their hearts and offer up greater generosity to those around them. Generosity of spirit goes a long way to creating a much happier life!

Funny Dog Photo by Phil Romans @ flickr

Goethe at age 69 Image via Wikipedia

Quote

“Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though t'were his own.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist. 1749-1832)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Money, History, Family, German language, Good faith, denny lyon, Arts, Kabbalah, Literature, Kids and Teens

Are You Careful How You Form Your Opinions?

From Denny: This quote really sums up the problem in American politics the past decade or so - and said by an assassinated President decades before our current issues, how appropos.

You also can apply it to crank science, literature analysis and just plain gossip about your family, friends and neighbors! :)

This quote really warns about not going off "half-cocked" and becoming "a loose cannon on deck" lest you end up labeled a fool or an irresponsible flake by those around you.

President Kennedy in the Oval Office Image via Wikipedia

Quote

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - President John F. Kennedy

Eye Photo by alexv1317 @ flickr

President John F. Kennedy quote opinion politics American politics United States History Presidents

When Life Gets Tough: Do This Funny Thing!

Photo by Red Nose Day 2009 @ flickr - The countdown has begun to the BT Red Nose Climb - nine celebrities climbing 19,000 feet to scale Africa's highest mountain: Kilimanjaro! Click on the photo link to find out who they are.

Image by Red Nose Day 2009 via Flickr

From Denny: Since it's the weekend, here's a little funny to make you smile. Check out the official bozo the clown Red Nose Day of 2009 photo, cute!

"When things look dark, hold your head high so it can rain up your nose." - Anonymous

Helen Keller's Take on Definition of Happiness

Helen Keller in 1905, activist, lecturer and author - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Helen Keller was both a pioneer and blind, deaf and mute in a time long before computers, society's compassion or teachers who understood she was smart but locked inside a body that did not function like everyone else.

It was amazing to read about how Helen grew as a person as her teacher figured her way through the process to reach and educate her. It was a great accomplishment for both student and teacher.

Sign language was just beginning to develop at this time as the educational system was starting to address the needs of the deaf, moving away from writing them off as stupid and unteachable. What Helen learned along the way was deep, thoughtful and inspirational. There are many incredible quotes attributed to Helen Keller.

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” — Helen Keller

How is Greatness Measured?

Image by now_photos via Flickr

From Denny: So often society measures the worth of a person by how many things they own, the high price those "things" cost, and how quickly they are acquired. Here is another more truthful definition of greatness by a female civil rights leader who was honored at a leadership conference.

“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has to overcome to reach his [or her] goals.” – Dr. Dorothy Height, honoree at Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

Funny Definition of Insanity!

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: This past century's widely acclaimed genius, Albert Einstein, was one funny guy; he saw the humor and truth in life on many levels. His following quote is so universal in application it could be applied to the math and science fields as well as the field of personal relationships. How many family and marriage dynamics have you witnessed that exhibit this same process?

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

Below are two videos on Einstein's life. By his own admission he felt he spent his entire life trying to understand one thing: light.

Are You Any Good at Fooling Other People?

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: This is a famous quote that makes us all smile. But did you remember who actually said it? Quite the surprise to be coming from this historical figure!

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." - President Abraham Lincoln

What is the Most Difficult Test for a Person?

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: From a beloved President come some very wise words. And he ought to know of what he spoke; he lived it!

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln






A couple of very interesting articles to read too!

Related articles by Zemanta

• President Lincoln heard more 'No' than 'Yes' (imperfectaction.com)
• Ronald White - "A. Lincoln: A Biography" (eyeonbooks.com)

Are You Honest and Honorable with Yourself?

From New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Death of Socrates - Image by wallyg via Flickr

From Denny: I've always enjoyed a comment or two from the ancient past from the brainy Greek thinkers like Socrates. His deep thoughts have survived the test of time as well as bad translations! :)

How many of us stop long enough in our daily life to reflect upon if we are really living our lives with honor in the world? This is why I enjoy quotations so much as they are like daily meditations to give us a short checklist of what to consider as we live from moment to moment. And Socrates, well, the man not only had wit, he had game!

"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be." - Socrates

How Smart is Your Genius?

From Denny: And this quote coming from a world renown genius! The guy had such a great sense of humor...

"The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." — Albert Einstein

How Do You View the World?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Considering the past eight years of our toxic politics, this quote is more poignant than ever to keep in mind when we interact with others for business, politics or personal relationships.

"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail." — Abraham Maslow

Why People United is Better Than Contentiousness

Image via Wikipedia

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo of President Lyndon Johnson and Dr. King

Below for further reading is a very practical short article well written.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Banish Fear Through Community (somedaysyndrome.com)

How to End War Between Nations or in the Family?

"More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars." - President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Photo of American soldier in Iraq by Jayel Aheram @ flickr

Charm, Folly and Life!

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: How often have we been wooed by the latest charm offensive of some deceitful politician trying to get our vote only to make us angry later for giving it to them? This quote will make you laugh it off!

Even the much hated President Nixon had at least one redeeming quality, as few people are only one-dimensional. Nixon played the piano handsomely for friends and family. It was like another person sat down at that piano and when the music played he was transformed into a decent guy. Sadly, the jovial attitude only lasted as long as the music... Well, I guess he is one politician who will never be accused of being too nice or boring. History seems to enjoy its villains.

"Every man has his follies - and often they are the most interesting thing he has got." - Josh Billings

Photo: Nixon leaving the White House after he just resigned, the 1st President to ever do so.

Women and the taboo

From Denny: Oscar Wilde was one cheeky quote kind of guy, always amusing when speaking the truth in his unique way. Take a look and grin, especially the women out there!

"Women have a much better time than men in this world; there are far more things forbidden to them." - Oscar Wilde

Ask FDR: Does Injustice and Republican belong in the same sentence?

Franklin D. Roosevelt (via last.fm)

In his day, over 60 years ago, FDR was always challenging his opponents, namely the Republicans. Today's political strategists think they are the first to utilize the idea of defining the opposition. Yet here is FDR actually declaring what the true meaning of conservative is supposed to be about, not how it was corrupted. Of course, the following FDR definition is far removed from what we today know about the ongoing philosophy of the Republican Party.

"The true conservative is the man who has a real concern for injustices and takes thought against the day of reckoning." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Change the world

Cover via Amazon

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. — Gandhi

Genius...?

"Just the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses.

They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, and they laughed at the Wright brothers.


But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." - Carl Sagan

Photo of clown mosaic by hyperscholar @ flickr