Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Profound Quotes"

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I remember things too easily forgotten:
The purity of early love,
The maturity of unselfish love that asks --
desires -- nothing but another's good,
The idealism that has persisted through all the tempest of life.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I can find a quiet assurance, an inner peace, in the core of my being.
It can face the doubt, the loneliness, the anxiety,
Can accept these harsh realities and can even grow
Because of these challenges to my essential being.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I can sense my basic humanity,
And then I know that all men and women are my brothers and sisters.
Nothing but my own fear and distrust can separate me from the love of friends.
If I can trust others, accept them, enjoy them,
Then my life shall surely be richer and more full.
If I can accept others, this will help them to be more truly themselves,
And they will be more able to accept me.

When my mind is still and alone with the beating of my heart,
I know how much life has given me:
The history of the race, friends and family,
The opportunity to work, the chance to build myself.
Then wells within me the urge to live more abundantly,
With greater trust and joy,
With more profound seriousness and earnest service,
And yet more calmly at the heart of life.

Paul Beattie was a Unitarian Universalist minister, serving in congregations including in Kansas City, Missouri, and last at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, PA. He was also president of the Fellowship of Religious Humanists, among his many involvements.

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy. - Helen Hayes (at 73) I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows. - Janette Barber Who ever thought up the word "Mammogram"? Every time I hear it, I think I'm supposed to put my breast in an envelope and send it to someone. - Jan King Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse. - Lily Tomlin A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who never owned a car. - Carrie Snow Old age ain't no place for sissies. - Bette Davis A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't. - Rhonda Hansome Every time I close the door on reality it comes in through the windows. - Jennifer Unlimited Whatever women must do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. - Charlotte Whitton Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart. - Caryn Leschen I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. - Jennifer Unlimited If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. - Catherine Aird When I was young, I was put in a school for retarded kids for two years before they realized I actually had a hearing loss...and they called ME slow! - Kathy Buckley Behind every successful woman...is a substantial amount of coffee. - Stephanie Piro

Perseverance A. Lincoln (Lincoln) "He failed in business in '31. He was defeated for state legislator in '32.He tried another business in '33. It failed. His fiancee died in '35. He had a nervous breakdown in '36. In '43 he ran for congress and was defeated. He tried again in '48 and was defeated again. He tried running for the Senate in '55. He lost. The next year he ran for Vice President and lost. In '59 he ran for the Senate again and was defeated. In 1860, the man who signed his name A. Lincoln, was elected the 16th President of the United States. The difference between history's boldest accomplishments, and its most staggering failures is often, simply, the diligent will to persevere."

What it Takes to be Number One (Lombardi) "Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win. Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's O.K. you've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second. Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is. It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win. And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat. I don't say these things because I believe in the "brute" nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

The Road to Success “Always choose the path that moves in the direction of your dreams. Though your journey may be filled with many winding roads, when you are inspired to follow your dreams, you eventually find success, and discover it is less about the destination and more about the manner in which you traveled.” The Essence of Change “Learn to embrace change, and you’ll begin to recognize that life is in constant motion, and every change happens for a reason. When you see boundaries as opportunities, the world becomes a limitless place, and your life becomes a journey of change that always finds its way.” The Power of Attitude “Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst… a spark that creates extraordinary results.” The Essence of Destiny “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.” The Essence of Golf "Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind ever invented." - Arnold Palmer The Courage of Integrity “The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over popularity… these are the choices that measures your life. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. The Essence of a New Day “This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind… let it be something good.” The Essence of Imagination “What we can easily see is only a small percentage of what is possible. Imagination is having the vision to see what is just below the surface; to picture that which is essential, but invisible to the eye.” The Essence of Leadership “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. In the end, leaders are much like eagles… they don’t flock, you find them one at a time.” The Light of Optimism “Sometimes we learn the hard why that is doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Positive thinking is an intellectual choice, and by keeping our eyes focused on the light of optimism, we can restore faith in ourselves, and stay clear of the shadows.” The Power of a Leader “True leaders are not those who strive to be first but those who are first to strive and who give their all for the success of the team. True leaders are the first to see the need, envision the plan, and empower the team for action. By the strength of the leader’s commitment, the power of the team is unleashed.” The Essence of Character “Your true character is revealed by the clarity of your convictions, the choices you make, and the promises you keep. Hold strongly to your principles and refuse to follow the currents of convenience. What you say and do defines who you are, and who you are… you are forever.” The Foundation of Excellence “Our achievements are shaped by the terrain of our lives and the strength of the foundations we set. In building the life we’ve imagined, we must be true to our beliefs, dare to be ethical, and strive to be honorable. For integrity is the highest ground to which we can aspire.” The Sky’s the Limit “Everyone has potential… It is an infinite resource that cannot be exhausted, but can be lost in the clouds of fear and complacency. It may take courage to embrace the possibilities of your own potential; but once you’ve flown past the summit of your fears, nothing will seem impossible.” The Essence of Success “Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth’s beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.” The Essence of Initiative “The future just doesn’t happen, it is created… our destiny is not in the stars, but in ourselves. We may need to follow in the wake of those who have gone before, but what we do and where we go is ultimately up to us. The attitude of initiative is an on-going state of exploration that is never finished… a journey that never ends.”

Above & Beyond – “When a team of dedicated individuals makes a commitment to act as one… the sky’s the limit.” Achievement – “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” Attitude – “A positive attitude is a powerful force… it can’t be stopped.” Attitude – “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Attitude – "The currents that determine our dreams and shape our lives, flow from the attitudes we nurture every day." Attitude – “The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” – William James Believe & Succeed – “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ’I will try again tomorrow.’” Be the Bridge – “Problems become opportunities when the right people come together.” Brilliance - "When a collection of brilliant minds, hearts, and talents come together...expect a masterpiece." Change - "If you're not riding the wave of change...you'll find yourself beneath it." Change - "Learn to embrace change, and you'll begin to recognize that life is in constant motion, and every change happens for a reason. When you see boundaries as opportunities, the world becomes a limitless place, and your life becomes a journey of change that always finds its way." Character - "Adversity does not build character…it reveals it." Character - "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of freedom." John F. Kennedy, 1961 Collaborate – “Meeting people halfway is the most significant trip we can take. We don’t work for each other… we work with each other.” Communication - "Communication is the secret to success...pass it on." Contribute - “Great achievements are nurtured with the cooperation of many minds with a common vision working toward a common goal.” Courage - "In the truest sense freedom cannot be bestowed. It must be achieved." Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1941 Customer Care - “View all customers as beautiful gardens that must be cultivated and watered frequently… they’re worth it.” Customer Service – “The sea of change can pull customers in many directions. It is our responsibility to light the way and take care of them… before the competition does.” Dare to Soar – “Your attitude, almost always determines your altitude in life.” Diversity - "Great achievements are not born from a single vision but from the combination of many distinctive viewpoints. Diversity challenges assumptions, opens minds and unlocks our potential to solve any problem we may face." Excellence – “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it… Autograph your work with excellence.” Excellence – “Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.” Excellence - "Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible." Freedom - "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Goals – “You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals.” – Booker T. Washington Improvise - "There are two ways of meeting difficulties. You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them." Innovation – “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Integrity – “Wisdom is knowing what path to take next… integrity is taking it.” Lead With Vision - "Leaders keep their eyes on the horizon, not just the bottom line." Leadership – “Leadership is about capturing the imagination and enthusiasm of your people with clearly defined goals that cut through the fog like a beacon in the night.” Make it Happen – “Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it – but sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes Never Quit - “Play to win… it’s an attitude worth catching.” Never Give Up – “Go over, go under, go around or go through. But never give up.” Opportunity - You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Possibilities - "Within me is infinite power, before me is endless possibility. Around me is boundless opportunity…why should I fear?" Quality – “Countless, unseen details are often the only difference between mediocre and magnificent.” Risk - "A ship in the harbor is safe...but that's not what ships were made for." Service – “The high road to service is traveled with integrity, compassion and understanding… people don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.” Service – “Service is the lifeblood of any organization. Everything flows from it and is nourished by it. Customer service is not a department… it’s an attitude.” Strength - "We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it." Thomas Jefferson 1793 Success – “Some people dream of success… while others wake up and work hard at it.” Teamwork – “A shared purpose combined with a positive mental attitude constitutes an unstoppable force.” Teamwork – “Coming together is a beginning… keeping together is progress… working together is success.” Teamwork – “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel; that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Teamwork – “It is a fact that in the right formation, the lifting power of many wings can achieve twice the distance of any bird flying alone.” Teamwork - “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Vigilance - "We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." - Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953 Vision - “A leader’s job is to look into the future, and to see the organization not as it is… but as it can become.” Walk the Talk - “Take the initiative and lead the way. You can make the difference.” Willpower - "The test before us as a people is not whether our commitments match our will and our courage; but whether we have the will and the courage to match our commitments." - Lyndon B. Johnson 1967

The Most Important Thing “I always say to myself, what is the most important thing we can think about at this extraordinary moment.” ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld There are no ordinary moments – each moment is new and unique, so each moment is extraordinary. We can fill that moment with extraordinary thoughts, extraordinary deeds, extraordinary attention. We can choose to think of peace, to recognize beauty, to experience joy. This moment is ours, and we can choose what to do with it. A Precious Gift “Let me tell thee, time is a very precious gift of God, so precious that it’s only given to us moment by moment.” ~ Amelia Barr Have you ever watched a television game show? In most of the games, there is an element of time involved. You’re up against the clock. You have 2 minutes to race through a grocery story, or 30 seconds to come up with the right answer. If you happen to be the person playing that game, you realize just how precious each one of those moments are! You focus your attention, and use the time wisely to win the game. Well, we’re lucky that life is not a game show! We have all the time we need to learn and grow and accomplish what we need to in this life. And we can start anytime, so why not start now? The prizes are all around us, just waiting to be won. Moments “Each moment we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that never was before and never will be again.” ~ Pablo Casals Being “in the moment” is one of those things that is so easy to say, yet sometimes so hard to do. The moments seem to pass by us so quickly. We find ourselves saying: “Where did the time go?” So it’s important to stay present, and to recognize the value of those moments. In spirit, there is no time or place… but we’re here, in this physical body, on this earth, for a reason. Here there is time, here there are moments – moments we can hold and treasure, moments where we can learn and grow. Being Wise “It is easier to be wise for others than for oneself.” ~ La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) This is so true! Don’t we all give better advice than we take from ourselves? Because we can look at someone else’s problems objectively, and we are so caught up in our own emotions that it’s hard to step back and look at our own problems with the same wisdom. But it is possible! As we learn and grow and spend more time in silence, we make better decisions, we become wiser. 5 Steps to Wisdom “The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.” ~ Solomen Ibn Gabirol (A.D. 1021? – 1069?) Hard to argue with that, huh? Silence, meditation, time with nature, self-reflection… all of these things lead us to wisdom. Have we taken that first step? Do we listen? Do we remember? Do we practice? Do we teach others? We all know what we must do, yet how often do we really do it? We get so distracted by our daily activities that we forget how important it is to just sit down and be quiet for a change! Yes, it is important – wisdom is important! Wisdom is necessary to lead the kind of lives that we say we want to lead. The first step is silence. The Miraculous “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Wisdom goes beyond knowledge. We often hear wisdom associated with sages, people who seem to know and understand those things that sometimes have no explanation. Maybe it is recognizing that connection between all things that makes everything miraculous. Wisdom is attainable; all the wisdom of the universe is at hand right now. Wisdom “Wise men hear and see As little children do.” ~ Lao-Tzu (6th cent. B.C.) Children see things with an open mind and an open heart. Wisdom is not being childish, but rather it is being child-like in our curiosity and wonder. It allows possibilities to present themselves in front of us. It is marveling at the grandeur of life. Only a Path “Any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you.” ~ Carlos Castaneda It’s okay to change directions. People have been reinventing themselves since time began. This is a good thing! When our heart leads us somewhere, it's always for a reason. We need to follow and find out what that reason is. Usually this change brings us closer to who we really are, it allows us to discover our true self, and to be more authentic. This Above All “This above all: to thine own self be true.” ~ William Shakespeare Authentic means genuine, real, true – and when applied to people it means being true to yourself, being your TRUE self, expressing yourself, and nothing less. We sense when people are authentic, just as we can tell when they are imitating, or role playing. When we are authentic, our light shines through, and our path is illuminated. “This above all…” Shakespeare says. It is important to be authentic, important for our well-being and for our spiritual growth. The Highest Courage “The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is.” ~ John Lancaster Spalding The key word here is “appear.” So many times it’s just easier to put on a mask, to play a role, to go along with what is expected of us. But the courage is in being authentic, in being true to ourselves and our convictions. Being true to ourselves is one thing – but showing the world who we are is another. Do we dare risk judgment? When we are authentic we answer to ourselves, we know that to appear to be anything other, anything less than “what one is” is heart-breaking. Everybody Else “To be nobody-but-yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” ~ e.e. cummings When you think about all the advertisements and magazines and commercials that encourage us to buy and be made-over and to do this and that to improve ourselves, it’s a wonder there’s any individuality left at all! We tend to want this actor’s hairstyle and that model’s figure – or that politician’s power and this athlete’s paycheck. All of these “things” are held up to us as the ideal. And yet, we know, deep inside, that what is REAL is so much more than that. Though we’re inundated by the mega-media machine, we must keep reminding ourselves that what we have to hold onto is who we are, and that is invaluable. Authenticity “Somehow we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt Who are you? Or maybe the question is, “who have you decided to be?” We all have roles to play, but our true self is so much greater than any of them. We can identify with the role, or we can choose to see ourselves as the role-player. Our roles come and go and change and grow – and our true self proceeds along through all of it. We can play any role we want to play, do anything we want to do. When we know who we really are, all of this comes easily to us, and we can keep it in perspective. Experience “What is it which is bought dearly, offered for nothing, and then most often refused? Experience, old people’s experience.” ~ Isak Dinesen, 1934 We learn from our experiences. And it is our privilege to share those experiences with other people. We’re here to help each other. Whether or not we learn from each other is an individual choice. The gems of experiences that are collected over the years form a treasure chest of wisdom that longs to be distributed. Why not tap into that wealth? And in turn, we’re giving someone the gift of being recognized and valued. Something Else “Experience is what you get looking for something else.” ~ Mary Pettibone Poole, 1938 And many years later, John Lennon said: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” This is why “going with the flow” is such an important concept for our spiritual growth. We never know what we are going to encounter along the way! Our experiences help to shape our perceptions; they help us to discover more of who we really are. What are we looking for? It doesn’t matter… what we find, through our experiences, is ourselves. Direct to the Source “If it be knowledge or wisdom one is seeking, then one had better go direct to the source. And the source is not the scholar or philosopher, not the master, saint, or teacher, but life itself- direct experience of life.” ~ Henry Miller (1891-1980) There are all different ways of learning and growing. There are amazing works by brilliant people available to us at any time. And we can gain so much from the words of our fellow man. But where did they get these insights? At some point, the knowledge has to be experienced to be understood. And when it is understood, then it can be expressed. We all know what lessons we have learned from our experiences. And this is a big part of why we’re here – to experience life, to learn and to grow. Insight “A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) So where do these insights come from if not from experience? They come from the infinite wisdom of the Universe. We can tap into it at any time through meditation. Everything we need to know is right there for us. Meditation gives us direct experience of the spirit. Experience “We learn geology the morning after the earthquake.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Aren’t we funny? This is so true! Sometimes it takes something to “shake us up” so that we can learn. And then we do – we learn from our experiences, both positive and negative. All of life is our classroom; every day there are lessons for us. It’s up to us if we want to do our homework and be prepared – and a lot of that is basically keeping up our spiritual practices. Or, we could goof off and take our chances that we won’t get hit with a “pop quiz!” Whatever happens, we will eventually figure it out. Listen Carefully “If we could all hear one another’s prayers, God might be relieved of some of his burden.” ~ Ashleigh Brilliant We are here as angels, emissaries, to do good work, to help each other. We can hear one another’s prayers if we just listen. We are all one in spirit, and we all want the same things – love, respect, acknowledgment, a purpose. Think about all that we can do for each other to provide those very important things. It could be so simple, and so beautiful, and mean so much.