I don’t usually do challenges, mainly because I know so many amazing bloggers I can never decide who to pass the challenge on to, but when Kim, from I Tripped Over a Stone, nominated me, I thought, “Quotes? Hey, that’s up my alley!” So I couldn’t say no. Kim is an amazing woman. She’s witty, smart, busy, and just happens to have fibromyalgia. She is full of knowledge that she readily shares on her blog and in a Facebook group she helps run. Follow the link above and check out her incredible blog! Thank you Kim for selecting me to participate in this challenge. So, today we’ll take a little break from Mindfulness Monday and do these quotes instead.
Here’s how this thing works:
1. Thank the person that nominated you.
2. Write one quote each day for three consecutive days (3 quotes total)
3. Explain why the quote is meaningful for you.
4. Nominate three bloggers each day to participate in the challenge
Kim changed the challenge up a bit and did all three of her quotes in one day, I think I’ll follow suit and do the same.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
“I believe in you.” ~Christeen Calloway (my mother)
This is my favorite quote of all time because everyone needs someone who believes in them, and I always knew my mother believed in me. I specifically remember her telling me this when I was in college. I was struggling putting myself through school, working many part-time jobs and taking a full load of classes so I didn’t waste any tuition money. (You had to take at least 9 (or was it 12?) credit hours a semester to get full time tuition. Over that minimum requirement you could take more classes for the same price. So I normally took 15 – 18 credit hours per semester – that’s 5 – 6 classes.) At one point I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to finish. I was working so hard, and I had the grades to prove it, but I was getting worn down. (at one point I had 5 part-time jobs) My mother was always my champion. I called her one day just to chat and mentioned how hard things were at that moment and how I just didn’t know if I could carry on with that pace. I also mentioned how much I missed her banana pudding. That afternoon when I got back to my dorm, my mother was there waiting on me, with a big bowl of banana pudding. We had dinner together and talked and talked, like we often did. She told me how much she believed in me. She knew how hard I was working and she also knew I could handle it. It was her belief in me that pushed me forward, and the next semester I was awarded a scholarship for outstanding academics and art. I was also given a work study opportunity, so I didn’t have to have all those part-time jobs. If it had not been for my mother’s belief in me, I don’t think I would have been able to follow through and graduate with honors.
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” ~Anne Frank
I hear it all the time, “I can’t afford to give….” This simply isn’t true. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” How very true. We must remember that even the poorest of us can give without causing ourselves more hardship. We can give of our time, there are so many lonely people in this world, all you’d need to do is spend a little time with someone who needs the company, this doesn’t even have to be in person, you can reach out to someone online, you may even make a new friend. We can give a service, can you cook, sew, garden, babysit?….there are so many ways we can give simply by doing what we know, we don’t have to buy anything. We can give a smile and a compliment, has there ever been a time when a stranger smiled at you and complimented you out of the blue? How did it make you feel? A kind word can mean the world to someone, you never know, they may be going through a really rough time and your kindness helps just a little. Don’t believe that you can’t make a difference simply because you can’t give monetarily, there are many ways to give that don’t cost a penny.
“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” ~James Baraz
How could I list my favorite quotes without including my favorite quote on mindfulness? This is one of the first quotes on mindfulness I read, and it spoke volumes to me. It was hard to imagine facing every day without wishing it were different. I admit I’m still not at that point, but I strive to be, and some days I succeed. However, I still wish things were different when I’m having bad symptoms, but I try hard to be as okay with it as I can; and I take solace in knowing that the unpleasant will not always be with me. I’m also learning how to enjoy the good times without trying to hold on too tightly. Sometimes I’m better at that than others. For example, my sister came for a visit this past week and I had so much fun I didn’t want that feeling to end. One night I made a roast chicken and we made a wish with the wishbone. My wish was that every day could be as good as that day. umm, I think I was trying to hold on to that day a little, don’t you? Luckily I wasn’t trying to hold on so tightly that it caused me pain when it was over. I am so grateful we were able to have such a good visit, and I was mostly symptom free. I must admit, I would have held on to those days if I could, but I’m grateful for today, even though I had a cluster headache earlier and I don’t feel like lifting my head now. I’m still happy. Hubby just came home, and it’s time to make brownies. 😉
If they would like to participate, I would love to read some quotes that inspire or excite or have meaning for:
Oh there are just so many in my blogging family that I’d love to see do this challenge, if you’d like to do it, please let me know in the comments so I won’t miss it!!
If you don’t want to do the challenge but have a quote that is meaningful to you, I’d love to hear it!!
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My mother told me this often. I particularly remember her telling me this when I was in college. I was the first in my family to graduate from college, when I was attending there were a few times that I doubted myself. I was going through a very rough time undiagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I was misdiagnosed for a long time. When I was in college it was a very rough time, but my mother always believed in me. It has always meant a lot to me to have that belief. I have found that the people who touch me on my blog believe in me and I believe in them. This is a great support system. This is very important when you have a chronic illness. This quote is very important. Remember, I believe in you.
Picnic with Ants 