Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 29

In Others’ Words: Remember Your Nice Words

Comedian Jerry Lewis died just this past Sunday, August 20. The New York Times hailed him as “a defining figure of American entertainment in the 20th century.” While at times he was controversial, Lewis was also certainly multi-talented, known for his slapstick humor, as well as an actor, singer, producer, director, screenwriter, and humanitarian.

Jerry Lewis was also one of my all-time favorite comedians. His routines with Dean Martin are laugh out loud funny, and my family watches and rewatches his movies, such as Rock-a-Bye Baby, Who’s Minding the Store, as well as Cinderfella and other favorites.

I thought it would be fun to honor Jerry Lewis by showcasing a quote today. To be honest, I thought I’d find something humorous or witty, or maybe something he’d said about about life as a comedian. And yes, there were quotes like that.

But then I read this statement: “I don’t want to be remembered. I want the nice words when I can hear them.”

What a poignant truth, now that Lewis can no longer hear the “nice words” people are saying about him as they remember him. I can only trust he heard plenty of “nice words” while he was alive.

We all hope we’ll be remembered. But I have to agree with Jerry Lewis that hearing “nice words” now makes a difference in my life. Sometimes an encouraging or kind or positive word can change my day. Or my perspective. Or help me believe in myself again.

In Your Words: I’d love for you to join the conversation and share when someone’s  “nice words” have encouraged you. And I also hope you know that I appreciate you reading my blog! 

In Others\’ Words: Remember Your Nice Words http://wp.me/p63waO-2oW #quotes #JerryLewis

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\”I don\’t want to be remembered. I want the nice words when I can hear them.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2oW #quotes #JerryLewis

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In Others’ Words: Surrounded by Story

More and more, I have come to love story. 

My life story — and other people’s life stories, too.

To be honest, there are times I see someone and initially, I’m closed to their story. Maybe they seem a little too different from me … and I’m put off. But I’ve learned to say to myself, “This person is made in the image of God,” and doing so opens me to their story.

And then I ask that person about the tattoos on their arms — and learn about their grandfather who lived in Germany and owned a cuckoo clock (true story). Or I compliment someone on their multicolored hair — and earn a surprised look, a hesitant smile, and a “thank you.” Who knows? Maybe for that brief moment, I added a bit of positive to that person’s story.

Sometimes we only get bits and pieces of another person’s story. Sometimes we are invited into another person’s life — and we become friends. A part of their story. Whatever, story is everywhere. And story is valuable.

When someone shares the truth of who they are with me, I am blessed. I am honored by their honesty. I am changed as they tell me of obstacles overcome, lessons learned, and how love has healed their wounds.

In Your Words: When has someone else’s story encouraged you?

In Others\’ Words: Surrounded by Story http://wp.me/p63waO-2oK #quotes #story

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\”We are surrounded by story.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2oK #quotes #perspective

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In Others’ Words: Small Joys

Just for today, let’s set aside the word “goal,” shall we?

Just for today, let’s also set aside the word “happiness.” (Although I had an interesting discussion about happiness while I was in Breckenridge this past weekend. Another blog post.)

Small joys. I want to talk with you all about small joys. 

So often I laser in on the goal — whatever goal I think is going to bring me the “big happiness” — and I overlook all the small joys in every. single. day. You’re human just like me. And I know you can get wrapped up in goals and run right past the daily joys, too.

I’m on an editing deadline right now. The “big happiness” at the end of that goal? My new release in May 2018. But what are some small joys from this week?

Praying with my daughter CJ before she headed out for volleyball tryouts.
Watching my GRANDgirls romp in the Chik-fil-a play area.
Scrolling through my Instgram feed and “hearting” all the uplifting posts. (I love Instagram!)
Walking in the evenings with my husband and our dog, Jo, who is named after Jo in Little Women

 

In Your Words: I’d love for you to join the conversation today. What are some of your small joys from this week?

In Others\’ Words: Small Joys http://wp.me/p63waO-2oy #quotes #perspective

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\”Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2oy #quotes #joy

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In Others’ Words: Present, Past, Future Living

 

I got away to Breckenridge, CO this past weekend, enjoying some down time with my husband and youngest daughter — including the best gluten-free French onion soup I’ve ever tasted.

On the way home, we listened to a talk by Andy Stanley on the topic of how to have a drama-free life. No drama? I’m all in. He had a great perspective — No surprise. I like his take on most things. But I pulled a notepad out of my purse and wrote down this quote:

“My present will one day be my past that will one day show up in my future.”

Yes. And yes. And yes.

If only we could grasp how our todays become our past and that todays don’t stay in the past — our past influences our future.

This is what I’ve told my kiddos: The choices you make today will affect you tomorrow. And a year from tomorrow. And five years from tomorrow.  

And I told my kiddos that because I wish someone had told me that when I was much, much younger.

We can’t segment the days of our lives. Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow are linked by our choices, for better or for worse. And it’s only as we change our perspective and recognize how one affects the other that we can start making choices we won’t regret.

In Others’ Words: What’s your perspective of Present-Past-Future living?

In Others\’ Words: Past, Present, Future Living http://wp.me/p63waO-2or #quotes #choices

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\”My present will one day be my past that will one day show up in my future.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2or #quotes @QuotingAndy

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In Others’ Words: Work Hard, Play Hard

It’s been a “work hard” kind of summer.

And then a couple of weeks ago, my husband, youngest daughter, and I took a few days away and ran off to San Diego for a few days. To relax. Catch our breath.

And that’s where I took the photo of the tree I used in today’s blog post. Well, the actual photo looked more like this:

When I first saw the tree across from our hotel, I said, “That looks like a tree in a Dr. Seuss story.” Obviously, I had some photographic fun with it for today’s post because it seemed ideal for a Dr. Seuss quote.

I’m all for working hard. I just sometimes forget to play hard, too. I have to be intentional to take time to relax. To laugh. To play board games with my family. To meet up with friends to talk and laugh. To hike in the mountains with my camera and fill up the photo card.  

In Your Words: What’s your favorite way to play hard? 

In Others\’ Words: Work Hard, Play Hard http://wp.me/p63waO-2oi #quotes #fun

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\”When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really played.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2oi #quotes #DrSeuss

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In Others’ Words: Who are You?

Honest relationships are the best … and honest relationships are hard to come by. 

I have to choose to completely trust someone one before I open up to them and show them who I am — the good, bad, and the broken. And when I do that, I hope the other person respects what I’ve shared by believing me. I don’t want to have to prove anything. Or repeat myself,  reminding them of what I’ve said. I don’t want to be doubted. If I say, “This is who I am,” then that is the truth, and the story won’t change.

As author Timothy Keller said, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial.” The most meaningful relationships are steeped in both love that is willing to risk knowing another person and belief that who you say you are is the truth — and who you are is valuable. 

For a lot of years, I hid my brokenness from others. But brokenness is part of my story. Wounds — and healing — are part of my story. And I want to be honest about both. And when someone shows me who they are — the good, the bad and the broken — I am honored.

In Your Words: What helps you tell the truth of your story to others?

In Others\’ Words: Who are You? http://wp.me/p63waO-2ob #quotes #trust

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\”When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2ob #quote #trust

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In Others’ Words: Ignite!

It’s back to school time, friends.

Not for me … no, no, no.

But it is back to school for my youngest daughter — who is a junior in high school — and a gazillion other people, of course. My daughter is finishing up her required summer reading. (Three books. And papers.) And we’re also doing all the necessary prep. Shopping. Filling out school forms. Her sports physical is done. And we’ll be doing more shopping. There’s always more shopping, right? Tomorrow, while she’s at a volleyball tournament, I’ll be at the high school’s registration day, which includes getting her a parking permit. A p-a-r-k-i-n-g p-e-r-m-i-t because, yes,  she’s driving now.

Some of you … maybe a lot of you … are in the throes of your own back to school prep. Public school. Private school. Homeschool. Charter school. College. Whatever. It is about our children’s education. And if you’re like me, you don’t want your children treated like buckets. You don’t want teachers just tossing information — facts and statistics and stuff, stuff, stuff — at our sons and daughters day in and day out from August to May (or all year round, if you participate in year round school).

My desire is for teachers to be a catalyst in my daughter’s life — to ignite a fire in my daughter’s heart, as Yeats said. For her teachers to help her discover her passion — who God has created her to be. I value teachers — and I especially appreciate the ones who recognize the tremendous influence they have on their students. Don’t misunderstand me: I don’t hand over all responsibility to teachers to instruct, influence, and mold my daughter — or any of my children. But I understand the long reaching value of a good education.

In Your Words: I would love you to join the conversation today and share a memory of a teacher who lit a fire in you — helping you grow, discover your passion, or your direction in life.

In Others\’ Words: Ignite! http://wp.me/p63waO-2o5 #quotes #backtoschool

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\”Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2o5 #quotes #backtoschool

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In Others’ Words: Redefining Failure

Failure used to scare me — the thought that I would attempt something and not succeed. And because I was afraid of failing, I said no to a lot of things. Why try something if I couldn’t guarantee success?

If there’s one thing my writing journey has taught me, it’s that I’m going to experience times of success … and I’m also going to experience times of failure. The question is: How am I going to handle both? Does success define me? (No.) Does failure define me? (No.)

But the truth is, I had to learn that who I am is not defined by what what I do — by my successes or my failures. By the good days or the bad days. By the positive reviews or the negative ones. By finaling in a contest or not. Or winning an award or not. All of these things can be considered writing successes or failures — and, if I let them, they can become virtual gold stars or little black marks.

When I could separate my self from failure, I could learn from the experiences that didn’t go the way I hoped or planned. Failure was temporary, not final. Failure contained lessons to be learned, not condemnation. And I could move past it — and on to the next thing waiting for me along the writing road. The next dream. The next goal. The next “I want to try this, even though it’s scary” endeavor.

In Your Words: How have have you redefined failure so that it doesn’t stop you from pursuing your dreams? 

In Others\’ Words: Redefining Failure http://wp.me/p63waO-2nW #quotes #perspective

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\”Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker…\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2nW #quotes #perspective

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In Others’ Words: Simple Gratitude

Joy and gratitude . . . for me, the two are intertwined.

Joy is an expression of gratitude.

Gratitude leads to joy.

And we can never have too much joy and gratitude in our lives, can we?

Of the two, we have to be more deliberate about expressing our gratitude for the people in our lives. For the special graces God bestows on us. For the opportunities we are given. For the protection we are provided.

Sometimes joy surprises us. Other times, joy is shared with others — multiplying again and again as we recognize our reasons to be thankful.

And there it is again: GRATITUDE.

I can think of many things to be thankful for: my home, a good night’s sleep, a book contract. But family and friends are the greatest source of joy in my life. And for them I am most truly grateful.

In Your Words: What brings you joy? What is one thing you are grateful for today? What is one thing you are always grateful for?

In Others\’ Words: Simple Gratitude http://wp.me/p63waO-2nP #quotes #gratitude

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\”Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2nP #quotes #gratitude

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In Others’ Words: The Beauty of a Broken Heart

When I was younger, I thought there was only one way my heart could be broken. I blame my limited thinking on all the Harlequin romances I read as a teenager — and back then, Harlequins were quite innocent.

Years later, I know a person’s heart can be broken for many different reasons:

the end of a relationship — think of a romance or a treasured friendship or a family relationship
the loss of a dream
ongoing disappointment or discouragement
continual criticism or abuse

I’ve also learned that a broken heart beats on … and chooses to love again. To risk again. To “live on,” as the poet Lord Byron wrote. A loving heart has nothing to do with being perfect. No. The most loving heart is often the one that has been broken … and is pieced back together by forgiveness and hope and unselfishness.

In Your Words: There’s no avoiding a broken heart. But how do you choose to “live on” with that brokenness?

In Others\’ Words: The Beauty of a Broken Heart http://wp.me/p63waO-2nI #quotes #love

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\”The heart will break, but broken live on.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2nI #quotes #love

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