Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 41

In Others’ Words: Dogs and Cats and You and Me

 

I’ve never done a double quote blog post before. But tonight I wanted to write about pets and if I only chose a quote about dogs I’d be alienating all of you cat lovers. Likewise, if I only chose a quote about cats, I’d offend all of you dog lovers. So yes, I straddled the virtual fence and chose two quotes.

I also know people have goldfish as pets. And guinea pigs. And snakes. And all other sorts of animals. But for the sake of this blog post, I’ll limit myself to dogs and cats, okay?

This is our grande dame dachshund, Twister, doing what she does all day: sleep.

And yes, it’s true some people aren’t into pets … but I would wager the vast majority of people around the world have had some experience with having a dog or a cat as a pet. We’ve loved them and yes, we’ve lost them — and losing a much beloved pet is an especially poignant loss, whether you are a child or an adult. It. Just. Hurts.

I love both cats and dogs. I love the way cats purr and pounce and yes, the way they “own” you. And I love the wholehearted affection dogs offer us … and the way playfulness seems inbred in them from the day they are born until the day they take their last breath.

This is my daughter’s dog, Jo. She’s a rescue dog and she needs lots of love and attention. Ask me how I know.

My family and friends know I’m afraid of dogs because of a few scary incidents with uncontrolled dogs while I’ve been out walking. But the truth is, I’m more afraid of their owners and how they don’t care enough to train their dogs or to supervise their dogs so that they won’t hurt someone like me — or a child. I’m an adult, I’ll cope with being afraid. No child should be chased by a dog simply because its owner is irresponsible.

But I digress.

Pets are a responsibility, what with feeding them and grooming them and training them. But dogs and cats bring fun and joy and, at times, a sense of calmness, into our lives, too.

In Your Words: Are you a cat person or a dog person — or are you both? I’d love for you to share a favorite pet story today. What do you like best about having a pet?

In Others’ Words: Dogs and Cats and You and Me #InOthersWords #lifequotes #pets
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“Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.” #quote #MaxEastman #dogs
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“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” #quotes…
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I’m celebrating the upcoming release of my destination wedding, Almost Like Being in Love, with a giveaway today, Tuesday, June 14th, over on my Author Facebook page — and you can win a copy for you and one for a friend! 

 

In Others’ Words: Are You Interested?

You know how you get to the end of a day and you don’t remember what you did?

Or is that only me that happens to?

Sometimes I’m busy, busy, busy … and yes, I’m doing things. But sometimes what I’m really doing is not paying attention. I’m juggling several things at one time, which in a way is saying that none of the things I’m doing warrants my full attention. And then there are those times I just don’t care what’s going on. I underestimate the importance of what’s going on … or who’s talking … and really, that’s a “me” issue, not a “them” issue.

An important part of living is being interested in what’s going on around me day by day, hour by hour. Paying attention. Acting like the people in my life — the ones I already know and the ones I need to get to know —  are important … because they are.

In Your Words: So, I’m curious — what’s caught your attention this week? People? Events? What’s surprised you? And what can distract you from the things in life you want to focus on?

In Others’ Words: Are You Interested? #InOthersWords #lifequotes #payattention
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“There are no uninteresting things, only uninterested people.” #quotes #GKChesterton #payattention
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Somebody Like You, which was selected as one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014, is on sale for a limited time for only $3.99 — Kindle and Nook versions, as well as at BAM! You can buy purchase it here.

For your e-reader: Somebody Like You by @bethvogt is only $3.99 @booksamillion bit.ly/20Tlnk3…
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In Others’ Words: Who Do You Think You Are?

Envy is an ugly two-way emotion.

In one direction, I throw doubt at myself, splattering thoughts of “I can’t” and “I won’t ever be that good” all over my self-confidence. At the same time, I toss an equal amount of “Why you instead of me?” and “I want what you have” at someone else — and that someone can be a valued friend.

Unwelcome, offensive thoughts crawl through my mind. No, I don’t speak them out loud — but they’re caustic to my mood, my creativity. God only knows what damage they would do to my relationships.

The remedy to envy — to preventing it from even happening? To celebrate another person’s success — out loud and with enthusiasm. I have to remember who I am — and it’s okay to celebrate that, too. And then I entrust myself — my God-given abilities and the success of my dreams — to God and His timing.

In Your Words: What causes you to wrestle with envy? How do you remember who you are — what your gifts are? I’d love for you to join the conversation today and share one of your gifts with us, so we can celebrate you.

In Others’ Words: Who Do You Think You Are? #InOthersWords #lifequotes #envy
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“Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief, in their own gifts.” #quotes #JeanVanier…
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Somebody Like You, which was selected as one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014, is on sale for a limited time for only $3.99 — Kindle and Nook versions, as well as at BAM! You can buy purchase it here.

For your e-reader: Somebody Like You by @bethvogt is only $3.99 @booksamillion bit.ly/20Tlnk3…
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In Your Words: Fear is a Liar

 

Look at the picture above. That’s me. My name is Christa, and I’m Beth K. Vogt’s daughter! I hope you guys don’t mind me writing this post today.

As a 15-year-old girl going through high school, fear is not an uncommon thing. Fear of messing up on a test. Fear of not having that cute boy like me back.

Fear of that girl harassing me — just like she has for the past two years.

Yeah. Haha. It’s been tough. My mom and I call her “bad kitty” — because sometimes you just have to joke about things, you know? Some days, I was so scared of what she might do to ruin my day — and it didn’t take much. When I woke up in the morning, I’d come up with a million different scenarios of what she could do.

Most of you reading this are probably out of high school, with your own defined lives. Careers. Families. But I bet most of you have a “bad kitty” that you’re afraid of too.

And I don’t know about you, but I get sick of being scared. I never want to be paralyzed by fear, afraid to walk into school every morning. I’m one of those weird kids who actually likes school!

But when it gets bad because I’ve dealt with this situation for months and I just can’t get up in the morning and go through the same routine — that’s when I remember who I belong to. God is with me when I’m shaking in my boots.

Satan is the king of lies. He’s always trying to scare us.

Most of the scenarios I pictured with “bad kitty” never happened. They probably never will, to be honest.

God is the King of Truth. He is always right next to us when we’re faced with everything that scares us. We’re His children, guys. And we can do anything.

Listen up.

You can do anything — no matter what is in your way. Don’t get frightened by the “what ifs”. Our God won’t let us be overcome. Don’t listen to the lies. Listen to God’s love. That is bigger than anything or anyone we face.

In Others’ Words: You can only imagine how special it is for me to have my daughter Christa share on the blog today. Her honesty and her faith amaze me. And she’s right: we all face our own “bad kitty” — people or things that the enemy uses to throw lies at us. How have you fought back against those lies with the Truth?

In Others’ Words: “Fear is a Liar” #InOthersWords #lifequotes #fear
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Conquering Fear’s Lies with the Truth #quotes #encouragement #faith
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Somebody Like You, which was selected as one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014, is on sale for a limited time for only $3.99 — Kindle and Nook versions, as well as at BAM! You can buy purchase it here.

SALE UPDATE! Somebody Like You by @bethvogt is only $3.99 @BooksaMillion http://bit.ly/20Tlnk3…
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In Others’ Words: To Do Each Day

I had the most difficult time finding a quote for today’s blog post — even after a good friend gave me a wonderful book titled Quotationary, which contains over 20,000 quotations. I flipped back and forth between the pages, but I just couldn’t settle on a quote … until this one:

“Each day grow older and learn something new.”

That’s a pretty basic quote, isn’t it? The first activity isn’t optional: we get older every day. But the second activity of learning something new? It’s up to each one of us whether we learn something new each day or not.

We can learn something new about ourselves … or someone else … or about the world around us … or about faith … or we can stumble upon some new truth that catches us totally unawares and changes our perspective, our life, in ways we never imagined.

And the not-optional activity of getting older every day? That doesn’t have to be a bad thing, does it? I’ll admit I’m not always crazy about it. I don’t really care for wrinkles, but I’m not opting for botox or the plastic look some people seem to prefer. Despite the physical aspects of growing older, I do like myself more and more the older I get because of all the things I’ve learned along the way.

It’s funny how the two can go hand in hand, isn’t it?

Maybe this will be the summer of “learning something new every day.” Want to join me?

In Your Words: What do you think of today’s not optional and optional activities? What’s your mindset about getting older and learning new things?

In Others’ Words: To Do Each Day #InOthersWords #lifequotes #time
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“Each day grow older and learn something new.” #quotes #Solon #today
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Just a reminder that my newest e-novella, You Can’t Hurry Love, is available for only 99 cents! And it has the first chapter of my upcoming novel, Almost Like Being in Love, at the end of the book!

Is love enough to help us face our mistakes? Read the new #‎Colorado #‎romance by @bethvogt for…
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In Others’ Words: A Single Regret

When I was in high school, I was involved in drama, both acting and directing plays. It was always challenging to decide whether to try out for a lead part or a secondary role. And directing? That was a whole other kind of fun.

Once I decided which role I wanted, I had to prep, audition, and then wait for the director to post the list announcing who earned what role. I celebrated when I got the role I wanted. Adapted when I didn’t. And then I dove into rehearsals: memorizing my lines, learning my cues, discovering what my costume would look like.

I loved becoming my character — having the chance to be someone else. And the sound of applause from the audience? Nothing else like it.

There have been times since those high school plays when I’ve played the expected part. Sometimes I heaped the expectations on myself and other times the presumption was placed on my shoulders by someone else. I performed … and waited for the virtual applause. Over and over again.

And then I realized that performing is a lousy way to live.

That realization was hard-won, but so worth the fight to drag myself off the stage of pretense.

Acting a part, especially when it’s dictated by approval-driven expectations, destroys individuality. There’s no chance to be yourself. No, it’s all about being who you have to be or who you think others want you to be. You’re saying the right thing, not the honest thing. You’re playing a part, not being yourself.

I don’t want to look back on my life and wish I’d been someone else. I especially don’t want to look back on my life and realize I hadn’t been me, the person God created me to be.

In Your Words: Regrets cut deep into our heart, don’t they? Is there anything you’d change in your life so that you don’t wish you’d been someone else during your lifetime?

In Others’ Words: A Single Regret #InOthersWords #lifequotes #regret
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“His only regret in life is that he is not someone else.” #quote #WoodyAllen #regret
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Just a reminder that my newest e-novella, You Can’t Hurry Love, is available for only 99 cents! And it has the first chapter of my upcoming novel, Almost Like Being in Love, at the end of the book!

Is love enough to help us face our mistakes? Read the new #‎Colorado #‎romance by @bethvogt for…
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In Others’ Words: The Time Thief

 

 

I would dare say everyone is guilty of procrastination at one time or another.

Of course, there are people who just put things off things once in a while, and then there are the big-time procrastinators who have perfected “not now” and “l’ll get to it later.”

And at the time … putting off the responsibility, the job, the task, the person, seems fine. After all, we’ll get to it later, right? In an hour. Or tomorrow. Or the next day.

But do we?

Maybe. Maybe not.

What we are doing is developing a habit of hesitation. Instead of moving ahead … instead of trying and yes, maybe running into an obstacle that we have to figure out … we hold off. We let time slide. How many minutes, hours, days are wasted by our mental loitering? It all adds up, doesn’t it?

In Your Words: What helps you avoid procrastination? When have you regretted putting something off?

In Others’ Words: The Time Thief #InOthersWords #lifequotes #procrastination
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“Procrastination is the thief of time.” #quotes #EdwardYoung #procrastination
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In Your Words: The Making of a Memory

I am very fond of memories. 

I’m the type of person who saves cards — birthday cards, Mother’s Day cards, thank you cards, “just because” cards. The handwritten notes inside recall to mind the person who gave me the card — the part I treasure most.

I also save photographs, both digital and traditional. Even less-than-perfect blurry ones, because they capture a particularly precious moment in time I want to remember.

And then there are those moments tucked deep in my heart, captured only by my mind’s eye. Forget-me-not instances that I recall when I’m alone … or when I hear the lyrics of a certain song … or when a particular day comes along each year …

Significance — that’s what’s bound up in the memories we keep. Some of the moments I remember best are tear-stained, waiting-for-joy-to-come in-the-morning experiences. Others echo with the faint sound of laughter. But each and every unforgettable memory is woven through with significance that has influenced the making of me.

In Your Words: Are you a memory keeper? A memory maker? I’d be honored if you share a special memory with us here today.

In Your Words: The Making of a Memory #InOthersWords #lifequote #Memories
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“People tend to remember best the things they have felt most deeply.” #quotes #DavidReisman…
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In Others’ Words: Of Puddles and Progress

It’s raining here in Colorado. 

I’m not one of those people who love rainy days. A couple of my kiddos do, but not me. Rain interferes with things I want to do, like walking in the morning with my friend Mary. And it steals away those sunny days Colorado is known for. I’m all for the sunshine.

But there’s no getting around rainy days … and there’s no getting around puddles in our paths, either. We have options, of course. At the first sign of rain, we can stop walking. When we come upon a puddle in our path,  we can veer off course and walk along the shoulder. But sometimes the shoulder is rocky. Or it’s a ravine. Or it’s nonexistent.

Sometimes to keep moving forward, we’re gonna get our feet wet. We’re gonna be uncomfortable. We just have to choose to take the next step through the puddle. Or maybe, just maybe, we should adopt the sweet abandon of a child and splash through the puddle with laughter.

In Your Words: So are you a rainy day person? What do you like about rainy days? And what helps you walk through the puddles in your paths?

In Others’ Words: Of Puddles and Progress #InOthersWords #lifequotes #progress
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“Every path has a puddle.” #quotes #JohnRay #perspective
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My e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, is a Holt Medallion finalist in the novella category! I’m celebrating by giving away three copies over on my Author Facebook page!

CELEBRATE! Can’t Buy Me Love is a Holt Medallion finalist! Enter the #giveaway to win a copy!…
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In Others’ Words: What Would You Wish For?

Today’s quote has just a touch of whimsy to it, don’t you think?

Haven’t we all dreamed of a wish or two coming true? Maybe paused a moment or two longer before we blew out the candles on our birthday cake and wished extra hard for a certain something? Tossed a few coins in a wishing well? Or wondered when our fairy godmother was going to show up and announce she had our longed-for dream all taken care of?

Making a wish for someone else? Now that’s a whole other matter, isn’t it? A wish-coming-true that would affect someone’s future … what would you wish for a just-born child?

In Your Words: Forget the fairy godmother angle. What one thing, what one characteristic, would you consider the most useful gift to endow a child with? What would you wish for if your wish could come true for a newborn child — and influence their future?

In Others’ Words: What Would You Wish For? #InOthersWords #lifequotes #choices
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” … if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow [a child] with the most useful gift, [it]…
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