Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 45

In Others’ Word: They Like Me, They Like Me Not

 

There’s a lot of truth packed into today’s quote.

Some people are going to like you. Some people aren’t.

It’s as simple … and as challenging … as that.

Another way to put it? You can’t please everybody. 

But, oh, don’t we try sometimes?

You know what finally convinced me that some people will like me and some people won’t? Publishing a book. Publishing a book earns you the opportunity to have your book reviewed by everyone and anyone. And I’ve learned that anyone will review your book — and not everyone will like it.

But Beth, you say, not liking your book is not the same thing as not liking you!

Well, let me assure you, sometimes a review feels very personal indeed — and both reading between the lines and reading exactly what the reviewer has written — it feels exactly as if someone is saying is “And by the way, I don’t like you.”

You know how I’ve dealt with this dilemma of “They Like Me, They Like Me Not?” 

I don’t read reviews anymore. Period. End of discussion.
 I anchor myself to the truth of who I am and Whose I am.
 I know who my family and friends are … the ones I trust the most. They like me. They love me — and they can confront me as needed because I trust them.

 

In Your Words: How do you deal with the “They Like Me, They Like Me Not” dilemma? Who in your life displays the attitude of Claudette Colbert, the actress who said, “You can never get everyone to like you, so why knock yourself out trying?”

In Others’ Words: They Like Me, They Like Me Not #InOthersWords, #lifequotes #selfesteem
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“Some people like me. Some people don’t. You can never get everyone to like you, so why knock…
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In Others’ Words: The Pace of Nature

Pace yourself. 

Have you ever said those two words to yourself? Pace yourself.

I have — and it’s usually a crazy mix of trying to slow myself down while also trying to make a lot of forward progress. So yes, I’m attempting to be patient with myself. I’m trying to take my time. But at the same time, I’m hearing this demanding voice in my head saying, “Get it done! Get it done now!”

I’m at odds with myself, mentally and emotionally — and sometimes even physically if I’ve worn myself out and kept pushing myself. What kind of pace is that?

There is something to this encouragement to Adopt the pace of nature. Pacing myself with patience allows for seasons of growth and rest. Of sowing and reaping. Of understanding that there is benefit to all of it: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Instead of fighting the less-productive times in my life, I can be patient with myself and realize this won’t always be the way of things. The speed of life will pick up again … if I will only be patient.

In Your Words: When has nature displayed a lesson of patience to you? What other lessons have you learned from nature?

In Others’ Words: The Pace of Nature #InOthersWords #quotes #nature
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“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” #quotes #nature #RalphWaldoEmerson
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In Others’ Words: What Genius Might Be

Sometimes we make things so complicated.

So I’m keeping it simple today … well, the quote about genius was the catalyst for keeping things simple.

My husband Rob is a super-intelligent guy. He’s a family physician — and he’s a rocket scientist. Really, he is. He graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in astronautical engineering. Which is why he has this coffee mug:

So, yeah. My husband is smart.

But one of the things my husband is known for as a doctor is that he can take something complicated and distill it down so that it is understandable. He wades through all the “doctor-speak” so that his patients can understand what is going on and make the decisions they need to make.

Profound doesn’t always have to be complicated. The ability to speak the truth plainly or to explain so that others can understand what was once confusing?

Genius.

And so, so needed.

In Your Words: When has someone displayed genius in your life by being “simple”? Or how would you finish this sentence: Genius might be the ability to______________________________.

In Others’ Words: What Genius Might Be #InOthersWords #quotes #genius
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“Genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way.” #genius #keepitsimple…
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There’s still time to win a copy of Karen Schravemade’s 2016 Dreams by Design Planner! Leave a comment here by tomorrow (Friday the 15th). 

In Others’ Words: Success by the Days with @karenschrav #quotes #dreams #plans
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Guest post with @karenschrav and a chance to win her 2015 Dreams by Design planner! #giveaway…
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In Others’ Words: Success by the Days (Guest Post by Karen Schravemade) & a Giveaway

Hi, friends! My name is Karen and I blog over at A house full of sunshine – a home-making and lifestyle blog where I share my decorating, organizing and kid-wrangling tips as we make our house a home. Thanks so much to Beth for having me here today!

You know why I love the quote I chose to share with you today? Because it’s so very tempting to look at successful people and imagine it’s been plain sailing for them. We see the end result. The accolades. The pay-off.

And usually, that’s all we see.

We watch these people reaping the sort of success we dream of experiencing, and if we’re honest, we feel a pang of envy.

What we don’t see is the backstory behind the success. The many hours spent writing or blogging in utter obscurity. The rejection letters. The failed business ventures. The missed sleep. The setbacks. The struggle.

The thing is that there’s no magic formula for success. There’s no secret handshake or back door that will get you there any quicker. Sure, sometimes a person gets a lucky break that accelerates their progress. But that’s the exception. For most of us, success is spelt “W-O-R-K”.

I love this quote from Robert Collier, because it’s not about the big Final Reveal where success is finally achieved – the mountain-top experience we all dream of in our professional careers. It’s about the journey. The small stuff. The daily habits that will take you there.

Because really, that’s where success is found.

It’s found in our mindset. In our everyday attitude toward work, while our dreams still feel a long way off.

It’s the ability to plant our butt in that chair and write the words. Do the time. Hone our craft. Day, after day, after day.

There’s a tension involved in balancing our big, long-term dreams with the small daily habits needed to get us there. It’s why I created the Dreams by Design planner. I wanted a way to hold my goals and my daily schedule in each hand. To keep track of the small stuff of everyday life, without losing sight of the big picture. I wanted a way to take those big dreams and create consistent follow through to move me toward them – every month, every week, every day of the year.

Small efforts, repeated day in and day out.

Because when it comes down to it, the small things are the big things.

Would you agree?

In Your Words: What helps you be successful day by day? 

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I’m so glad Karen shared her thoughts with us today. She’s incredibly talented and creative — and I’ve invested in a copy of her 2016 Dreams by Design Planner for myself. I know that dreams take planning and work for them to happen. Today I’m giving away one copy of the 2016 Dreams By Design Planner. Leave a comment below for a chance to win. I will choose a winner on Friday.

 

In Others’ Words: Success by the Days with @karenschrav #quotes #dreams #plans
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Guest post with @karenschrav and a chance to win her 2015 Dreams by Design planner! #giveaway…
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In Others’ Words: The Value of Befriending Yourself

How good a friend are you — with yourself?

If someone had asked me that question years ago, I’d have to confess to being a fair weather friend to myself. I hung around me when things were going well — when I could stamp “approved” on my forehead or slap a gold star on my efforts. But when the going got tough and I didn’t handle things well? I was as good as gone.

And when I did hang around myself? Well, I didn’t treat myself very nicely. My self-talk was usually something like “Oh. My. Word. Just don’t embarrass yourself. Try harder. You should have won — but I’m not surprised you didn’t.”

Blah blah blah …

I would never talk to anyone else like that … but oh, the things I said to myself.

It’s only as I got older — and learned from others’ wiser than myself — that I became my own friend. I discovered I liked me. I was worth my time, worth getting to know. Worth investing in.

One of the things I do just because I enjoy it is walk along the beach whenever I can. It’s relaxing … a time when I savor being both alone and when I feel closest to God. I make no apologies for my walks along the beach. You see, I know myself well — I’m my own friend — and I realize those walks restore my soul.

So do times of silence.

So do the walks I take with my friend Mary.

So does laughter with my girlfriends.

So does spending time with other writers — because they “get” me. They are my people.

In Your Words: How friendly are you with yourself? What have you learned about yourself as you “befriended” yourself?

In Others’ Words: The Value of Befriending Yourself #InOthersWords #friendship #Identity
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“Friendship with oneself is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone…
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Next Tuesday, January 12, my friend writer Karen Schravemade, who blogs over at A House Full of Sunshine, will be dropping by as a guest blogger — and I’ll be having a fun giveaway! See you next week!

 

 

 

In Others’ Words: Life and Unimportant Days

It’s funny how we count our days, isn’t it?

We have busy days and do-nothing days and days we wait for all year long, like birthdays and anniversaries and Christmas. We have days we dread, like the start of school or the end of vacation. Life changing days … and life-shattering days.

But I do believe Alexander Woollcott got it right when he said there are no unimportant days in our lives. Each and every day we live, no matter how many or how few, equal the sum total of our life — the minutes and hours that made us who we are. Our choices. Our relationships. Our accomplishments. Our disappointments and defeats. The good days and the bad days put all together are important because they are ours. We can’t relive them … and we can’t un-live them, either.

Important days can be ones where we make monumental decisions. We say “I do.” Or we say, “No, not this time” — and we live with the consequences of our decision. But even on the days when we rest and think and don’t do anything life-changing — or so it seems — the day is still important because it was ours to be lived … and to be appreciated.

In Your Words: It’s Tuesday — a not unimportant day! How’s it going for you so far? 

 

In Others’ Words: Life and Unimportant Days #InOthersWords #lifequotes #perspective
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“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.” #AlexanderWoollcott #inotherswords…
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In Others’ Words: Taking Christmas a Little at a Time

Christmas can get awfully crowded — filled up to overflowing by a busy schedule. Things to do. People to see. Presents to buy and wrap. Cards to address and mail — or maybe design online and email. Traditions to be kept or begun.

And somewhere in the midst of all the doing, we want to remember the reason for the season . . . the “why” of it all . . . the “who” we are celebrating.

What if we didn’t confine Christmas to a single month, but rather let the celebration overflow to all the days of our lives? What if “The most wonderful time of the year” became our theme song and we celebrated God-with-us every day. What if “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” wasn’t just sung about in Christmas cantatas, but rather influenced our relationships with others?

I’m wishing you a joy-filled Christmas today … one that shows up in your life a little at a time, all through the coming New Year. 

In Your Words: How would your life look different if you took Christmas a little at a time, all through the year?

“I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day … ” #InOthersWords #Christmas #expectations
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In Others’ Words: Taking #Christmas a Little at a Time #focus #quotes
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ONLY TWO MORE DAYS TO ENTER THE CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

I’m part of a wonderful group called The Grove, with several author-friends … well, we’re more like sisters, really. We’re having a GROVE GIRL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY. Go go to this Rafflecopter form to join in the fun for a chance to win these prizes:

A signed copy of From the Start by Melissa Tagg + a $10 Amazon gift card to find something special just for you.
Signed copies of The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin, both by Kristy Cambron with a beautiful bookmark to hold your place in these great books.
Signed copy of Where Treetops Glisten by Cara Putman and candy cane ornaments because the heroine makes those in the novel
Signed copy of Paper Hearts and a hot off the press ARC of Change of Heart, both by Courtney Walsh
Signed copies of Amish Christmas at North Star and The Art of Losing Yourself, both by Katie Ganshert
A signed copy of The Bronte Plot, by Katherine Reay
A signed copy of The Curiosity Keeper, by Sarah Ladd
A signed copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love plus an e-novella Can’t Buy Me Love, both by Beth Vogt

 

Love #Christmas? So do the @theGROVE_story girls. Join their MASSIVE #giveaway. #amreading……
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In Others’ Words: Seeing God in Everything

I’m going to be honest here for a moment.

Not that I’m not honest with you whenever I write a post, but this is one of those “I’m about to share something I don’t usually tell people” moments.

Have you ever heard someone say: God is good all the time …

And then someone else (maybe you) says: And all the time, God is good!

That little verbal interaction? It makes me cringe.

I’ve seen too many people use it as some sort of virtual blanket, throwing it over another person’s pain or heartache. We smother the reality of how much someone is hurting. Sometimes I feel as if we try to pole vault over the pain and go right to the healing and the hallelujahs. Yes, you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer … but God is good all the time! Yes, your marriage just imploded … but God is good all the time! Yes, your child is a prodigal … but God is good all the time!

And you, in the midst of trying to gather up the shards of your broken heart, are expected to smile and respond: And all the time, God is good!

Yes, I know it’s true that God is good all the time … but let’s be sensitive enough to know that sometimes all that’s needed of us is to acknowledge that someone else is hurting. Let’s be gracious when and how we proclaim God’s goodness, shall we? Because sometimes people who are hurting need our silence and our presence more than they need proclamation and happy faces.

I want to see God in every situation … but I also want to be mindful of how God wants me to be present in every situation. How can I best reflect Him to someone else who is mourning or doubting? Sometimes when Jesus saw others hurting, He wept with them. I want to grow in grace and offer others grace as God would, not toss out an oft-recited phrase that offers someone in need nothing more than empty words and little comfort.

In Your Words: What helps you see God in every situation? 

In Others’ Words: Seeing God in Everything #InOthersWords #faith #grace
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“A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace … ” #InOthersWords…
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CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

I’m part of a wonderful group called The Grove, with several author-friends … well, we’re more like sisters, really. We’re having a GROVE GIRL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY. Go go to this Rafflecopter form to join in the fun for a chance to win these prizes:

A signed copy of From the Start by Melissa Tagg + a $10 Amazon gift card to find something special just for you.
Signed copies of The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin, both by Kristy Cambron with a beautiful bookmark to hold your place in these great books.
Signed copy of Where Treetops Glisten by Cara Putman and candy cane ornaments because the heroine makes those in the novel
Signed copy of Paper Hearts and a hot off the press ARC of Change of Heart, both by Courtney Walsh
Signed copies of Amish Christmas at North Star and The Art of Losing Yourself, both by Katie Ganshert
A signed copy of The Bronte Plot, by Katherine Reay
A signed copy of The Curiosity Keeper, by Sarah Ladd
A signed copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love plus an e-novella Can’t Buy Me Love, both by Beth Vogt

 

Love #Christmas? So do the @theGROVE_story girls. Join their MASSIVE #giveaway. #amreading……
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In Others’ Words: Choosing One Word for 2016

One Word.

I blogged about this earlier, back in October, in a post titled “Time to Start Thinking About One Word for 2016.”

But while I was ready to talk about my One Word for the upcoming new year, I think some of you were just ready to begin pondering your One Word for 2016. So, here I am again, asking the question: Do you have One Word for 2016?

This is my eleventh year to focus on one word, and if you want a recap of the words I’ve focused on in years past — words like gratitude and confidence and collaborate —  you can find them in my October blog post.

My word for 2016 is: prosper.

I Samuel 18:14 says: David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him.

But here’s what I found interesting: the word “prosper” means acting wisely. So read that as “And David was acting wisely in all his ways for the LORD was with him.”

Changes things, doesn’t it? I like to think of “prosper” as material wealth, or even accolades. It’s not often — if ever — that I think of prospering as acting wisely. The upcoming year is going to be interesting as God teaches me the new meaning of the word prosper.

I’ve never had a song that I’ve tied to my One Word, but I do this year: a new version of The Prayer. The opening stanza says:

I pray you’ll be our eyes,

and watch us where we go

And help us to be wise,

in times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer,

when we lose our way

Lead us to a place,

guide us with your grace

To a place where we’ll be safe.

In Your Words: If you chose a word for 2015, how has that one word changed you? What’s your one word for 2016 — or are you still thinking about it? 

In Others’ Words: Choosing One Word for 2016 #InOthersWords #OnWord #2016
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Forget New Year’s Resolutions! Choose #OneWord for #2016 #freshstart
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CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

I’m part of a wonderful group called The Grove, with several author-friends … well, we’re more like sisters, really. We’re having a GROVE GIRL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY. Go go to this Rafflecopter form to join in the fun for a chance to win these prizes:

A signed copy of From the Start by Melissa Tagg + a $10 Amazon gift card to find something special just for you.
Signed copies of The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin, both by Kristy Cambron with a beautiful bookmark to hold your place in these great books.
Signed copy of Where Treetops Glisten by Cara Putman and candy cane ornaments because the heroine makes those in the novel
Signed copy of Paper Hearts and a hot off the press ARC of Change of Heart, both by Courtney Walsh
Signed copies of Amish Christmas at North Star and The Art of Losing Yourself, both by Katie Ganshert
A signed copy of The Bronte Plot, by Katherine Reay
A signed copy of The Curiosity Keeper, by Sarah Ladd
A signed copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love plus an e-novella Can’t Buy Me Love, both by Beth Vogt

 

Love #Christmas? So do the @theGROVE_story girls. Join their MASSIVE #giveaway. #amreading……
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In Others’ Words: What Christmas is Not

We so often think of what Christmas is … and rarely think of what Christmas is not. 

And yet Calvin Coolidge, best known as a a former U.S. president, so succinctly states what Christmas is not: It is not a time or a season … despite Christmas coming ’round the same month each year.

I have to agree with former President Coolidge that Christmas is a state of mind. Not of mankind’s mind toward one another. No. Rather, it is God’s mind toward His creation.

Peace on earth … in the form of a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Goodwill toward men … announced by the angels to the shepherds. Not judgement. Not anger. God’s goodness.

Plenteous mercy … described in the Word as God’s lavish grace.

And if we, who are created in the image of God, choose to reflect peace and goodwill and mercy, during what remains of the month of December … all the better. All the better.

In Your Words: How would you fill in this sentence: Christmas is not ___________________, but _______________________________.

 

In Others’ Words: What #Christmas is Not #InOthersWords #lifequotes
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“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind …. ” #Christmas #CalvinCoolidge #faith
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CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

I’m part of a wonderful group called The Grove, with several author-friends … well, we’re more like sisters, really. We’re having a GROVE GIRL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY. Go go to this Rafflecopter form to join in the fun for a chance to win these prizes:

A signed copy of From the Start by Melissa Tagg + a $10 Amazon gift card to find something special just for you.
Signed copies of The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin, both by Kristy Cambron with a beautiful bookmark to hold your place in these great books.
Signed copy of Where Treetops Glisten by Cara Putman and candy cane ornaments because the heroine makes those in the novel
Signed copy of Paper Hearts and a hot off the press ARC of Change of Heart, both by Courtney Walsh
Signed copies of Amish Christmas at North Star and The Art of Losing Yourself, both by Katie Ganshert
A signed copy of The Bronte Plot, by Katherine Reay
A signed copy of The Curiosity Keeper, by Sarah Ladd
A signed copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love plus an e-novella Can’t Buy Me Love, both by Beth Vogt

 

Love #Christmas? So do the @theGROVE_story girls. Join their MASSIVE #giveaway. #amreading……
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