Emilie Richards's Blog

Sunday Inspiration: Jane Goodall

“There is still so much in the world worth fighting for.
So much that is beautiful,
so many wonderful people working to reverse the harm,
to help alleviate the suffering.
And so many young people dedicated to making this a better world.”
​
– Jane Goodall

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Sunday Inspiration: Miserable or strong?

“We either make ourselves miserable,
or we make ourselves strong.
The amount of work is the same.”

-Carlos Castaneda

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Sunday Inspiration: Kindness

“Remember
there’s no such thing
as a small act of kindness.
Every act creates a ripple
with no logical end.”
-Scott Adam

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Sunday Inspiration: Improve the world

“The place to improve the world
is first in one’s own heart and head and hands,
and then work outward from there.”
​
– Robert M. Parsig

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Sunday Inspiration: Everyone must leave something behind

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies,
my grandfather said.
A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made.
Or a garden planted.
Something your hand touched
some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die,
and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted,
you’re there.”

Ray Bradbury from The Besotted Bookworm

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Sunday Inspiration: We are all visitors

“We are all visitors to this time,
this place.
We are just passing through.
Our purpose here is
to observe,
to learn,
to grow,
to love.
And then we return home.”-Australian Aboriginal Proverb

What have you observed this summer that helped you to grow?

As we leave Chautauqua Institution after nine weeks of lectures and concerts, I have a lot to reminisce about as I return home to North Carolina. Among other things I’ve learned how much I value all the people who have so much to teach me, and how grateful I am for their wisdom and counsel.

The next step? Finding ways to act on what I’ve learned. How about you?

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Sunday Inspiration: Take a Breath!

“Sometimes we forget how magical it is just to wake up in the morning.
Take a breath.
Wriggle your toes, and open your droopy eyes.
Take a moment.
Be present.
Give gratitude first.”
~Unknown

Thank you to the Charter of Compassion Facebook Page for this thought. My research didn’t turn up an author, but it would be lovely if one would come forward. 

It’s so easy to forget “being present.” Let’s practice.

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Sunday Inspiration: Late So Soon

A very busy week and we forgot to post. But it’s still Sunday, and Dr. Seuss had something to say about being late. Do you ever feel like he (and we) did today? It’s nice to know we’re not alone.

How did it get to be late so soon?

It’s night before it’s afternoon

December is here before it’s June

My goodness how the time has flown

How did it get to be late so soon”

Dr. Seuss

Have a good week and hopefully one where you’re on time—at least mostly…

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Sunday Inspiration: The only way to be happy

“One thing I am convinced more and more is true
and that is this:
the only way to be truly happy
is to make others happy.”
​
– William Carlos Williams

Who have we made happy today? How about yesterday? (Easier, since you had the whole day to try.) I like the idea of making this a morning pledge: I will make somebody  happy today. The options are enormous, aren’t they?

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Sunday Inspiration: Go into the arts

“Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”
~Kurt Vonnegut

I visited our local art galleries this week, and as always, I was amazed at the imagination and creativity on display. Take time this summer, if you can, to view someone else’s courage and creativity, as a spur for your own. Then pull out the piano bench or the sewing machine or the computer keyboard. Now’s the moment.

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