What inspires you?
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried but there were only two that the king really liked.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace.
Ultimately the king chose the second picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the king,
"Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
This quote about peace is on my board in my cube at work, and I would love to add other quotes to my wall.
I'm curious what quotes or sayings inspire you all?
You are such an amazing group, I bet you have many to share!!!
Comments
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One of my favorites comesaysemari said:What a great post, thanks for this
This is one of my favorite
The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.
Blaise Pascal
Hugs,
Ayse
One of my favorites comes from Buddha:
"One moment can change a day
One day can change a life
One life can change the world"
Also, many of you may have seen this, as I use it quite often in closing. Also from Buddha:
"May you be at Peace, May you be free of suffering,"
Dianne0 -
not someone famous
What inspires me is when my grandson who has ADD says something very honest. He does not filter his comments like many others do. I love that kind of honesty. The other day when he visited (after several months of not seeing me)he said, "Too bad you had to get cancer so that we could all get back together." His mother tried to correct him. I think she felt like he was thinking we had a fight (which we had not). I said "no no it is ok." It had been a drastic change for the kids when my daughter quit having her kids visit at our house every other weekend. I missed them over those 3 months, though I was glad my daughter finally had an apartment. Having honesty right up front keeps me from wasting my time and will put me and others on the path to action.0 -
Grand Canyonlaughs_a_lot said:not someone famous
What inspires me is when my grandson who has ADD says something very honest. He does not filter his comments like many others do. I love that kind of honesty. The other day when he visited (after several months of not seeing me)he said, "Too bad you had to get cancer so that we could all get back together." His mother tried to correct him. I think she felt like he was thinking we had a fight (which we had not). I said "no no it is ok." It had been a drastic change for the kids when my daughter quit having her kids visit at our house every other weekend. I missed them over those 3 months, though I was glad my daughter finally had an apartment. Having honesty right up front keeps me from wasting my time and will put me and others on the path to action.
On the wall ... facing my desk at work ... I've got a huge poster of the Grand Canyon. Every time I start feeling stressed or worried about something ... I look at my poster. Then I realize that in the big scheme of things ... my worries and concerns are not that big of a deal. 100 years from now they won't mean a thing. BUT ... in the BIG SCHEME OF THINGS ... the Grand Canyon IS a BIG DEAL. It makes my little "issues" seem very, very, minor... and puts things into perspective.
I also love the saying that "Success is not a destination ... but it is the quality of your journey."
Then of course there's "It is what it is." I know KathiM agrees with that ... since we both use the term ALOT ... but it is sooooooo true! When I finished radiation I ordered a bracelet with "It is what it is" on it and wear it 24/7.
hugs.
teena0 -
What a great time to have cancer
I've just started my journey - will have my mastectomy on Thursday - but since being diagnosed I've been making a list of all the "positives" about my situation. Near the top of my list is "If I've got to have breast cancer, what a wonderful time in history to have it. Because of technology my battle will be so much easier than it was for my mother in 1954 and even my sister in 1976. I couldn't have picked a better time to go through all this. What a lucky gal I am." I'm not bothering about a "negative" list. And by the way, finding all you girls on this web site and reading your loving words ... well, that's going right up there near the top too. Wish me luck on Thursday. Glo0 -
NO quote in particular
MY great long time friends Inspire me-just the great friendships. I have 4 close friends since Kindergarten, one from 7th grade-still very close...they have gotten me through many things..good and bad...
also Journal of my BC from start to rad grad day-helped me!0 -
Inspiringdisneyfan2008 said:NO quote in particular
MY great long time friends Inspire me-just the great friendships. I have 4 close friends since Kindergarten, one from 7th grade-still very close...they have gotten me through many things..good and bad...
also Journal of my BC from start to rad grad day-helped me!
There is a song called "You'll Never Walk Alone"That song brings tears to my eyes.I never hear it anymore but would love for that to be played when I am driving and listening to the radio.
Also Footprints in The SAND.That poem is such a inspiration.So much meaning.I have a big framed pic of that poem I need to put on the wall.
The words I LOVE YOU.My husband tells me that more than once a day and I tell my grandkids I love them before we hang up or when they are leaving.
Disneyfan,I wish I would have kept a journal????
Lynn Smith0 -
I also wish I would haveLynn Smith said:Inspiring
There is a song called "You'll Never Walk Alone"That song brings tears to my eyes.I never hear it anymore but would love for that to be played when I am driving and listening to the radio.
Also Footprints in The SAND.That poem is such a inspiration.So much meaning.I have a big framed pic of that poem I need to put on the wall.
The words I LOVE YOU.My husband tells me that more than once a day and I tell my grandkids I love them before we hang up or when they are leaving.
Disneyfan,I wish I would have kept a journal????
Lynn Smith
I also wish I would have kept a journal, I think that it would have been so helpful and a good thing to look back on what my thoughts were as I went through everything.
On my door at work I have alot of quotes and poems which I have put up for myself as well as the athletes that I treat
One of my favorite is Life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass its about learning to dance in the rain.
I really love the story about peace and that will soon be put up on my door. Thank you for sharing it.0 -
Peace doesn't come from
Peace doesn't come from rearranging the circumstances or your life, it comes from knowing yourself on the deepest level. - Ekhart Tolle0 -
Everything happens for amariam_11_09 said:Peace doesn't come from
Peace doesn't come from rearranging the circumstances or your life, it comes from knowing yourself on the deepest level. - Ekhart Tolle
Everything happens for a reason...love that
0 -
So many quotes and stories are inspiringLighthouse_7 said:Everything happens for a
Everything happens for a reason...love that
but I have to share the determination of a feathered friend.
Before I was diagnosed in 2005, I placed a beautiful wreath that had dried flowers, leaves and twigs on my door for decoration.
One day, I came home and noticed more twigs than I remembered. Upon looking closely, I noticed a collection of feathers, thread, just little objects that seemed to form what kind of resembled a nest. Well, I paid too much money for that wreath so I carefully pulled out the "extra" stuff.
Next day, come home from work, lo and behold, there it is again. Same materials, same formation. The last thing I wanted was anything living in my wreath, so I carefully dismantled the nest.
She was determined. She chose her home and it was my wreath. She somehow mananged to build it overnight so by the time I woke up to GO to work, not only had she built it, she was IN it.
Days later, she laid 4 eggs. They hatched into 4 tiny wrens. We "Co-mothered" those babies. I posted a huge obnoxious sign on the door warning people to NOT knock. One time I chewed out the pizza guy big time because he obviously ingorned my sign and pounded on the door! I was beside myself.
One day I came home to find her gone. They all were.
That gutsy, strong willed bird raised a family of four on a make shift home that was constantly being swung open and shut.
Maybe she trusted me. Either way, that was the best lesson I learned about determination and strength.0 -
This is the coolest story I heardsea60 said:So many quotes and stories are inspiring
but I have to share the determination of a feathered friend.
Before I was diagnosed in 2005, I placed a beautiful wreath that had dried flowers, leaves and twigs on my door for decoration.
One day, I came home and noticed more twigs than I remembered. Upon looking closely, I noticed a collection of feathers, thread, just little objects that seemed to form what kind of resembled a nest. Well, I paid too much money for that wreath so I carefully pulled out the "extra" stuff.
Next day, come home from work, lo and behold, there it is again. Same materials, same formation. The last thing I wanted was anything living in my wreath, so I carefully dismantled the nest.
She was determined. She chose her home and it was my wreath. She somehow mananged to build it overnight so by the time I woke up to GO to work, not only had she built it, she was IN it.
Days later, she laid 4 eggs. They hatched into 4 tiny wrens. We "Co-mothered" those babies. I posted a huge obnoxious sign on the door warning people to NOT knock. One time I chewed out the pizza guy big time because he obviously ingorned my sign and pounded on the door! I was beside myself.
One day I came home to find her gone. They all were.
That gutsy, strong willed bird raised a family of four on a make shift home that was constantly being swung open and shut.
Maybe she trusted me. Either way, that was the best lesson I learned about determination and strength.
Wow, that is amazing. I love this story, I can't believe she built the nest in such a
short time. Thank you soo very much for sharing this beautiful story.
My mom once raised a crow, the wing was broken but she made him/her all better
and it got huge. I was fascinated and a little scared at the same time. One day it
flew away and sometimes if the window or balcony door was open, it would come
in out of the blue. But that stopped after a while.
Hugs,
Ayse0 -
Ayse, I have picturesaysemari said:This is the coolest story I heard
Wow, that is amazing. I love this story, I can't believe she built the nest in such a
short time. Thank you soo very much for sharing this beautiful story.
My mom once raised a crow, the wing was broken but she made him/her all better
and it got huge. I was fascinated and a little scared at the same time. One day it
flew away and sometimes if the window or balcony door was open, it would come
in out of the blue. But that stopped after a while.
Hugs,
Ayse
You can barely see the babies little beaks open because the nest was quite deep. I wish I knew how to scan them so I could post them.
I kept her little nest intact on that wreath hoping she'd come back next year. She never did
0 -
Nature inspires me. When I
Nature inspires me. When I am blue, I just have to take a walk and there is always a miracle staring me in the face. Katherine has a lovely Walter Anderson print of birds in her apartment with the artist's quotation, “Birds are holes in heaven through which man may pass." I guess that's how I feel too.0 -
easyCypressCynthia said:Nature inspires me. When I
Nature inspires me. When I am blue, I just have to take a walk and there is always a miracle staring me in the face. Katherine has a lovely Walter Anderson print of birds in her apartment with the artist's quotation, “Birds are holes in heaven through which man may pass." I guess that's how I feel too.
my inspiration what makes me keep fighting with all I have...... my kids and granddaughters! they NEED me as much as I NEED them!!!
xoxo
♥♥♥♥0 -
My favorite quote is:
Within ourselves lies everything we ever dream of being.
love and light,
Vicki0 -
One moreReikigemgirl said:My favorite quote is:
Within ourselves lies everything we ever dream of being.
love and light,
Vicki
There are no mistakes ... only opportunities for growth.
hugs.
teena0 -
There were two pictures thattgf said:One more
There are no mistakes ... only opportunities for growth.
hugs.
teena
There were two pictures that hung in my mom's office.
The first was The man at the top of the mountain did not fall there.
The second was We cannot change the wind, we can only adjust our sails.
Both are so simple, yet true.
I love hearing all the ways we are inspired. Thanks for the topic.
Stef0 -
Holy Cow!fauxma said:There were two pictures that
There were two pictures that hung in my mom's office.
The first was The man at the top of the mountain did not fall there.
The second was We cannot change the wind, we can only adjust our sails.
Both are so simple, yet true.
I love hearing all the ways we are inspired. Thanks for the topic.
Stef
What an amazing compilation of inspirational thoughts and messages. Thank you all for sharing, I cant even pick a favorite; I love them all :0)
I am going to work on getting these all printed out and make a collage wall.
Have a Happy St Patty's Day everyone!
I am headed to Florida for some R&R before my next surgery, I'll be there until my birthday which is Sunday the 20th, then I'll be celebrating one year cancer free on the 29th> what a busy couple of weeks, and I'm going into it even more inspired, thanks to you all!!!
God Bless
BillieJean0 -
Can you see the wind?pinkapples said:Holy Cow!
What an amazing compilation of inspirational thoughts and messages. Thank you all for sharing, I cant even pick a favorite; I love them all :0)
I am going to work on getting these all printed out and make a collage wall.
Have a Happy St Patty's Day everyone!
I am headed to Florida for some R&R before my next surgery, I'll be there until my birthday which is Sunday the 20th, then I'll be celebrating one year cancer free on the 29th> what a busy couple of weeks, and I'm going into it even more inspired, thanks to you all!!!
God Bless
BillieJean
Can you see the wind?
No, you can only see the effects of the wind.
Seeing is believing - but you cannot believe everything as it's seen.
Sometimes you just have to believe.0
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