“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.”
~ Maria Edgeworth
New Year’s Resolution
Posted by Alexandria Sage on December 31, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/12/31/new-years-resolution/
Asleep in the Light
“The man who has forgotten to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Posted by Alexandria Sage on December 17, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/12/17/asleep-in-the-light/
Fashionable Fallacies
“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.”
~ G. K. Chesterton
Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 24, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/11/24/fashionable-fallacies/
Shift, Subtract, See. Simple Math | Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship
“The art of subtraction can frame life into a masterpiece.
Shift to really see.
I shift. Subtract. See.
“Whatever things are lovely… think on these things.”
I shift and subtract, see the things that are good and pure.
Step over wire fences.
The art of subtraction is the art of loving well.”
~ Ann Voskamp
~ Paul, the Apostle
Friendship.
What does this photo have to do with friendship? Please bear with me a bit as nature teaches a perfect lesson.
One of the mystery’s of photography is knowing when less is more. Sometimes you try your best to capture a shot when you realize if you shift, subtract a bit, you have a fresh perspective on the whole.
Isn’t that how friendship is? The give and take, ebb and flow—the forgiveness. Followed by fresh perspective.
The subtraction of the faults lend growth to the whole. This photo in no way captures the whole of the tree nor the sky that day. But shifting to capture less provided a rich perspective on the whole. And it’s kind of funny the way the eye still sees the whole. You see the rest of the tree. And you see the whole of the sky.
And that’s when subtraction becomes more than simple math. It becomes an art—the art of loving well.
“Unless you bear with the faults of a friend, you betray your own.”
~ Publilius Syrus
Another thing—the colors here are blue and orange—complimentary colors on the color wheel. And isn’t that how friendship is? The balance of strength and weakness. The result? The perfect blend of mutual love, laughter, and life—rich enduring friendship.
Peace,
Alexandria
Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 19, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/11/19/weekly-photo-challenge-friendship/
Story Challenge: Letter “M” | A Beautiful Mind
“Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” ~ Aristotle
“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” ~ George Washington Carver
As one who always encourages further education I would have to say my “M” Word Challenge is to emphasize the “mind”.
I know there are a lot of ways to be educated. Some require attendance to a school of learning, some require online learning, and some require “hands-on” to possibly learn a new skill. Abraham Lincoln was completely self-educated before he attended college.
“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” ~ Victor Hugo
Education to work with your hands or your mind is honorable. And striving to always learn and develop your mind should be a goal of
every human being. If the mind becomes dull and stagnant it is because a person has ceased to learn. And if a person ceases to learn, they cease to grow. And if there is no personal growth, there is no joy in living.
Along that thread I thought I’d share some of the quotes I ran across with this theme. There are many more but I hope you gain something from the few I’ve shared.
“In the face of any disaster you will need three things: a faith life to support you in the midst of the storm, money in the bank (hay in your barn) to keep your family alive in the immediate aftermath, and an education to help you rebuild.” ~ Stephen Deal
“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.”~ Edward Everett
Ultimately, I hope you never cease to educate yourself, whether through formal education, hands-on learning of a new skill, or self-education through reading. In doing so you will never cease to grow, as the last quote says. And there is the joy of learning something
new. You will have pride in your accomplishment.
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” ~ Albert Einstein
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. ” ~ Anthony J. D’Angelo
Never cease to develop who you are. Always strive to learn, to stretch, to grow.
Peace, Alexandria
You might enjoy:
https://simplysage.org/2012/08/04/my-thoughts-remember-make-hay-when-the-sun-shines/
https://simplysage.org/2012/08/15/weekly-photo-challenge-growth/
Posted by Alexandria Sage on November 6, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/11/06/story-challenge-letter-m-is-for-mind/
Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement | Master the One
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once,
but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
~ Bruce Lee
When I found this quote I wanted a photo that depicted movement in abundance, something to display the persistence and practice required for mastery of a skill. Of course, I looked to the most obvious place–sports. Athletics teach us much about life and I was looking for the sweat, the muscle, the swing, the swoosh. But … nothing came to mind. Until …
Snapping away on my walk I saw this visual. The angle overlapped two massive trees, their branches providing the optical illusion of endless kicking, from right to left. The branches look like a still shot of movement and rhythm.
You and I both know they were not moving but stare at them and they look like planned, precise movement on a grand scale. Perfect visual. Perfect mastery.
Movement.
Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 30, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/10/30/master-the-one/
Love Without Borders
I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful
I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I have been undesirable
And sometimes
I have unwise
I’ve been undone by what I’m unsure of
But because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have
…never been unloved
I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And I’ve been unapproachable
I’ve been unemotional
I’ve been unexceptional
I’ve been undecided
And I have been unqualified
Unaware
I have been unfair
I’ve been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have
…never been unloved
It’s because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have
…never been unloved
Lyrics to “Never Been Unloved” by Michael W. Smith
Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 22, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/10/22/love-without-borders/
Breathe a Sigh of Gratitude
“Every breath is a battle between grudgery and gratitude. Give thanks
…and you win joy.”
~ Ann Voskamp
Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 19, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/10/19/breathe-a-sigh-of-gratitude/
Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moments | Slowing to Really See
“I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch.
I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf.
I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine….
I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle… is revealed to me.
Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song….
At times my heart cries out with longing to see these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.
Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action which fills the world is taken for granted….
It is a great pity that, in the world of light, the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of adding fullness to life.”
~Helen Keller
Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 15, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/10/15/helen-keller-on-slowing-to-really-see/
Time Well Redeemed
”Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life,” he said. “Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”
~ Steve Jobs
Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 6, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/10/06/time-well-redeemed/
Soul-Speak
“People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
~ Maya Angelou
Posted by Alexandria Sage on October 2, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/10/02/soul-speak/
Lavish Kindness-It’s In Short Supply
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
~ Plato
Posted by Alexandria Sage on September 24, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/09/24/lavish-kindness-its-in-short-supply/
The Thief You Let In
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”
~ Corrie Ten Boom
Posted by Alexandria Sage on September 12, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/09/12/be-anxious-for-nothing/
TimeWise
“Beware of overcommitment. You can’t say “yes” to everyone. You must practice saying “no.” Otherwise, you may be at risk to compromise your quality or your integrity.”
~ Stephen E. Deal
Posted by Alexandria Sage on August 27, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/08/27/timewise/
Good Medicine
”Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”
– Winston Churchill
Posted by Alexandria Sage on August 24, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/08/24/good-medicine/
Seeing, You Do Not See
Helen Keller was asked “What’s worse than being blind?”
She answered, “Able to see but have no vision.”
Helen Keller was blind and deaf.
Posted by Alexandria Sage on August 13, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/08/13/seeing-you-do-not-see/
Protected: A Measure of Lie + a Pinch of Truth = A Recipe for Disaster
Posted by Alexandria Sage on July 20, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/07/20/a-measure-of-lie-a-pinch-of-truth-a-recipe-for-disaster/
Word Soup for the Soul, Just For Fun
“I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells.”
~ Dr. Seuss
Posted by Alexandria Sage on July 13, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/07/13/word-soup-for-the-soul-just-for-fun/
Credit We Don’t Like, but Sometimes Need
“During your life you will make mistakes. When you do, take credit for them – don’t blame others. Mistakes confessed have much less impact than mistakes discovered.”
~ Stephen E. Deal
Posted by Alexandria Sage on June 24, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/06/24/credit-we-dont-like-but-sometimes-need/
Truthfulness
“Always tell the truth. I know this sounds a bit simplistic but I can assure you it is a lifetime pain reducer both for yourself and others around you.”
~ Stephen E. Deal
Posted by Alexandria Sage on June 18, 2011
https://simplysage.org/2011/06/18/truthfulness/
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