Bathtub Revelations and Wading Pool Philosophies

[corkym]

I have found the best place to come up with my deepest thoughts is in the bathtub. The floating bubbles elevates my thoughts above all the distractions. Whenever I would come out my husband would say "Any great revelations?" My 6' husband and his little 6'7" brother used to take ice tea and go sit in a kiddie pool in the back yard and spout off all their deep philosophies about the world. They looked ridiculous and it was a tight squeeze but they did come up with some interesting thoughts. We couldn't afford a hot tub. I always called it their wading pool philosophies. I started another thread on this forum and received a lot of incredible advice from people who "have been there and done that". It is so inspiring to me and is helping me to stay motivated. I keep going back to reread the different posts and to check on all the blogs and websites everyone has shared.

So, since this is such a great group with so many outstanding ideas I would love to know what quotes or things you personally have came up with to keep you inspired in life. Things you want your children to know as they grow into adults.

If anyone would care to take time to share I would love to hear what keeps you going.

[corkym]

A couple of my favorites are: "People say life is short and you could get hit by a bus at any moment and that you have to live each day like its your last. More than likely you won't be hit by a bus and you're going to have to live with the choices you make for the next 30-50 years. Make good choices." Author unknown. Boy, I can personally attest to that.

An old West Virginia saying: "You cannot get the water to clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek." I can really attest to this too. In some areas of my life I am still trying to get those pigs out of the creek.....sigh

[catherine]

You have your wading pool philosophy, I have my "inspiration wall": I have an armoire/office supply cabinet in my home office and over time, I've taped up some of my most inspirational quotes. Here they are:

"No commonplace achievement will satisfy the great obligations you have of excelling" St. Ignatius

"This is my secret--I don't mind what happens." Krishnamurti

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep." Robert Frost

"The greatest learning of the ages lies in accepting life exactly as it comes to us" Anthony deMello

"Oh Happy Day!"

"One year of life is worth more than twenty years of hibernation" Anthony deMello

"The one who bows into service is an artist. To see work as sacred is to bow into service to is, and thus become its instrument." Charles Eisenstein

"We cannot all do great things on this earth; we can only do little things with great love." Mother Teresa

"Until we go beyond our notions regarding the true nature of life, we will never realize how totally secure we really are, and how all the fighting for individual survival and self-security is a waste of energy." Bernadette Roberts

"Do your work so well that no one could do it better. Do is so well that all the hosts of Heaven and Hell will have to say 'here lived a man who did his job as if God Almighty called him at this particular time in history to do it." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

"One day you will wake up and there won't be any more time to do the things you've always wanted. Do it now." Paulo Coelho

And finally:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--99TDDwOs--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/osgl3qwdplerxdkg5l9s.jpg

[corkym]

Love, Love, Love the comfort zone one. You have so many good quotes that I am not sure which I like best, although I do like the Martin Luther King, Jr. one especially. That is a great idea having an "inspiration wall". I think I might do something like that to keep it visually in front of me, so it will remind me during the day. I always fall back to my own devices and start wallowing in the muck, so I need constant reminders. Actually I need wallpaper covering my walls with motivational photos and quotes.

[IshbelRobertson]

'Life is too short to stuff a mushroom'.

Shirley Conran.

[corkym]

lol....I never heard that one before Ishbel. That is a good one. Reminds me of a sister in law I had who was such a perfectionist she actually would sometimes measure what she was chopping to make it perfect. She spent more time doing that then spending time with her kids. Plus they never got to eat dinner until 9 or after many nights. I know I waste time on insignificant things too. I need to re-evaluate my time wasters.

[TVRodriguez]

I love the quotes you posted, catherine. All of them are great! I have a pinterest board with quote I like. Since they are on pinterest, I'm never sure if the quote is attributed to the right person. One I've thought of recently is this: Keep on Swimming!

[awakenedsoul]

My dad always told me "Remember, misery loves company." I cracked up. It's true, though. I like the philosophy "Dream Big." I accomplished many goals that way.

Some personal philosophies that have helped me are: Trust the originality of your work. I see a lot of people copying others. Each person has their own personal gifts.

Writing down your goals every morning helps bring them to life. I'm a great believer in using your talents. It's grounding and makes you feel good. Sitting on your talents causes depression and stagnation.

I also advocate doing your chores every day. I also have found that a clean house makes life much happier. Our environment really affects us on many levels.

[corkym]

Still trying to figure out if I have any talents. So far they are off in the horizon somewhere and they keep escaping me. I agree with keeping the house clean and organized. I know if I force myself first thing in the morning to straighten every thing up my day goes by so much better without clutter hanging over me. I need to start writing my goals down and keep them posted in front of me, I get distracted so easily.
I think Keep Swimming is a good one. Even if the shore is far off, keep on swimming and you will reach it eventually.

[freshstart]

[QUOTE=catherine;206833]
"Do your work so well that no one could do it better. Do is so well that all the hosts of Heaven and Hell will have to say 'here lived a man who did his job as if God Almighty called him at this particular time in history to do it." --Martin Luther King, Jr. LOVE THIS!

This is mine, strange because I am not overly religious, but I like this world view and it''s gotten me through some yucky days: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Gandhi
The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Gandhi

This is one I'm struggling with now:

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. Gandhi

the there's Dorothy Parker (I adore her): I like to have a martini, Two at the very most. After three I'm under the table, after four I'm under my host.

“Ducking for apples -- change one letter and it's the story of my life."

“But I don't give up; I forget why not.”

She always makes me laugh!

[catherine]

the there's Dorothy Parker (I adore her): [/FONT][/COLOR]I like to have a martini, Two at the very most. After three I'm under the table, after four I'm under my host.

“Ducking for apples -- change one letter and it's the story of my life."

“But I don't give up; I forget why not.”

She always makes me laugh!

Those are great.. makes me think of my mother, who survived a brain aneurysm when she was 50. It changed her life dramatically. She could no longer live independently, she was disoriented for almost 18 months and came out of it but with a almost childlike attitude and presence, and during the time of her disorientation, she lost all of her belongs, her home and her husband.

So she had a bunch of "Betsey-isms" as we used to call them because they were her own sayings she made up but she would repeat them often. Here are a couple:

"Happiness is a full stomach and an empty bladder."

"My arm's broken, but I'm not." (her left arm was permanently paralyzed as a result of the aneurysm.

"I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in."

She was always cheerful and never complained--in fact, I wish she had complained more. When she "awoke" from her disorientation, she wouldn't eat meat because she felt bad for the animals. When she died, she had one box of personal effects and some clothes we gave away. I've learned a lot about life from her experience.

[freshstart]

that's pretty cool that her sense of humor and kindness remained. And there is something to only accumulating one box of things. She's right: Happiness IS a full stomach and an empty bladder!

[corkym]

Freshstart: I have never read Dorothy Parker. But she sounds like someone I would be very interested to read about. I love reading about other people and she sounds pretty fascinating.
Catherine: Your mom sounds like she needs a book written about her. Wow! What a story. And what wisdom. I wonder, did she seem happier with a more simple lifestyle after her brain aneurysm? Her whole life was turned upside down but it sounds like she became stronger after she recovered. I love the "Happiness is a full stomach and an empty bladder" saying. Very Very True.....LOL. Thank you both for sharing. This is great reading.