The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
April Issue 114
Article Provided By: Darlis-Keily Ireland of WomenTalk Strathmore
“Nurturing yourself is not selfish – it’s
essential to your survival and your well-being.” — Renee Person Trudeau
Ok, I admit it. I may be a wee bit of a
quote junkie. They are in every room of my house, on walls and table tops. Some
are short, only a few words, while others fill a 16” x 20” frame. My computer
monitor has a rotating slideshow of the most inspiring quotes I’ve come across and
every notebook I have ever written in contains dozens of quotes from the speakers
I’ve heard. I have quotes taped to my desk and monitor such as one by Albert
Einstein that says, “There are only two
ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as
though everything is a miracle.” And if you’ve read my previous articles in
the Newsy Neighbour, you may have noticed that they all start with… yes, you
guessed it… a quote!
For me, quotes are like having wise,
supportive friends around you all the time. I believe quotes can motivate you
into action or cause you to pause and reflect. They can bring comfort during
times of challenge and clarity during times of confusion. They can be frivolous
and fun or they can have a deep personal meaning. Yes, quotes are an excellent
part of any wellness program as they certainly do feed the mind and soul.
My best friend is a good example of this.
When his father passed away, they found a typewritten quote (prayer) in his
wallet that he had been carrying around for many years. Les was so moved by how
important the message was to his dad that he tattooed it onto his forearms exactly
as it was written and in the same typewriter font as his dad’s note. This is
what his dad’s favourite football coach, Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, read to his
players before every game and it reads, “This
is the beginning of a new day, which God has given me to use as I will – I can
create or destroy – but I should choose wisely, so as not to forget the price I
paid for it. What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of
my life for it. When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, leaving
something in its place, which I have traded for it.”
As a result of the deep impact this has had
on his life, Les is in the midst of creating a daily inspiration email program that
will send subscribers a quote, thought to ponder and a short activity to help
them experience the message of the quote. He knows, as do many of my other
quote-loving friends, just how quotes can positively impact people’s lives.
Last week, quotes were the source of inspiration
at the Toastmasters meeting in Strathmore as each person was given a random
quote and asked to speak on it for two minutes. The quote I received was, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value
your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it,” by
M. Scott Peck. My interpretation of this
quote is to appreciate who you are and to gift yourself time to do things that
matter to you, to spend quality time with those whose company you enjoy. We can
get so caught up in the ‘doing-ness’ of life that we forget to stop, breathe
and enjoy the moment we are in. Each day is a gift to be treasured for it is
only available once.
Just as quotes are people sharing their thoughts,
insights and wisdom about life, Women Talk in Strathmore provides an
opportunity for women to share a part of their life stories. Both offer
inspiration, entertainment and healing, and can be used to support a healthy
approach to life.
Come join the fun at Women Talk every last
Thursday of the month were ordinary women share extraordinary stories. Who
knows, you just may come away with the perfect quote that nurtures your soul!
(Do you have a favourite quote? We’d love
for you to share it on the Women Talk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/womentalkstrathmore/)
For
more information about the monthly WOMEN TALK meeting in Strathmore, including
how you may participate by attending or being a Talker, please visit www.WomenTalk.ca/Strathmore.
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