This is a compilation of thoughts and quotes that I have found or written recently, as well as many that I've collected throughout the years. Most thoughts are posted randomly, as I feel inspired. A listing of quotes can be found alphabetically (check the 2008 and 2009 archives listing), or by source.

Feel free to suggest additions!


“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Focus on What's Inside Your Boat

“Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.” – Greg Anderson

Charlie Jones is a sportscaster who has covered several Olympic games in his long career. At the 1996 games in Atlanta, he was assigned to announce the rowing, canoeing and kayaking events – a situation that left him less than thrilled, since it was broadcast at 7 a.m. and the venue was an hour’s drive from Atlanta.

What Jones discovered, however, was that it ended up being one the most memorable sports events in his career because he gained a chance to understand the mental workings of these Olympic athletes.

Preparing for the broadcast, Jones interviewed the rowers and asked them about conditions such as rain, strong winds or breaking an oar. Each time the response was the same:
“That’s outside my boat.”

After hearing the same answer again and again, Jones realized that these Olympic athletes had a remarkable focus. In their attempt to win an Olympic medal, he writes:
“They were interested only in what they could control...and that was what was going on inside their boat.”

Everything else was beyond their control and not worth the expense of mental energy that would distract them from their ultimate goal.

Jones writes that this insight made the event “by far the best Olympics of my life,” and it changed his thinking in other parts of his life as well.

There are plenty of distractions and concerns outside our boats, but to win the race we must stay focused on what’s inside our boats.

from Lee J. Colan

Friday, October 14, 2011

Famous Failures


"If you've never failed, you've never lived."

Great little movie. Check it out.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Finding Happiness

Everybody, everywhere
seeks happiness, it’s true,
But finding it and keeping it
seem difficult to do.
Difficult because we think
that happiness is found
Only in the places where
wealth and fame abound.
And so we go on searching
in palaces of pleasure
Seeking recognition
and monetary treasure,
Unaware that happiness
is just a state of mind
Within the reach of everyone
who takes time to be kind.
For in making others happy
we will be happy, too.
For the happiness you give away
returns to shine on you.

Helen Steiner Rice

See also:
Pharrell William's "Happy"
The Science of Happiness

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Garden

A friend sent this to me recently from the archives. Something I wrote while a Junior in High School. 



The long leaves of the tropical trees, 
Reach down and touch 
the path that nobody sees. 
Rare and beautiful fruits 
are growing with pride 
And brilliant, wild flowers 
who have nothing to hide. 
 
A crack of dawn reaches down 
and sparkles on water clear, 
In a small bright pool 
formed by a stream passing near. 
Soft green fern and multi-colored plants 
Are found sitting next 
to mushrooms that dance. 

A beautiful garden that waits to be seen 
While it holds a feeling 
of being safe and serene. 

Ken Young Poetry Winner Prism Contest, Dixie High School 1975-76