"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." That's a quote by Will Rogers. Will did it all. He was a movie star, radio host and newspaper columnist. He was one of the most beloved men of his generation. On his tombstone, he wanted the words "I never met a man I didn't like" carved on it. He died in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935.
Rogers had a lot of folksy sayings that made a lot of sense. I like the one above because of how simple and true it is. Have you ever met a person who had a lot of talent at something, yet never amounted to much? I see that sometimes in my profession. It's almost like they worked hard to become an analyst, but once they got the title, they just seemed to stop working. They would rather just rest on their laurels. Well, these people rarely last long. They will get a job with a fund, work there for about six months to a year and are then sent packing. Why? Usually because they fail to live up to their potential. One guy I knew had a degree from Harvard. In the five years I knew him, he had four jobs. He went from working as a salesman for Goldman Sachs, to working at a hedge fund where he bombed. He then went to another hedge fund, then another, never making any real money as a portfolio manager. After he joined a third hedge fund, I lost track of him. I imagine he has moved a few times since then too. When someone is successful, we say "they are really hitting their stride." We call successful people "movers and shakers." All of these things connote movement! Thus, if you really want to make an impact in anything you do, make sure to keep moving in the right direction. Don't rest on your laurels. No one cares what you did yesterday. They care about what you are doing right now...and what type of impact you will have on the future. Keep working towards your goals. Don't give in to mediocrity. Do your best at whatever you decide to do. Don't take the attitude that you can get by with just "good enough". People can tell a lot about you by what you do. To use karate as an example, you can really tell the difference between which people practice and which people don't. The ones that do are typically in better shape and pick up the material much faster than those that don't. Their kicks and strikes are cleaner, and usually more powerful. Whatever you decide to do in life, don't settle to be one of "those" people. Put effort into whatever you decide to do. If you won't put the effort in, then why bother to do it at all. If you get on a track, remember there are trains and there is roadkill. Be a train...don't get run over because you decide to sit back and relax on the tracks!
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Life... is very easy. Keep breathing, don't do anything horrible, work hard, enjoy yourself, be happy.... love and laugh and spread happiness. Try not to let stress drag you down. When you break life down, it is very easy to live. The only complications to be found are the ones we create for ourselves... and I witnessed that today.
One of my friends has a particularly hard time dealing with a certain annoying ex. This ex treated her like completely shit, used her and broke her down... and she blames herself for their breakup when HE left HER and she didn't do anything wrong. Months later, she believes that he still has feelings for her... and while I don't think I could bring myself to tell her that, it's hard to watch her bring herself down and then build herself up on the false hopes that he will return. I don't know... I told her that there's an easy way to settle it. Contact him, and talk to him. It'll give you all the answers you need; one way or another....and put your mind at ease. In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take. And in the end; we are the only ones who die for our lives... and how we lived them. Live positively and with as little stress possible. It is pointless to harbor it when it can be so easily discarded. ~ Maddie Today I read a new book called My ''X Y Z'' Book. Little ''X'' found an X-ray machine. He
took x-rays of his hands and feet. He called his friend Little ''Y'' who had a yo yo He attached the yo yo to some yarn to make the string longer. He had a friend named Little ''Z''. She found three zebras and chased them. They zig-zagged there way down the road, all the way to the zoo. I liked reading this book. Ashleigh "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." That, friends, is a quote from Winston Churchill.
Personally, I don't know what to think of old Winston. There are many things he said and did, that I can truly appreciate. There are other things that were reprehensible. I guess that makes him human, since we all have our good and bad moments. It's just that for most of us, our bad moments won't willfully cost other people their lives. Regardless of what you think of the man, I agree with the above quote. I sometimes think that people have either lost their minds or just don't understand economics, history, or property rights. To me, I believe every person has the right to decide what to do with their property...including their money. Socialism, on the other hand, seems to think that everyone is entitled to the sweat of your labor. And not just your labor, but anyone and everyone who is actually working to survive. If you, as an individual, want to give someone else a portion of your pay or property to help them live better, that is entirely up to you. On the other hand, no one has the right to tell other people what they have to do with their money...particularly in regards to charity. Yet Socialism isn't just about charity. It is about the trampling of one person's rights to improve the lot of another. Laws governing the treatment of organized labor is a case in point. So is socialized medicine and social security. Any time, one person's rights are put to the wayside by legislation to improve the lot of another, it is a travesty. In my mind, the United States has slowly turned into a socialist country. Most people are too ignorant to realize it. Very few have read the communist manifesto. If they had, they would see that many of the changes that the federal government has rammed through over the past 100 years are in actuality planks of the communist manifesto. Here is a link to a web page that explains the ten planks set out by Karl Marx. He wrote them in 1848 by the way. What I find amazing is that our country follows socialist policies, and most people walk around calling our country the land of the free! At the same time, when these socialist policies fail and create economic problems, The liberal newspapers scream about the failures of Capitalism! George Orwell wrote about doublethink in his famous novel "1984". If you haven't read it. You really should. It is a thought provoking read! Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged" is also a good read, although it is very long and drags at times. Read these novels, and then look at our country and see if you see the parallels. These people were true visionaries. Well, there is my rant for today. Sorry about the subject matter, but on occasion, someone says something really stupid, and I can't hold myself back... and a rant is born! Have a good night! Tonight's post is going to be short and sweet- very sweet, in fact. Have you ever wanted to bake something, but have been out of the basic ingredients? I give you the recipe for blondies, one of my favorite things to make because it is simple and very basic- while also delicious. ENJOY!
*Pre heat oven to 350, grease an 8 inch square baking pan lined with foil *Whisk together thoroughly: 1 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt *In a large heavy saucepan, melt, then boil, stirring constantly until light golden brown 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter *Remove from heat and stir in until well blended 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup sugar *Let cool to barely warm. Stir in well combined 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla *Stcrape into the pan. Bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comesout clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a rack. Another short post. I am opening with a question: What in life matters most to you?
Now, before you answer on impulse... think about it. I know too many people who would automatically name a material possession, possibly money, or maybe even family members. Before you attack me for saying that family is a bad choice- stop a moment. In the end; family will not ALWAYS be there for you. While they live, yes... but as you grow older, so do they, and at some point you will have very little family left. Your life is your own to live, so why wouldn't you want the thing that matters most to be with you always? For me.... I have many things that mean a lot to me in life. My family and friends are certainly among those things, as are simple pleasures like star gazing and watching a beautiful sunset. But the thing I value the most in my life... is my own happiness. It is something I can always have and always find, even in the darkest of times. And best of all? I can incorporate everything else that is in my life into it; including my family and friends. It creates a second question; too: what in life makes you happiest? What can you do to always find happiness? I'm feeling philosophical tonight. Leave me some good answers in the comments! - Maddie "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." That's another quote by Marcus Aurelius. I have said it before, but this guy truly was brilliant. If you have never read any of his stuff, you should google him and read some of his quotes.
There is just no beating around the bush with this guy. Take this quote for instance. His advice is simple. Be what you believe a man to be. Don't argue about it with anyone. Picture what a man should be in your eyes, and then do your best to live up to your own ideals. It is a brilliant solution for a thinking man. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there, who never think about such things. So many people seem to never think about honor, courage, or principles. Instead, they go through life always looking for the easy way out. They take their definition of a man from what they see on TV or in the movies. Sadly, many of the "men" portrayed on the silver screen nowadays are violent and abusive, not thoughtful and caring. In my opinion, you can't get your definition of a man through soundbites. Being a voyeur for 30 seconds at a clip is no way to become a man. Instead, you need to be exposed to people with principles and see how they interact with the world on a daily basis. A thirty-minute TV show just won't show you enough of what it means to be a man (or woman, for you ladies) so that you can become one yourself. By being a man, I don't mean just getting older. I know 50-year old men, who are only men since they grew older. Most of us can grow old. It does not mean we are men, or that we have grown wiser. Action speaks louder than words and louder than age. To me, real men are honest, have courage, and treat others as they themselves want to be treated. They have morals and treat everyone with a modicum of respect. At the same time, they are still prepared to defend themselves, their families, and their principles when the need arises. All said, don't waste your time arguing with people about what any man SHOULD be. Instead, try to live up to your own ideals and lead by example. My Daddy plays with me. We play with my Monster High dolls, and we play ball. Sometimes my Daddy plays dolls with me. He also plays with my Legos with me.
Ashleigh Tonight's post is going to be very short and not too thoughtful... from me, anyway. However, I do believe that the writing of the poet I am going to show you will leave you thinking. Lang Leav is a poet I just recently discovered, and I love her work so much. Most of it deals around heartbreak, from what I've seen- but she has regular too and I find it to be really good. Her poems are very short, so I'm including a few of them below. If you want, you can read more of her work on Google. Leave me thoughts in the comments!!!
-Maddie Clocks Here in time, You are mine I could not be More prouder. I do not know Why I love you so The clock knows not its hour. Yet it is clear, To all that's here, That time is told by seeing. Even though Clocks do not know- It is the reason for their being. Entwined There is a line I've yet to sever- It goes from me to you. There was a time You swore forever And I am captive to its pull. If you were kind, You'd cut the tether- But I must ask you to be cruel. "Life is about timing." That is a quote by Carl Lewis. It's simple, to the point, and so true! There is a lot to think about when you say "life". But if you distill it down to the key element, it all comes down to timing.
Take something as simple as crossing the street. If you do it at the wrong moment, you can be struck by a car and killed. Think about when you met your significant other. Remember back to a specific moment that could have changed the outcome of your life. For me, it all came down to a simple walk on the beach. Sharon, Leora myself and one other guy were going to go for a walk on the beach. The two girls and I were hanging out all evening. I had a feeling that Leora liked me while I liked Sharon. I thought that she might have liked me as well, but I wasn't certain. As we took our first steps on the sand, I reached out and grabbed Sharon's hand. If I hadn't, there is a chance that we never would have gotten married. The timing was perfect. Either she would hold my hand and walk with me, or she wouldn't. It was a gamble since we really didn't know much about each other at that point. We both worked at Merrill Lynch... but she was twenty three and I was thirty three. It was a risk worth taking though, since I was very atracted to her. There have been other instances where I have been in the right place at the right time, but that was the most meaningful to me. Other times, I have been places where good things have happened, but I have been a minute or two too late to reap the benefits. Sometimes I have also been at the right place, but at the wrong time. Life is a mystery, but one thing that I have noticed is that when the timing is right, magical things can happen. The best way to increase the odds that good things happen to you is to be prepared to take advantage of opportunities given to you. The best way to do that is to know what you are looking for, and then place yourself in a spot where what you want is most likely to happen. If you want to meet someone who is well read, then you are much better off going to a library or a book store than a bar. While you could meet a well-read individual at a bar, your chances are higher at the book store or library. Another way to improve your timing is to be curious. Questions are an easy way to break the ice, and most people are willing to talk to someone if they believe they can help them out. By being curious and asking questions you can improve your chances of landing job, finding a significant other, or even just a new friend. Be open to new experiences and look for the good in everything and everybody. By placing yourself in new situations, you increase the chance that something new and exciting can happen. Don't get into a rut, and remember. Timing can be everything! I read a new book today, called My ''V'' Book. Little ''V''went for a walk and found violets.
She put them in a vase. She then found velvet and lace and decided to make Valentines. She put a note on them and sent them to her friends, inviting them to a party. Her friends came to her party and they made Valentine hats. They all had fun at the party! I liked this book very much. My favorite part was when they had cake at the party. Ashleigh I'm writing this in a hurry, but I just wanted to do another list- like yesterday. While yesterday I covered ironies, today I'd like to give you more food for thought. Here are some questions you may not think about.
I don't know. Ponder these as you go about your day; and if you can... answer in the comments. I'm quite curious. - Maddie I have a set of dolls called Monster High dolls. They are monsters, but they are nice
monsters. My favorite doll is the daughter of Mothra. She has wings and is very pretty. I also have Draculaura, Rebecca Steam, Claudine Wolf and the daughter of the Rat King. They are very fun to play with. Ashleigh "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." That's a quote by Mark Twain. In general, I think he is saying that it is better to know what you are talking about first, before you start twisting the story to fit your desires. It's a very cynical way of thinking actually, but basically, he is spot on.
Most people do distort the truth to fit the circumstances they want to portray. In fact, nowadays, you almost can't believe anything you read in the mass media, and I have found that even friends will tell stories differently to show that their point of view is the correct one. Luckily, I have spent the past twenty five years as an analyst, so I am used to sniffing out bullshit. Nowadays, I try not to drink the cool aid with anything I hear. Instead, I try to wait until I have more information before deciding if a story is true or false. Politics and economics are two areas where I find it is best not to make a judgement until I can check into the facts on my own. Too many people are very partisan, and their side can never be wrong... even if they have to distort the facts to make it so. A good case in point is Hillary Clinton supporters. From what I have read in the newspapers, it is clear that she broke the law in this latest email scandal. Even so, a large number of democrats still support her. In my opinion, the President of the Unites States should be above reproach. She is not even president yet and there are huge concerns about her morals and decision-making abilities. At this point, I do not see how anyone could vote for her in good conscience. Even so, it seems a number of democrats don't care. She is "their" candidate and you should just shut up if you weren't in the room since you really don't know what happened! Are these people out of their minds? We are talking about the highest office in the land, and they want to put someone in their who flagrantly broke the law? We are not talking about this stuff happening when she was a teen... this stuff is fairly recent! So with that said, I guess you figure I am a big fan of Donald Trump? You'd be wrong there as well. I would rather see Trump in the White House than Hillary, but I don't think he is the right man for the office either. We need an outside candidate to step in and clean house. Neither of the two main political parties can field a candidate that can bring about change. The parties are now too beholden to big money interests to change anything in a positive way. Congress will continue to spend too much money. The targets for the largess will be what changes...nothing else. It's a sad day for America, when a majority of people in the country do not trust the U.S. government. We need change people. I just doubt we are going to get it with either the republicans or the democrats. The lies will keep coming, and the people will keep grumbling. But at the end of the day, nothing major is going to change that will actually benefit the people. I have been finding that life is full of ironies... some of them, quite harsh. I've decided to list them. Here we go.
I don't know. I needed a blog topic and this was in my mind and seemed suitable. It was odd, but hopefully enjoyed... good night. - Maddie "Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not." That's a quote by Epicurus. For those of you who are not up on your ancient Greek philosophers, Epicurus is the founder of a school of philosophy called Epicureanism. For him, the purpose of philosophy was to attain the happy, tranquil life. To have peace, and freedom from fear, and the absence of pain. Sounds like my kind of guy! For those of you with a few minutes to spare, and like a good puzzle, look up the Epicurean paradox. Given its a paradox, it is certain to make you think! Which is a great exercise.
Anyway, back to the quote! Now that you have an idea about what drove Epicurus, you can see where he is coming from with this quote. Oddly enough, there are only a few fragments left from the more than 300 written works attributed to him. In fact, much of what we know of him come from other writers and his followers. I don't know about you, but when I desire something I don't have, it is usually because nothing I have will give me the same utility. I must say that I have never desired something so much that it spoiled for me what I already had. Instead, I usually find that I desire something to enhance what I already have. For many people though, they become obsessed with what they don't have, and therefore fail to enjoy what they do have. I think the best way to avoid this problem is to really know what makes you happy. So many people go through life searching for what will make them happy. They search through the acquisition of consumer goods. I will be much more desirable if I have ripped jeans, therefore I will find someone who loves me for me and be happy. Or, people with nose rings look so cool. If I had a nose ring, I would be considered cool too, and maybe people will accept me for who I am. In both cases, the person wants one thing, but mistakenly thinks that they will get it if they have a particular look or product. Our culture seems to celebrate people who are different, yet many instead want to be different in the same way. Think of tattoos, hair styles, jewelry, clothing, and accessories. How many times do you see people who look different than you, but similar to many other people you see. Are any of them really being different? Or are they just trying to fit in with a particular type of person, while alienating the rest? We look at people, the way they dress, or what they drive, or who they hang out with and we make assumptions about them. Every once in a while, we will get to meet one of these different (different than ourselves, anyway) people and get to view their humanity up close and personal. We get to talk to them in a setting away from "Their" group or "Our" group, and we realize that much of what we usually see is just a facade. Underneath, we are mainly the same. Yes, I realize that there are differences. It is just that the differences don't have to be so great, if we can look past the facade and see the real person underneath. Overall, their wants and needs are similar to ours. For me, I am happiest when I don't care what others think of me. I like to talk to people, and hopefully make them smile or laugh. I like to share my thoughts and knowledge. That is me. Underneath it all, I think that is everybody. We all want acceptance for who we are. So much so for some that they are willing to change who they are to gain acceptance for who they are from others. It is a sad, sad, game that they play. And the shame of it is, that many of them don't even realize that they are playing it. I guess what I am trying to say is, be true to yourself. When you stop trying to chase other people's approval, you will find that you will finally approve of yourself. Some "smart" people will never learn this lesson. Sometimes the most obvious things are the hardest things to see. Today I read a new book. It is called My ''W'' Book. Little ''W'' had a box. She put a whale,
a wolf and a weasel in it. She found a wishing well during her walk, and she wished she had something to carry her things. It worked! She found a wagon. Near a wall, she found watermelons. They all ate the watermelon. Ashleigh "Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet." That's a quote from Pierre Trudeau. He was a long-time Prime Minister of Canada. If you don't know him, his personal motto was "Reason before passion". It is the rare individual who will admit that reason and logic should rule the roost.
Getting back to his quote, I think he is right for the most part. Sure, you will have the odd time when someone will win a lottery or a raffle that will make them a millionaire. And given the odds of winning those things, you would think that luck is something else entirely. But for the most part, the luckiest people you know are those who are in some way prepared to take advantage of opportunities that they are actively looking for. Here's a good example, In 2014, I was in a tough situation. My business was stalled and I was beginning to look for a job, or a new line of business. The problem was that I needed to work from home since my wife had died a year earlier and I had two young girls that I was raising on my own. I was also home schooling my daughters. With that in mind, I had a group of my closest friends come over to the house to go fishing. Although we are all busy and have families, we try to get together every once in a while to fish. Although I invited all of them over to fish, we had a lot of time to talk as well. While talking, I found out that a company I used to work for was looking for analysts to work from home. I immediately told my friend I would send him a resume to put in for me. To make a long story short, I was back working at my old firm within two weeks, from home in New Hampshire. Was it luck? Yes, to some extent it was. I was prepared to find a new job and I recognized the opportunity that was presented to me. I acted immediately once I heard about the opportunity. I still knew about twenty people at my old firm and they all vouched for my work ethic. In this instance, my "luck" was the point where preparation and opportunity met. I have another friend now who is looking for a similar opportunity. I spoke with him just before Christmas. I told him about where I was working and what I was doing and he seemed interested. An analyst had just been fired at my firm and there was an opening. Instead of putting in a resume right away to see if he could get the position, he decided to wait. He wanted to see if he could lose some weight first. "Maybe in the spring" he said. I have no doubt that if my friend puts in a resume, he will have a good chance of getting a position.. if a spot is available. That is the risk. When I told him about it, there was a spot available. When he is ready to put a resume in, there may not be. In other words, my friend saw an opportunity, but was not prepared to act on it. Very few people knew that we had lost an analyst that week. Because he used to work at the company, and still knew people there, he likely would have been a shoe in for a position. If he does put in a resume in the future, he will still have those connections, but what he might not have is an open position to fill. Preparation and opportunity. They are crucial for creating your own luck. I have a toy called a slinky. It is a fun toy! It is my Dad's favorite color; green. I like to roll
it on the table and stretch it. I also like to put it on my nose. There is a lot to do with a slinky! Ashleigh Our friendship was so simple
Dewdrops on grass But time did its due And now we're blood upon glass Thick and persistent, Delicate and cracking What is it, what is it You see something is lacking Understanding and empathy? Trust and endurance? Lost whispered lies And meaningless reassurance Jealousy and corruption Illogical delusions Of a never ending fairytale Without any intrusions You were the knight The savior to all But even you needed saving When your shoulders did fall Wouldn't admit it Wouldn't tarnish your name You let pride all in And it put you to shame. |
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