Last quote for January from Bill Nye

Photo credit http://www.quoteswave.com/picture-quotes/299044

"Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't." ~Bill Nye

I find this quote interesting because it attempts to eliminate negativeness that comes with comparing intelligence. You may be a genius as a brain surgeon, but that doesn't mean you know how to fix a car.  I suppose the reverse of this is true as well: You may know someone who is terrible at money managing, which would give you an idea of what not to do with yours. This quote is sort-of an open-ended food for thought. How do you interpret it?

Mother Teresa Quote

“If you can't feed a hundred people, feed just one.” 

~Mother Teresa

This quote comes to mind as of recently because of the rising need for food for schoolchildren. Our local school district has a food backpack program so low income students have meals on the weekends. Yes, you heard that correctly. Sadly, kids aren't always getting fed on the weekends. Let me back up a bit:

As you may already know, many districts offer free breakfast and lunches to income qualifying families. (Proper nutrition equals better learning.) It would be reasonable to assume that these families also qualify for welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and/or WIC and are using them to their advantage. It is difficult to comprehend that even with government assistance, still children go hungry at home. In order to alleviate this, schools also provide food that is distributed discreetly into their backpacks. Before Christmas break, our school district asked for help replenishing their food bank with items like peanut butter, cereal, etc. I gathered a few extra items on my next grocery trip and dropped them off. I was astounded to learn that this food backpack program is serving over 100 children! Questions that popped into my head: With all the assistance they are already receiving, why aren't these kids getting fed? Is there even an adult around to prepare a meal for them? What is preventing these families from utilizing food banks already in place and relying on the schools? Whatever the answers may be, the bottom line is children are going hungry. Compassion doesn't come entirely natural to me, but this is really tugging on my heart strings. I've been bringing items every few weeks to the school district and plan to do so as our budget allows. 

There are 100 needy kids. I felt as though the items I initially dropped off may only feed a single child. My donation was only serving a fraction of the need. Like Mother Teresa's quote: If I can't feed all, I can support one. I believe her message is that a seemingly small effort will make a big difference for another. I hope that holds true. 

Jan 11 Quote Choice From Teddy Roosevelt

"If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month."  ~Theodore Roosevelt

Boy, isn't that the truth! It's rather tiresome to hear people sulk and mope about their lives when they are capable of changing it. For example: We hear of criminals blaming their absurd behavior, leading to arrests, etc., on perceived racial prejudices rather than take account for their actions. Blame is quick to fall on another. That tactic may hold up for a short while, but responsibility is eventually inevitable. After all, we are all in charge of ourselves. This seems like a "duh" statement but I'm frequently aghast at the lack of common sense depleting this value.

Why are some so dependent on others for happiness? Why can't we be happy with what we have and strive to work for what is absent? Since when is it customary for basic responsibility to be diverted from oneself and pawned on another? Happiness and responsibility cannot be bought nor provided. They are already inside us. It's up to us to use them wisely and sensibly.

Duh.

Quote for January 4, 2015

With the December photo challenge behind me I needed another writing challenge of some sort for January. I decided I would pick some quotes I have lying around and write about why they appeal to me. My goal is to do this each week; perhaps twice a week if I'm feeling it. With all the snow coming down, I may be suffering from plenty of cabin fever to do that. I will try to include a Pinterest link in case anyone would like to save the quotes shared.

The first one I'm sharing is by Diane Ackerman:

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I've just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."

Admittedly, I don't know who Diane Ackerman is. For some reason I thought she was a news journalist, but she is an "poet, essayist, and naturalist" according to her website. I may have to borrow some of her material from the library.

I feel this quote easily hits home for anyone. What is living the width of our life? To each their own, of course, but it clearly means living more than your day-to-day life and/or experiencing past your ordinary routine. Take a risk; whatever that may mean for you. Try a new hobby, join a social group, take a small day trip to a place you've not been before. Perhaps it simply means ordering a latte from that the neighborhood coffee shop you haven't been to in ages. Doing the same things day in and day out will surely get you through life, but it won't make it all that fulfilling. Veer off your regular path once in a while for fun! Like I said, to each their own, but I think the concept applies to most people, just apply it as necessary.