Friday 28 September 2007

Kind words

Kind words do not cost much.
They never blister the tongue or lips.
They make other people good-natured.
They also produce their own image on men's souls,
and a beautiful image it is.
- Blaise Pascal

Wednesday 26 September 2007

Excellence

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things,
you develop the habit in little matters.
Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.
-Colin Powell

Monday 24 September 2007

Free

Begin to free yourself at once
by doing all that is possible with the means you have,
and as you proceed in this spirit
the way will open for you to do more.
- Robert Collier

Friday 21 September 2007

September 21, 2007 Chautauqua


From the Editor's Computer

The other day I came across a website called Green As a Thistle (http://greenasathistle.com) which is the site of Vanessa, a single journalist who works at the National Post in Toronto. The subtitle of the site reads “making one change every day to greenify my life (and hopefully not being too smug about it.”

Beginning March 1, 2007, with the intent to switch to recycled, unbleached paper towels, Vanessa has been making one change daily and writing about it as she looks at changing her lifestyle in the coming year. Personally, I can’t believe how many different housecleaning and hair care products she uses!

Some of her 200+ changes to date (which range from very small to life-altering large) include:
· Using tote bags, no more plastic bags
· Signing up for the Freecycle Network
· Unplugging anything that isn’t in use
· Unplugging her refrigerator
· Selling her car; using public transit
· No more take-out, unless she brings her own containers
· Buying in bulk
· Not using staples
· Composting

Some changes that Vanessa has made have been ones she will keep doing, some she has had to make a subsequent change to achieve the result that she wants. Some have been gradual. First she changed her dishwasher soap to a more environmentally friendly option. Then a few days later she changed her settings on her dishwasher to use less water and power. Then, a few days later, she stopped using the dishwasher totally and unplugged it. Some have been more abrupt such as cutting her hair shorter to save on product usage.

Imagine how your life would be different if you made only one small change each and every day for a whole year - whether it is to achieve a greener lifestyle or to learn a new skill or to realize a long-term dream. By making the changes in baby steps, it doesn’t feel so overwhelming. Start today!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cFAAwiw5NbWX1C2NC_imileO8dUzfbzp/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Wednesday 19 September 2007

Be

First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do.
– Epictetus

Monday 17 September 2007

Problems

Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles,
they toughen and make strong.
-Norman Vincent Peale

Friday 14 September 2007

Wednesday 12 September 2007

Breakdown

One of the symptoms
of an approaching nervous breakdown
is the belief that one's work is terribly important.
- Bertrand Russell

Monday 10 September 2007

Acceptance

It is better to be hated for what you are,
than loved for what you are not.
- Andre Gide

Friday 7 September 2007

September 7, 2007 Chautauqua


From the Editor's Computer

I’m sure you all know by now that municipal and school board elections are happening this fall.

If you feel that you are capable of taking on the task of working, in cooperation with others, towards a positive governing atmosphere, then I encourage you to pick up nomination papers and get the required number of signatures. Forms are to be submitted on September 17, 10 - noon at the designated location for each of the jurisdictions.

We need people who are willing to run for municipal councils and school boards… however, we people to run who do not have any axes to grind or vendettas they want to enact. Being angry at the current governing body is not a good enough reason to run!

The purpose of running for these positions is to share your unique talents and skills with a board entity which is entrusted with a governing role. The good of the voters is just as important as the good of the governing body.

There is no power at all in these positions...rather, there is a huge responsibility to act, not only as the public wishes, but in the public’s best wishes. There is no glory, but rather a lot of hard work to balance the fine line between what you personally think best and what is truly best for all concerned. It is not a role to be taken lightly or without serious thought.

If you do not feel you are able to run, you can still sign someone else’s nomination forms. And, more importantly...you can vote on October 15!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1amxmxYa2W4hfp3WU12JLk3NROio38fvs/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Wednesday 5 September 2007

Success

It is not the going out of port, but the coming in,
that determines the success of a voyage.
-Henry Ward Beecher

Monday 3 September 2007

Mistakes

The man who does things makes many mistakes,
but he never makes the biggest mistake of all -
doing nothing.
- Benjamin Franklin