Monday, 29 February 2016

Fruit

You never hear a pear tree whine, 
“I'm no good at fruit!” 
- Danny Gregory
 

Friday, 26 February 2016

Experts

If you want to find some experts, 
start to do something.
 In 10 minutes, people will come
 from all around the world 
to tell you it can't be done. 
- Author Unknown
 

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Vacation

 Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, 
maybe you set up a life 
you don't need to escape from.
 - Seth Godin

Monday, 22 February 2016

Decisions

It's crazy that your current life 
is based on a few random decisions 
you made when you were sixteen. 
 Can you imagine that?  
What did we really know at sixteen? 
 - Mitch Joel 

Friday, 19 February 2016

February 19, 2016 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings

 
     If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.  - Ivan Turgenev

   What is something on your “Someday” list?  What do you dream of doing when the conditions of your life are all just so and the stars are aligned right?

   Instead of waiting, why not try an experiment?

   More and more, than any other time in history, we are now seeing others’ experiments in virtually all areas of life via books, movies, or social media.  Experiments such as trying to minimize household trash, eating different foods, getting healthier, starting businesses, and more.

   Experiments are good because they are short-term and there is minimal investment.  Plus, the pressure to be instantly successful - real or self-induced - is much less.

   We all have an idea of something we’d like to try “someday” - a career change, a lifestyle change, a business venture, a new hobby, or a change of scenery.  If we do take the leap, and invest our all into the project, too often it seems we discover we’re not as happy as we thought and it isn’t the right fit for us.

   Many times, this is because we are attracted to the “idea” of whatever it is we are interested in, because we’ve been told that everyone else is into it, and we don’t want to be left out.  Yet, it is the “idea” - that gets us in trouble when we discover the “reality” of whatever we started.  But often we feel we are stuck and can’t quit because of the time, energy, money, and other resources we’ve invested.

   So, before you quit your job, open a retail outlet, or spend all your money, try an experiment for a few weeks or months.  Volunteer, take some vacation time to job shadow someone if possible, or take a class.  Book a table at a market or have a tail-gate sale.  With a short-term commitment, you will get a better grasp of the reality of your project. 

   After you’ve had a chance to experience first-hand what the situation really entails, you’ll be able to make a better decision as to whether to continue your experiment longer or devote your energy elsewhere.

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fozCj2QM7pcKq57xpDbH9HvUKoruoWcT/view?usp=sharing

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Expectations

So much of our overwhelm 
comes from unrealistic expectations...
And when we don't meet them, 
instead of questioning the expectations, 
we think that we're doing something wrong. 
 - Terry Monaghan 

Monday, 15 February 2016

Eyes

We have a need to see ourselves 
reflected in the eyes of someone 
who regards us as an indispensable part 
of his or her life. 
 - Gordon Livingston 

Friday, 12 February 2016

Approach

Life in general and good relationships
 with other human beings in particular 
don't have to be difficult.
 In fact, if they are,
 maybe you need to reevaluate your approach.
  - Gordon Livingston 

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Said


Everything that needs to be said
 has already been said.  
But, since no one was listening, 
everything must be said again. 
 - Andre Gide 

Monday, 8 February 2016

Advice

When people give you advice, 
they're really just talking to themselves
 in the past.
 - Austin Kleon 

Friday, 5 February 2016

February 5, 2016 Chautauuqua


Beth's Ponderings
 
    Once, many long years ago a particular task was completed in two simple steps.  It didn’t matter if one just learnt how to do the particular task, or if one had mastered it decades before, the process was the same - just two simple steps.

   And that was the way it was done for years and years.  Everyone knew what was expected of them, and what the final result should be.  And everyone was able to complete the task and still have time for fun.

   Then, a certain individual decided to take that particular task and turn it into a complex procedure involving ten time-consuming steps.  

   Now, you would think that the certain individual would have been laughed out of town for daring to complicate the simplicity of particular task, but, alas, you’d be wrong.

   Instead, the certain individual was praised as others considered the implications of turning the particular task into a complex procedure.  For instance, one could charge a LOT more for the final product as the ten time-consuming steps increased the difficulty, or one could demand a higher paycheque for completing the complex procedure as it took considerably more hours than the two-step simple task. 
   So it was mandated that the particular task would ONLY be completed as a complex procedure from henceforth.  In a very short time frame, the ten-steps became firmly entrenched in society, as traditionalist secretly continued to complete the particular task in two simple steps.

   After a while, people started grumbling about how time-consuming the ten steps really were.  An efficiency expert and time-management coach were brought in to assess how the people were really completing the ten time-consuming tasks.  After much consultation, and discussion, the expert and coach were able to streamline the complex procedure down to a mere...seven steps!  And the people rejoiced.

   Meanwhile, the traditionalists, after shaking their heads at the folly of humans, decided to launch a revival of the particular task with its two simple steps.  And the people thought it was something brand new.

   We can complicate or simplify our lives.  Which do you choose?

 Beth

 Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B3ql8d_modBEnUgdG1Mfs6Z8ULNag88W/view?usp=sharing

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
TheChautauqua

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

One Thing

There is time enough for everything 
in the course of the day 
if you but do but one thing at once; 
but there is not time enough in the year
 if you will do two things at a time.
 - Lord Chesterfield 

Monday, 1 February 2016

Smile

If there is a smile in your heart, 
your face will show it.
 - Amish proverb  

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