Interesting topic, is inspiration. In my studies on innovation I've looked at inspiration from a scientific point of view. Specifically, where does inspiration come from? Is it stochastic or deterministic? Can artificial intelligence be inspired? Needless to say, not much is known. (See, e.g., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4070479/) So it is useful to hear anecdotes and aphorisms.
Mardy, I hope you realize how much your weekly words inspire us, your readers. A story goes about a young teacher who visits an old professor and asks, “Sir, what is the secret of teaching?” The professor says, “Half of teaching is encouragement.” “Thank you, sir. Tell me. what is the other half? “The old man says, “Encouragement.” Perhaps the words that inspire us most in life are words that encourage us.
Thanks for your heartwarming words, Michael. It's notes like yours that keep me going! That was also a great story about encouragement. Can't believe I'd never heard it before.
Another great week of quotes and inspiration! Many books & quotes have influenced me but if I had to pick one - which you challenged us to do - I would choose the quote by Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I think of it often and when I first heard it, a jolt of inertia surged through my body. I realized I needed to stop waiting for inspiration, for tomorrow or “some day” to have the life I wanted. My life is just a series of daily habits that I choose (thoughts, words, actions) that really matter, in fact, it is all that matters.
Thank you for being a part of my life Mardy! You are truly an inspiration!!
Thanks for your super-kind words, Manisha. I love having people like you in my life. That Dillard quote is one of my favorites as well. Thanks for sharing your story.
Some great quotes, Mardy, and yours at the end is very witty. It's the only one I've included in my own Dictionary other than my own, attributed to you, of course.
Hi Mardy, et.al.....It's been a crazy few weeks here at the Stone Owl Cottage. It looks like we're headed into more turbulent times. As a visual thinker, words are the soil I use to generate new ideas or even revive old memories that I'm able to share with others. I hadn't really been able to understand what was missing in my life here in the middle of nowhere without anyone else to 'connect' with and Pearl Buck's quote really spoke to me today. Your weekly newsletter has been like WD-40 for my mind....melting away the rust and awakening old memories. It's been fun sharing them. Thanks to both you and Michael, I've enjoyed the last two months more than I can say. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for weighing in on today's theme, Arlene. I loved your WD-40 analogy and other heartwarming metaphorical words! Also delighted about the role my newsletter has played in your new friendship.
Fascinating ! Thank you! It brings to mind an expression that goes something like when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I may have even heard that from you!!
Puts a little responsibility on individuals to be open to answers.
From Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring: “[Bilbo] used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary. 'It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Since I read this as a child, this has inspired me to sample various adventures that I might not have otherwise. Here's to the Road!
“Depression is the inability to construct a future.”
If I had ever seen this, I hadn't remembered it. Rollo May helped me over some rough places, as he apparently did Mardy. Mardy's inspiring work ethic is an inspiration itself.
Thanks for your kind words, Blayney. Rollo May was one of psychology's most eloquent voices, and that was one of his best. You can learn more about it in my DMDMQ: https://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/d#depression
We are all influenced by others around us, seldom recognizing in the moment how much we are being influenced. Around the age of 11 my father told me I was a good listener. I now believe it was the foundation for me to listen attentively to discern what others are trying to communicate when they have difficulty getting the words out properly.
I am so thankful for the unconditional love in the home I grew up in which laid a foundation for me to enjoy every chapter of my life.
Inspiration can be subtle and yet powerful. In Dental School, we took thirty six credits a semester; an enormous load, to say the least. Bewildered, I asked a professor where to begin. He simply said, "Just start somewhere. You'll know where to go from there". It seemed inadequate at the time, but it worked miracles. Stuart Brown, DDS
Interesting topic, is inspiration. In my studies on innovation I've looked at inspiration from a scientific point of view. Specifically, where does inspiration come from? Is it stochastic or deterministic? Can artificial intelligence be inspired? Needless to say, not much is known. (See, e.g., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4070479/) So it is useful to hear anecdotes and aphorisms.
Thanks for weighing in, John. Looking forward to checking out the link.
Mardy, I hope you realize how much your weekly words inspire us, your readers. A story goes about a young teacher who visits an old professor and asks, “Sir, what is the secret of teaching?” The professor says, “Half of teaching is encouragement.” “Thank you, sir. Tell me. what is the other half? “The old man says, “Encouragement.” Perhaps the words that inspire us most in life are words that encourage us.
Thanks for your heartwarming words, Michael. It's notes like yours that keep me going! That was also a great story about encouragement. Can't believe I'd never heard it before.
Mardy,
Another great week of quotes and inspiration! Many books & quotes have influenced me but if I had to pick one - which you challenged us to do - I would choose the quote by Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I think of it often and when I first heard it, a jolt of inertia surged through my body. I realized I needed to stop waiting for inspiration, for tomorrow or “some day” to have the life I wanted. My life is just a series of daily habits that I choose (thoughts, words, actions) that really matter, in fact, it is all that matters.
Thank you for being a part of my life Mardy! You are truly an inspiration!!
Thanks for your super-kind words, Manisha. I love having people like you in my life. That Dillard quote is one of my favorites as well. Thanks for sharing your story.
Some great quotes, Mardy, and yours at the end is very witty. It's the only one I've included in my own Dictionary other than my own, attributed to you, of course.
Thanks for the kind words, Harvey. I'm honored to be included.
Hi Mardy, et.al.....It's been a crazy few weeks here at the Stone Owl Cottage. It looks like we're headed into more turbulent times. As a visual thinker, words are the soil I use to generate new ideas or even revive old memories that I'm able to share with others. I hadn't really been able to understand what was missing in my life here in the middle of nowhere without anyone else to 'connect' with and Pearl Buck's quote really spoke to me today. Your weekly newsletter has been like WD-40 for my mind....melting away the rust and awakening old memories. It's been fun sharing them. Thanks to both you and Michael, I've enjoyed the last two months more than I can say. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for weighing in on today's theme, Arlene. I loved your WD-40 analogy and other heartwarming metaphorical words! Also delighted about the role my newsletter has played in your new friendship.
As always you give me something useful and inspiring to share with my grandchildren. Thank you.
Thank you so very much, Duane. I admire the relationship you have with your grandkids.
Fascinating ! Thank you! It brings to mind an expression that goes something like when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I may have even heard that from you!!
Puts a little responsibility on individuals to be open to answers.
Thanks, Barbara. Ah yes, that old aphorism does seem to apply doesn't it? Sadly, though, sometimes students are ready, but no teachers appear.
A poem from the late Polish poet and essayist Adam Zagajewski:
"Don't Allow the Lucid Moment to Dissolve"
Don't allow the lucid moment to dissolve
Let the radiant thought last in stillness
though the page is almost filled and the flame flickers
We haven't risen yet to the level of ourselves
Knowledge grows slowly like a wisdom tooth
The stature of a man is still notched
high up on a white door
From far off, the joyful voice of a trumpet
and of a song rolled up like a cat
What passes doesn't fall into a void
A stoker is still feeding coal into the fire
Don't allow the lucid moment to dissolve
On a hard dry substance
you have to engrave the truth
Thanks, David. Love the title of that poem, and the significance of the thought. Very apropos.
From Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring: “[Bilbo] used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary. 'It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Since I read this as a child, this has inspired me to sample various adventures that I might not have otherwise. Here's to the Road!
Thanks, Julayne, that is a lovely metaphorical observation, and I can easily understand why you found it so inspiring.
“Depression is the inability to construct a future.”
If I had ever seen this, I hadn't remembered it. Rollo May helped me over some rough places, as he apparently did Mardy. Mardy's inspiring work ethic is an inspiration itself.
Thanks for your kind words, Blayney. Rollo May was one of psychology's most eloquent voices, and that was one of his best. You can learn more about it in my DMDMQ: https://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/d#depression
THE BIRTH OF A NOTION - wonderful pun.
In comic strips and comic books if a character had an idea or inspiration a light bulb
would light up over the character's head. A visual metaphor.
We are all influenced by others around us, seldom recognizing in the moment how much we are being influenced. Around the age of 11 my father told me I was a good listener. I now believe it was the foundation for me to listen attentively to discern what others are trying to communicate when they have difficulty getting the words out properly.
I am so thankful for the unconditional love in the home I grew up in which laid a foundation for me to enjoy every chapter of my life.
Thanks for sharing your story, Bruce. You are very fortunate, indeed, to have grown up in such a loving family.
Inspiration can be subtle and yet powerful. In Dental School, we took thirty six credits a semester; an enormous load, to say the least. Bewildered, I asked a professor where to begin. He simply said, "Just start somewhere. You'll know where to go from there". It seemed inadequate at the time, but it worked miracles. Stuart Brown, DDS
A great story, Stu. Thanks for sharing it. The simplest truths, it would seem, are sometimes the most inspiring.