Your Youngest and Oldest Self
Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again. — Eleanor Roosevelt This 15th post in Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series prompted three thoughts [let me know what you think]: First: Because, as long as we live, we, um, mature, why not honor the inevitable? As David Bowie said, “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” In Japan, China, India and throughout Africa, those who’ve accumulated more years are expected to have gained more wisdom and resources. Greece is a Western country that highly respects its elders, which is instilled in children and displayed through philotimo, “doing good.” Read more. Second: I wondered what advantages come with getting older. Listverse lists ten, which include: Fewer colds Less stress and worry Better sex Read more Third: How can we be happy about getting older? According to Forbes, the answer is: Grow Older. Their research shows that “happiness dips steadily until you hit age 45 or so. Then the happiness curve moves back up.” The reasons can include the perspective gained through age and better coping skills. Read more. Next week, Succeed and Soar moves to a different topic that interested Eleanor Roosevelt. This theme ends her secret to aging happily: Remain interested in life, as active as possible, useful to others, busy, and forward looking. Succeed and Soar! Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Celebrate! Did you know that October is: Photographer Appreciation Month National Book Month Bully Prevention Month In addition, Wednesday, October 6 offers three fun things to celebrate: Mad Hatter Day National Noodle Day and, yum, National Frappe Day [here are 103 recipes, including a strawberry frappucino and a detox frappe made with clover honey, chia seeds, cinnamon and apples] Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Beautiful Forever
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. — Eleanor Roosevelt Isn’t the thought delightful that we can take the blank canvas, paper, stone received at birth and learn to paint, compose, sculpt ourselves into works of art? Dapper and elegant Maurice Chevalier said, “Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.” In choosing his first option, remember, Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age. – Victor Hugo While the years accrue, keep singer Gwen Stefani’s words in mind, “You’re not getting older, you’re getting more entitled to be your fabulous self.” Hebrew Senior Life reported that an older woman was once asked by a child if she were young or old. The lady answered, “My dear, I have been young a very long time.” To keep looking young as long as possible, here are tips that surprised me: Health.com suggests: Stop sipping through straws. EatThis.com advises: Finish eating before you’re full. Bona Fide Skin Care says the face can be kept from ‘dropping’ by keeping neck and chest muscles loose. One exercise involves opening the mouth wide and making silly faces. Also, roll shoulders gently. Here are maps some have found to The Fountain of Youth. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. – Franz Kafka Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. – Sir Arthur Wing Pinero There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. – Sophia Loren Succeed and Soar! Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Thursday, September 30th is International Podcast Day. Great timing! My first podcast just launched on Yinz Are Good. [‘Yinz’ is Pittsburghese for Y’All or You are.] Here Tressa Glover celebrates the good stuff that’s happening around town, which is what she does so joyfully during the first ten minutes. Then Marshall Cohen, Laurie Moser and I effuse about next year’s Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books. Mark your calendar for May 14, 2022. Listen in. Here’s why. This Week, Also Celebrate Sunday, September 26: Better Breakfast Day Tuesday, September 28, National Ask A Stupid Question Day Friday, October 1, Bake someone’s day on National Homemade Cookies Day Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Love
The giving of love and understanding is an education in itself. Eleanor Roosevelt What is love? In December, 2020, Succeed and Soar posted the five-part Love Is series. The first was “Key to The Gates of Happiness.” There, the ancient Greek’s five types of love were defined: Philautia: the ability to love oneself and be concerned with ones happiness Storge: an empathetic love that exists in families Philia: the fondness found in friendships Eros: romantic, passionate love Agape: open-hearted, unconditional and world-embracing spiritual love Of self love, Elani Saltas wrote, The ancient Greeks were wise enough to understand there are two kinds of philautia. The first is a narcissistic love for oneself, a destructive self-centered approach to life with all its negative attributes. The second offers a way out of narcissism, the healthy kind of love we must give ourselves. This kind of self-love believes in its own worth and does not base that belief on what anyone else thinks or says. Saltas also believes, “If you want to see more love in your world, it all begins with you.” WebMD reports that loving people enjoy lower blood pressure, less anxiety, fewer colds, faster healing, longer lives and more. And, as Mrs. Roosevelt’s words recommend, the giving of love can teach. Dr. Carol Morgan found a few, precious, love lessons. My favorites include: Love is an action, not just a feeling. Love is focusing on quality, not quantity Read more. Of self love, imagine a world based on these two affirmations: I love myself the way that I am and I want to be better. I love myself even more for wanting to be better. – Allan Martin Osman There’s an angel inside. – Freddie Weber Succeed and Soar! Celebrate! Sunday, September 19: International Talk Like A Pirate Day “Ahoy, me hearties!” Here’s how to speak proper pirate [including pickup lines]. Monday, September 20 : Harvest Moon This red moon is in the sky longer than on other nights, allowing farmers more time to harvest crops. It reaches maximum fullness at 7:55 pm Pittsburgh time. Enjoy. Friday, September 24, National Punctuation Day From the lowly comma to the flamboyant ampersand, National Punctuation Day on September 24 celebrates the punctuation that makes our words legible and gets our point across. “Let’s eat, Grandma!” or “Let’s eat Grandma!” — it’s clear that punctuation saves lives Image Source Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Peace
We will have to want peace, want it enough to pay for it, before it becomes an accepted rule. Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt’s words really resonate on this anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, one of so many in human history. Think of Pearl Harbor. Think of Germany’s Gypsy, Homosexual, Jewish Holocaust. Think of the decimation of this hemisphere’s first people. A 100,000 year war waged by our species now leaves us without another. See How Neanderthals and Humans Battled. Also see The Neanderthals War. While wars between humans have been brief by comparison, the longest include: The 781-year-long Christian invasion of the Iberian Peninsula The 681-year-long Greco-Roman vs. Persian [Iran] battles The 675-year-long Byzantine-Bulgarian wars in the Balkans The 602 years, five months, one week and four days of the Christian Crusades Here’s More Whew! Mrs. Roosevelt believed, ”The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world. Love thy neighbor as thyself.” And some have also, historically advocated the conquest and killing of those viewed as different. Eleanor Roosevelt asked, “When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?” Personal peace is a start. What if more and more: Resisted guilt. Didn’t compare themselves to others. Challenged their ‘musts’ and converted ‘shoulds’ to ‘coulds.’ Took breaks from the hustle-bustle and visited tranquil places. See More Ways to Find Peace of Mind and Inner Calm. Predator-Prey is Earth’s MO [Modus Operandi, Method of Operating]. All animals and some plants kill other living things to live. That said, here’s a thought [illustrated in part by playing the original Super Mario]: What if Earth’s kill-or-be-killed conditions are a kind of test, a puzzle? What if a blissful after life is the reward for figuring out how to create on Earth all that’s promised in heaven, Eden, Paradise? What if Earth is, as some suggest, Purgatory where failure-flunking requires a re-do? Here’s another question: What price would you pay for more peace? Succeed and Soar! Remember September 11 is also “Make Your Bed Day” September 12 is Grandparents Day September 15 is International Day of Democracy September 17 is National Constitution Day Image by pikepicture Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
When The Going Gets Tough
Most of the work that’s done in the world gets done by people who weren’t feeling all that well at the time that they did it. Eleanor Roosevelt When the road looks rough, keep going, ’cause: “Though you may hear me holler, and you may see me cry– I’ll be dogged, sweet baby, if you gonna see me die.” – Langston Hughes “The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground.” – Source Unknown “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” – Walter Elliot “The difference between the difficult and the impossible is that the impossible takes a little longer time.” – Lady Aberdeen Read More Encouragements Did you know, in the late 1800s, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks? The highest paid workers in 1880 averaged $2.35 a day. Children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of the adults’ pay. Here’s How a Deadly Railroad Strike led to Labor Day, a time to celebrate those who get the work done. Succeed and Soar! Special Days This Week Sunday, September 5: International Day of Charity Established by United Nations in 2012, International Day of Charity encourages global philanthropy and volunteering. Goal: bonding between peoples and communities across social and economic borders. A day when everyone can become a hero. Thursday, September 9: International Sudoku Day In 1892, the French newspaper “La Siècle” printed a game like Sudoku that required mathematical skills. Today’s version requires logic. [Aha! That’s why I can’t win!] Friday, September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day Allow tomorrow another chance. “Never, never, never give up.” Winston Churchill Wallpapers“No one knows enough to be a pessimist,” Beautiful IMAGE SOURCE Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ This post’s featured photograph was taken while riding SkyLine Drive. The image always makes me think of, “Between a rock and a hard place.” Did you phrase comes from the Greek story of Odysseus’ voyage home from the Trojan War, when he had to sail between two monstrosities? Read more. Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Hit The High Spots
The more we simplify our material needs the more we are free to think of other things. – Eleanor Roosevelt One of my photography teachers said that images can be strengthened when they’re simplified. In looking for other ways to say Barry Lavery’s favorite phrase, ‘Less is more,” I found: Hit the high spots. Let sunlight in. Make clear. Veneta Lusk is a personal finance expert who’s learned how to live better with less so that her family is debt free, travels more and can focus on fun projects. Two of her ten tips are: BUY ONE, GIVE TWO. Example: if you see a shirt you really want, buy it and sell or donate two you already own. This rule not only helps reduce the stuff inside your home, it also means you must be pickier about what you buy and what you keep. LIMIT GIFT GIVING: Make a pact with loved ones to stop exchanging gifts. Focus on doing fun activities or sharing a meal. … Instead of buying your dad a golf club, take him to play a round of golf. Or instead of giving your sister a gift card, treat her to a spa or a massage. Read more Smart Money, Simple Life offers “50 Awesome Ways to Live Better on Less Money,” including: Line Dry Clothes. Once upon a time, that’s how laundry was done. Today, that reduces utility bills. [Inside, consider drying racks]. The 30-Day Challenge. To avoid impulse shopping, put desired items on a list with the date you were tempted to buy it. If the purchase makes sense after 30 days, purchase it! More Tips Chopra reminds that thoughts can also become cluttered. Here are ways to keep the mind clutter free: Sleep More [I really like this one] Schedule Time to Worry Enjoy Time in Nature Read more Succeed and Soar! Celebrate! Saturday, August 28, Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened. – Anatole France Okay. My soul may be awakened, but my heart still hurts. Last year, a Rainbow Bridge moment was part of a Wicca ceremony. I was gladdened to learn my pups Cindy and Lady could, so deservedly be frolicking and happy in that place. Click the image to learn more and view the lovely video. [Have a hanky handy.] Tuesday, August 31, Eat Outside Day Reasons to eat outside: Absorb vitamin D from the sun. Ease anxiety and depression. Exercise. Read more Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Your Heroic Heart
We do not have to become heroes over night. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up. Eleanor Roosevelt How would you feel if, each night you told your pillow, “I was a hero today.” What if, each dawn you told the rising sun, “I did something heroic yesterday. I will enjoy that again today.” ‘Hero’ comes from ancient words meaning demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. Heroes: Find joy in seeing smiles on others faces Act on [rather than talking about] positive changes that help neighbors, communities, cities and, in time, countries and the world. Perform a random, unexpected act of kindness Promote what is uplifting, unifying, healing Read more Grab a piece of paper, a tablet. Start your personal Hero Journal. Each day, note one hero thing you did. Imagine a world where gradually, one-by-one, more people become heroes? As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up.” For doubters and naysayers, keep in mind that our thoughts can create stories about what’s possible. From Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements, see these wise words about assumptions. You even have a theme song. Listen to “Heart of a Hero” below, from The All Time Greatest Movie Songs. To Be Continued! Celebrate! Sunday, August 22nd, TOOTH FAIRY DAY Tand-fé or tooth fee is the tradition of paying children for their baby teeth, first recorded in the Eddas of long-ago, northern Europe. These days, the Tooth Fairy reminds to take good care of, to love our teeth. Read more. Monday, August 23, NATIONAL HEROES DAY A great time to celebrate people who’ve accomplished noble things and encourage the hero in everyone’s hearts. BTW: Did you know that one popular, make-believe heroes, The Lone Ranger, is based on the real life of Bass Reeves, an enslaved African who became the first Deputy U.S. Marshall west of the Mississippi? See more Wednesday, August 25th, NATIONAL SECOND HAND WARDROBE DAY Celebrate the thriftiness and practicality of second-hand clothing. Read more. Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ This post’s featured image was taken during my stay at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony, Temecula, California. There, the artists worked without electricity. I bought a manual typewriter. Also tried [but failed] to find pens that had to be dipped in ink. How marvelous to watch a sunrise and sunset without telephone lines. To see thousands of stars in a sky free of light pollution. Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Freer Than Ever Before
Accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give. Eleanor Roosevelt Add to Mrs. Roosevelt’s advice: Watch whoever comes and meet certain folks fearlessly and with the best you have to give. This last of three Eleanor posts about courage offers insights and remedies for those who would trumple others to make themselves feel better. As Tara Mackey author of Cured by Nature and founder of The Organic Life says, people exist who will, “get you stuck in the past and focused on the negative, and in that mentality, you can’t move forward and you can’t succeed.” Antidote: First, see those troubled folks for what they are. Here are sixteen types, including Meddlers, Control Freaks and Perpetual Victims. Then, Set boundaries. Realize it’s not your job to save them. Treat your separation like the breakup it is. Read All Seven Tips. When breakup isn’t possible, as with co-workers, here are: Tips for Dealing with Toxic People and Dealing with 10 Types of Difficult Co-Workers In meeting gossips, narcissists, the passive aggressive, blamers and other unpleasant people along with the challenges they present, remember, The encouraging thing is that every time you meet a situation, though you may think at the time it is an impossibility and you go through the tortures of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it you find that forever after you are freer than you ever were before. — Eleanor Roosevelt Succeed and Soar! Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
En Garde!
I can take the next thing that comes along. – Eleanor Roosevelt Today’s post was to share a bold quote from a list of Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspiring words. Drat! Darn! And, well, Phooey! When looking for more information, I learned Mrs. Roosevelt never said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” QuoteInvestigator reports that phrase is from Mary Schmich’s June, 1997 essay. In it, the Chicago Tribune columnist advised, “Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.” Schmich further suggested that, every day, we sing, floss and “Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.” Forty years before, in 1960 Eleanor Roosevelt published “You Learn by Living” with a chapter titled, “Fear—the Great Enemy.” There, Roosevelt wrote, “Fear has always seemed to me to be the worst stumbling block which anyone has to face. It is the great crippler. Looking back, it strikes me that my childhood and my early youth were one long battle against fear.” In time, the First Lady realized, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. … [Then] You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’” Roosevelt reminds, “The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it. If you fail anywhere along the line it will take away your confidence. You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” What’s a good way to pursue something special but scary? Try this post’s video. Dance along! Succeed and Soar! Celebrate! For several weeks, Earth has zoomed [at 67,000 miles per hour, whoosh!] through a long ago comet’s dust trail. When particles enter our atmosphere, they flare. The Perseid Star Showers sky show continues through August, peaking August 11-13. Here’s how to see them. also Saturday, August 7: National Lighthouse Day [for the beacon inside all of us] Sunday, August 8, International Cat Day [for mastering the arts of living luxurious and napping] Friday, August 13 Blame Someone Else Day [for some reason, always the first Friday the 13th of the year.] Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Good in Great Out, GIGO Redefined
You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude. Eleanor Roosevelt Updated February 6, 2025 Harvard Medical School reports that people with positive attitudes can live longer. Their “How to achieve a positive attitude” list begins, Savor pleasure as it’s happening Stay in the present moment [rather than past or future] Focus on what can be controlled Practice gratitude Indeed.com finds that positive attitudes help people grab opportunities quicker and overcome obstacles better. Indeed’s top tips for staying upbeat include, Describe yourself and your life with positive words Try to make others happy Focus on what you get to do instead of what you have to do Along with seeing glasses as half full [rather than half empty], the Berkeley Well-Being Institute recommends looking for silver linings and practicing random acts of kindness. Their web site offers inspiring videos, including Brian Tracy’s “7 Keys to a Positive Personality.” He recommends changing the computer acronym GIGO {Garbage In, Garbage Out] to Good In, Good Out. The input could be Good thoughts, Good influences, Good ideas, Good notions. All can cause Good outcomes. This prayer prayer is credited to Marianne Williamson, May every aspect of my being be converted to Truth. May every cell fall into place and serve a higher plan. I no longer wish to be who I was. I wish to be more. And if you want some really big smiles along with great insights, view Zig Ziglar’s video below, “Attitude Makes All The Difference.” Succeed and Soar! Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as journals, greeting cards, totes, coffee mugs, shower curtains, clothing, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks for your support!