be the change you wish to see in the world...gandhi
I have always found music and the written word to be very influential and powerful forms of expression in my life. I simply retrace the steps of my life and a book, a quote, a song, or an artist will appear on my mind's play reel. In fact, my collection of music and books deserves some credit for defining who I am as a person.
And every year, as it comes to an end, I reexamine the year and try to determine what I did well, what I failed miserably at, and what I can do to continue improving myself and that around me on this journey we call life. I can become quite introspective, really, and can always lean to another great song or quote or book that puts my thoughts into clearer perspective.
For this year's ending and the arrival of 2010, then, I thought it would be pretty cool to pick out just one quote, just one, that would signify my hopes for myself, my family and friends, and for you for this upcoming year.
You've already read the quote at the beginning. I thumbed through so many of my favorites and kept coming back to Gandhi and his wise words. In these uncertain times, where the landscapes of politics, of medicine, of war and international relations, of our amazing country and its current conflicts, of humanity, of everything, really, seem so tempermental and fragile, I wanted to remind myself of all that I can do to make this world a better place. Cliche, I know, but still heartfelt. Simply put, I wanted a quote that would help me direct my energy towards positivity and improvement.
My second goal for this post, however, was much harder. I challenged myself to pick out one song, a favorite or otherwise, that could serve as a reminder of that which is good in this world and that which is not good but could be potentially bettered by our individual actions. For that song, click here-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lv4yfpwTds. I challenge you not to feel something when you watch this brilliant video's stills and hear these powerful lyrics.
The common thread of both Gandhi's great words and Garth's amazing song is simply that...change. We all possess the power and energy to create a better place for ourselves, for our family, for our friends, for our children...why are we wasting time?
I hope 2010 is your year. May you all edge a little closer towards attaining your personal goals and, along the way, changing our world for the better. And if you show the world a smile along the way, all the more good.
Have a Blessed and Happy New Year!
Jim
And now, an open challenge to you. Through the comments, share with your fellow readers and I one quote or one song that has inspired you in your life. Maybe we, too, can get some inspiration from your choice for the upcoming year. As always, thanks for reading...a new medical post on Monday, January 4th, 2010!
Friday, January 1, 2010
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15 comments:
For me the quote and the song are the same. It is from New Model Army's song High...
"..all these things we fear so much depend on angles of vision..."
The full lyrics are here.
http://www.lyricstime.com/new-model-army-high-lyrics.html
And the song is here (not great quality).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4qtnJYcsHU
Happy New Year!
It's simple and to the point and not so much a quote as an idiom, but it's my motto:
Where there's a will, there's a way...
"Every man is my superior, in that i may learn from him".
Thanks, Dr. Jim.
"When the clouds grows heavy with moisture the rains will surely come. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot prevent this... and perseverance furthers."
My motto comes from a patient who could not hold on, but while he did, was able to put this together so eloquently and encouraged me to believe that "with possibility and opportunity follows movement, and this is the key to a healthy life." When you are stuck in a rut, all you have to do is try to move.
It may not be that easy all the time, and so I like this quote by Da Vinci, who seems to normalize any difficult situation:
"Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else."
Beautiful, beautiful post and song and so very true.
Thank you Jim ...for the inspiration..thank you for the reminder to be inspired.
"The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." ~Charles DuBois
This has been my favorite quote since one of my closest friends and my mentor, Pat (went home to heaven 4/08), gave me a poster in 1979. The poster was a picture against a lush garden background,of a beautiful butterfly having just emerged from it's cocoon.
She told me that butterflies are symbolic of hope and new beginnings. And she told me that butterflies are also symbolic of the resurrection.
To this day ..if a butterfly passes by ..I take it as a God wink ..that he's just saying hi or all is well or will be. Butterflies evoke a smile every time... and I also think of that quote and my friend. :)
Change can be scary. And due to circumstances out of my control these last 4 years and due to some things self imposed ..I feel very much stuck in a rut ..when I know I need to change a lot of things... and move forward... especially lifestyle changes for optimum health and getting a job.
Everyone's quotes here are terrific ..but Artdoctor .. your patient's quote really speaks to my heart "with possibility and opportunity follows movement, and this is the key to a healthy life." When you are stuck in a rut, all you have to do is try to move."
I stayed in bed extra long (3 hours longer)today ..even after I was awake. I opened the shade so the sun could shine on me and I was praying about different things..changes I wanted to make and for others I wanted to help. My heart is heavy with concerns for others and I would drift off then wake and pray and so on.
Jim ..yours is the first post I have read and it is so apropos for my life at this time. If I could just attain the most important goals ..the ripple effect would be a blessing to others as well.
Regarding changing the world .. I heard something neat once. The person was discussing how frustrating it is sometimes when so many people are in need of help and we are limited in what we can do. She said that we may not be able to help the whole word ..but we can make a difference in our little corner of the world ..one person, one circumstance at a time ..even if it's just baking someone a plate of cookies. I don't recall all of it, but I am pretty sure she broke it down to where you work, your family, your street or city block. You can find someway to help, be an example for good and make a difference.
Sorry about the long comment. THAT should be a New Year's resolution : I will write no more than 3 paragraphs in comment sections. :)
Happy and Blessed New Year to all! :)
Robin Williams in "Dead Poet's Society" is a good motivator to me. If you haven't seen the flick go get it now!
(and having some milk of magnesia on hand might not be a bad idea too, lol).
Mommy-medic - Carpe Diem!
Love that movie! :)
I tried to pose this same challenge to our full minivan this afternoon. After my sister announced, "This sounds like an English-nerd game; I'm not playing" any effort to obtain real answers was futile. Her quote was, "'Katie is a doofus' said me!"
These were some of the more answers I received:
Dad: "Come Sail Away" by Styx
Mom: "The Great Adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman
Both because of the adventures we've taken this year.
Other Sister:
"Love like you've never been hurt before, live like you'll die tomorrow, dance like nobody's watching."
"Whatever it Takes" by Lifehouse
As for me...
"You can do something no one else can do in a fashion no one else can do it.” - Max Lucado
and "The Motions" by Matthew West
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLJF9vaIJ_0
My quote for the year comes from 2 sources. I have been on a journey to understand a rare, neurological condition that effected my son and have spent much time researching for correct treatment and "answers" in a disease that lacks much of either.I also began teaching, which I thoroughly enjoy, and strive to be the kind of teacher I always enjoyed. So, my quote is:
"Knowledge is power and knowledge shared is power multiplied" by Robert Noyce
My song is not the least bit inspirational but instead, highlights my sense of humor in life...helps me get through crazy 12 hour ER shifts- "God is great, beer is good and people are crazy!"
Love your posts!
Toss up for me on quotes..
"It's never too late to become what you might have been." - George Eliot
or
"When you come to a fork in the road, pick it up." - Yogi Berra
The song will ALWAYS be Cat Stevens "If You Want to Sing Out"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDq36YD1ESM
Mine is from the song "I'm Alive," by Celine Dion.
Have a blessed New Year!
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." Father Jame Keller
I tend to come up with a blank whenever I am asked my favorite quote, song or book. The motto I seem to have conformed to, if I look back and try to summarize the last 10 or 15 years of my life is definitely "live and let live". People come in an array of configurations, and I think that there is too much irrational hatred floating around. Which, appropriately, brings me to one of my favorite movies, Crash (Paul Haggis), along these same lines.
I suppose Imagine by John Lennon would tie this trio together, but no, this is not my favorite song!
"As soon as we left the ground, I knew I myself had to fly." - Amelia Earhart
This quote is a literal statement Amelia made about when knew she wanted to learn to fly, but it has given me much inspiration through my post-bac pre-med studies this year; I've finally taken ownership and begun to fly on my own.
Thanks for the post - though 8 months old, it's still relevant.
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