Monday 30 January 2012

Deny

Never “for the sake of peace and quiet” 
deny your own experience or convictions.
– Dag Hammarskjold

Friday 27 January 2012

Yourself

Play no roles, only yourself. 
(paraphrase of a quote by Stephen Ambrose)

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Loud


You ask me what I came 
into the world to do.  
 I came to live out loud. 
– Emile Zola

Monday 23 January 2012

Impact

The good you do today 
may be quickly forgotten, 
but the impact of what you do 
will never disappear. 
– Anonymous

Friday 20 January 2012

January 20, 2012 Chautauqua


From the Editor's Computer     

     Yes, it has been 10 whole years since I started this adventure.  Where did the time go?  As I told someone not long ago: time really flies when you’re having fun, or are far too stressed out to notice its passage.

   I took on the task of publishing The Chautauqua not knowing how I would manage it, only knowing I’d figure it out eventually.  Of course, life took some unexpected turns that month (okay, when doesn’t my life take unexpected turns?), so I not only had to quickly figure out how to put the paper together and send it to the Advocate electronically, I also had a very short time frame to register for my first course in my online Master degree program.  Nothing like deadlines and intense pressure to get the blood pumping.

   I cannot begin to tell you how much fun I have had publishing The Chautauqua twice a month, as well as delivering it to the various communities.  The experience has surpassed even my own expectations - once I got over my initial trepidation! 

   A lot has occurred in the past 10 years to us all:
  • communities experienced good times and not so good times
  • some long-time businesses closed, and new ones opened
  • schools grew or were closed
  • babies were born, as old-timers and youngsters passed away.
  • significant milestones were reached, and new goals set
  • familiar faces moved away, and new friends were made
  • there was joy, happiness, stress, and tears
   In short, while there were many large, momentous events that have occurred in the past 10 years, those years were made up of a greater multitude of ordinary, average, everyday moments strung together.  We may not remember each moment as they were too mundane at the time, yet we can look back on the past 10 years and see how far we’ve come.  And we have come a long way.  We’re not the same people we were back then.  New experiences and relationships have shaped us and helped us grow.  Here’s to the future, and all the wonder it holds for us.

   Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives, via the printed word, for the past 10 years!  
Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jx3Ytgcuo1bWgDMV-B__YCCDlzz3QElF/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Listen

Sit quietly and listen to your heart; 
it often gives the best advice.  
 – Stephanie Tourles

Monday 16 January 2012

Season

Live each season as it passes; 
breathe the air, 
drink the drink, 
taste the fruit, 
and resign yourself 
to the influence of each.   
– Henry David Thoreau

Friday 13 January 2012

Movie


The past is simply a movie 
you keep replaying in your head,
while the future is nothing more 
than a coming attraction 
for a film that is yet to be released. 
Being in the present, however, 
is the very essence of life
and where everything takes place.  
– Michael Chase

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Three Times


Try a thing you haven’t done three times.  
 Once, to get over the fear of doing it.   
Twice, to learn how to do it.   
And a third time to figure out 
whether you like it or not.   
– Virgil Thomson

Monday 9 January 2012

Friday 6 January 2012

January 6, 2012 Chautauqua


From the Editor's Computer
     
      Here we are almost a full week into 2012.  How are your New Year’s Resolutions holding out?  Did you make any resolutions? 

   What if you decide that you are going to be the best person you can be in 2012?  Each day allows you a fresh opportunity to share your best self with others, and with you.  How often do we treat others better than we treat our own selves?

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

  1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
  2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
  3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
  4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
  5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
  6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
  7. People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
  8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
  9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
  10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

   May you be the best you that you can be this year!                    
 
Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/132V33mBRp3CqY-2YiyVihneuriwdDBqE/view?usp=sharing

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

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Happiness


Happiness is not a destination.  
 It is the attitude with which 
you choose to travel.   
– Arit Desal

Monday 2 January 2012

Celebrate

Dwelling on the unimportant,
stressing on the unintended, 
and freaking over the unknown 
simply doesn't work...
 Why not just celebrate 
that you're alive every single day?
 - Mike Dooley