Robin at Pensieve is our Fun Monday hostess this week and this is what she's asking us to write about -
Regardless of what motivated me to choose this for a theme, next week please share words that inspire and motivate you--brief or bloviatory, silly or serious, from great world leaders to last night's Comedy Central...from a Hallmark greeting card to your favorite book. Choose one, choose many; let the quotes stand on their own or tell where you first read or heard them and how they affected you. There's a lot of leeway with how this topic can be handled.
Well, you really could go lots of ways with this, but here are two that really resonate with me lately...
The Pain of Discipline is Far Less Than the Pain of Regret
and
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
Alan Kay said the second one and I have no idea who said the first one, but I love them both. And I love them for different reasons. The second one is all about taking control of your own destiny and not letting it take control of you. And the first one really speaks to me now because I think I've finally decided to take that big step and see if I have a book in me after all. I'd rather die trying than not have the guts to give it a shot.
Oh, that reminds me of another quote I really love. Actually, it's more than a quote, it's a paragraph, but I'm taking advantage of that whole leeway thing and bending the rules mercilessly. Here it is -
Vera said: "Why do you feel you have to turn everything into a story?"
So I told her why:
Because if I tell the story, I control the version.
Because if I tell the story, I can make you laugh, and I would rather have you laugh at me than feel sorry for me.
Because if I tell the story, it doesn't hurt as much.
Because if I tell the story, I can get on with it.
Nora Ephron
Heartburn
Monday, March 31, 2008
Fun Monday
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35 comments:
Book! Book! Book! Yaaaaaayyyyyy! Book!
You go girl. Great quotes too.
Note to self - invent your own future.
That first one should be taught to our youngsters from day one. Great advice.
(Sarah Bombell said it according to GOOGLE. Who is she?)
i'm glad you're going for it with the book, r.c. i know i would buy it...you're a fantastic writer.
that whole paragraph seems to resonate a lot, doesn't it? even with me....
rules are made to be broken...
Great quotes and writing a book? Wow, that is so great! And I couldn't agree more with your philosophy on taking the step in writing it. You just never know indeed.
You go for it girl! It is most definitely better to have tried than to live your life full of "what ifs"
About time young lady. Get that book written. Seriously, you can do this. I will await with baited breath (whatever that means, and the quotes are fabulous dwahling.
Will we all be getting first edition signed copies?
good luck with the book, is it good to start a book and and know you have a guaranteed audience? - no pressure!!
Finally.
It's funny you mention Nora Ephron - because I think your styles are similar.
Ready. Steady. Go!!!!
Mya x
You typed: "The Pain of Discipline is Far Less Than the Pain of Regret"
I love this one.
You definitely have a book in you! I can't wait to read it. :)
When my two cents introduced me to your blog way back when, she described it as like having "my own Erma Bombeck". And she was right. Erma Bombeck wrote wonderful books and I'm sure you will too. Go for it!!
Like attracts like, doesn't it?
There's a lot of truth in the things she says.
I love Ben Franklin and I heard him actually say this (on the HBO John Adams) after reading it, " We must all hang together or most assuredly we will all hang separately".
Very well said and done!
RC, your quotes ring so true--how many of us feel regret on a daily basis because we don't discipline ourselves to live up to our portential? And, how empowering to believe--rightly--that we have our future in our own hands.
The sky is the limit! Go for it girl!! I'll be looking fwd to reading it!
Nora has loads of great quotes!!
I have a couple for you(not Nora)....
"If you can do it then why not do it?" ~ Gertrude Stein
"Why not go out on a limb? That is where the fruit is." ~ Mark Twain
A book is a great idea!
those are all so true...congratulations on your new venture..writing a book...very exciting. best of luck to you.
Great prospective about story telling. Thanks
These ring loudly in my ears...a few words that speak great truth.
Congratulations on your book! You've already taken the first (hardest?) step!!
Also, who said anything about rules? I don't remember no stinkin' rules ;).
Good for you RC. Can't wait to read it.
Wonderful quotes and I particularly like the Nora Ephron paragraph.
Happy writing you'll have to try out a few chapters on us!
fantastic. totally fantastic.
Love, love, LOVED your blog - started reading Fun Monday, and didn't quit until my own testerone laden household burst through the front door. (Even the goldfish is male, for Pete's sake). WRITE THE BOOK!
My humble advice to you, RC...
You cannot edit a blank page.
(i.e. no matter what spills forth, keep typing. First drafts are not meant to actually be readable!)
G.I.M x
I really do like the first one; words to live by, although I had never heard that one before now.
Go for the book. Great quote, too.
Nora Ephron - wise woman in many ways.
That is a wonderful idea and your last quote is brilliant. It is so true. I have started to post some very deep and personal stuff and I often wonder why I do it in such a public way, yet it helps. I feel ok with it. And that quote articulates perfectly why.
I might just pin it on the wall so I don't have to keep explaining myself to loved ones (who don't blog and don't understand the Blog world!) lol
Ooh, must remember that discipline quote.
Oh I just love the first one! LOVE it! Thank you so much!!!
One of my favourite quotes is from a headstone of a dead hypochondriac. It says " I told you I was ill..........."
Oh, hurray for you and your book!!!! I wish you as much success as Nora Ephron has had.
I love the quote about discipline, also. Very, very true.
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