No 52 Changing Lives through Dancing
By David Earl Woodbury
Friday, December 29, 2017
Happy New Year 2018!
“To think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself, it will spiral down into ever increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline – training – is about.”
– James Clavell, in his novel Shogun (1924 – 1994)
British novelist, screenwriter, director, and World War II veteran and prisoner of war
“You are today where your thoughts have brought you, you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”
– James Allen (1864 – 1912)
British philosophical writer
“Do not falter or shrink; But just think out your work, and just work out your think.”
– Nixon Waterman (1859 – 1944)
newspaper writer, poet and Chautauqua lecturer
Yes, our thoughts are a huge part of our lives. Imagine if we could only control what we think! What if our self-talk was not so brutal? My self-talk is rough. I scold myself and beat myself up for just minor infractions. Now, I am stopping myself and ceasing the cruel thoughts and I try to think good thoughts to myself. I know we all do this and I know that I become my own thoughts, so they should be good even great ones!
“We need a renaissance of wonder. We need to renew, in our hearts and in our souls, the deathless dream, the eternal poetry, the perennial sense that life is miracle and magic.”
– E. Merrill Root (1895 – 1973)
American Writer
Thinking good thoughts for me means that I often must let go. Let go of being “right”. Let go of controlling situations and others. Let go of my acerbic tongue and quick responses. Now, I am waiting for others to speak and listening much more in conversations. Also, letting go of fear of loss and the fear of something bad happening. Now, I find that my situations and life work out without me being nasty, controlling, and too overbearing. I am learning to say “this is working out” and truly letting good things happen in my life.
As a result of this, I do feel more a sense of wonder and magic. I dream more and these dreams come true. Now that I am not trying to control every aspect of my life, but live more in the moment, I am happier and those around me are happier with me!
“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”
– Epictetus (55AD – 135AD)
Stoic philosopher
“It is a hard rule of life, and I believe a healthy one, that no great plan is ever carried out without meeting and overcoming endless obstacles that come up to try the skill of a man’s hand, the quality of his courage, and the endurance of his faith.”
– Donald Douglas (1892 – 1981)
American, Founder Douglas Aircraft Company, later McDonnell Douglas
“I like a man who attempts the impossible.”
– J.P. Morgan (1837 – 1913)
American financier
Life can be impossible with endless obstacles. Yet, when we attempt the impossible with skill, courage, and faith we succeed in the end. I truly don’t want my life to be easy. Why, because during the rough times, I have learned the most and grown the most in my life. During the “dark nights of the soul” I have met mentors who have remained my guides, friends, and leaders until this day. I know life is going to be rough, so I use the magic of service to focus on the good and the positive.
“Trials, temptations, disappointments — all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.”
– James Buckham (1844 – 1930)
Canadian lumberman and Liberal politician
“If you smile when you lose, then you win in life.”
– From Tai-Pan, the great adventure novel by James Clavell (1924 – 1994)
British novelist, screenwriter, director, and World War II veteran and prisoner of war
As I look back on my years, I realize that there is so much I do not know about life and people. I realize that I am learning daily about people, work, faith, family, health, relationships, service, and patience. The list goes on and on. That’s exciting for me. There is a great future. As the above quote says, I smile a lot and that makes me a winner in life.
Go into the new year with a clean slate. Good thoughts, good hopes and dreams, good plans for the future. Let the bad times go and smile and appreciate the good times.
Happy New Year!
Thanks for reading!
David Earl Woodbury
Keep on Dancing!