Favorite Sayings

There are many hundreds of quotes and sayings which have beneficially come my way over the years. Some are cute, like "man who drive like hell, bound to get there sooner or later," which I saw as a youngster on one of those heavily lacquered wood and bark plaques in the hardware store in Lake George (Michigan). It was not something I would likely quote, but I remembered it. Add the common expressions of any given decade and this page could go on and on. However, only a few have consistently remained with me throughout my life, several as long as forty years or more. It is some of these that I share with you on this page.

I have used one stock (brick wall) and one clipart (computer) background below along with my images on this page because the text did not always contrast well with the photo I might have chosen relating to the subject. Then again, maybe I just liked them better.

Life is not about controlling others. It is about self-control. That applies especially to unsolicited help. The best of intentions can have disastrous results when we try to rescue others strictly based on our own perceptions or perspectives. Only God sees the entire picture clearly enough to know what is best. The above quote is a vivid reminder of this.

Both the above and below sayings were originally heard while attending Al-Anon meetings in the 1980s. I discovered quite a number of beneficial philosophies in my years there.

The next two, which I saw on business desks when I was fresh out of college, have probably been a part of my philosophical sharing as long as any. I still use them regularly.

Lack of or miscommunication creates all sorts of problems. I like to make sure that all those who could potentially be affected by a communication actually receive a copy of its contents. One of my favorite ways of describing such an action is with the saying. I am . . . "Just trying to keep everybody on the same page."

I have put the above two seemingly unrelated sayings next to one another because I have often used each of them in talking about our thought processes. The first illustrates to us the power of suggestion, regardless of what the words themselves might instruct. The second I use in discussions about learning and growth. Ignorance may, or may not, be bliss, but it is not a long-term option. Once something is planted into our consciousness, we cannot choose to un-know it. But, that brings to mind the Martin Luther quote below. In all honesty, it takes some effort to clearly picture (think of) and keep a pink elephant in your mind, which illustrates the Luther point further. You might not be able to prevent introduced or fleeting thoughts, but you do have some control over how long they remain, or whether you allow them to find fertile ground to take root and grow.

atow photo note: Obviously I altered two of the three background pictures with my photo programs.

I no longer use the expression above much, but I did at one time. It is probably one I should simply keep in mind for my own benefit though. The one below is from the movie War Games, and I have used it often throughout my life. It relates to the futility of entering into something from which you cannot possibly emerge with any sense of victory.

Earlier in life, I would use the expression 'information overload' quite a bit when facing some significant spiritual and mental challenges. Today, that could just as well be 'clutter overload' across the board. That is why I really like the below expression. He might tell you to 'take the wheel' for a little while, but He is still the Pilot, if you let Him be.

The above quote is a recent addition to sayings I use. I took the picture, by the way, in 2012 from the dam overlook in Fitzgerald Park. Another new one I saw at a friend's house, before I completed work on this page, is an expansion of a more common one . . .

God answers all prayers
Sometimes He says Yes
Sometimes He says No
And sometimes He says . . .
You've got to be kidding!

The first time I read that, I busted out laughing. I have already repeated the quote on several occasions, so I suspect it will likely become a part of my repertoire.

I used the below quote for many years, in a multitude of circumstances, before I began reading the Bible. Yet, it fits our overall life situation as well. However, I almost opted for a nature image when the first cropped version of this photo turned out to have a height dimension of 666 (no kidding) pixels. That was a little freaky, even to me, I must admit.

There are times when just a single word, or two, can be most expressive. Given the right inflection, they can communicate well beyond their simple nature. I particularly like, and use, 'duh!' and 'go figure' which, for better or worse, have woven their way into the fabric of our culture. Finally, there is the ultimate conversation (or relationship) killer, but still one of my favorites, and probably a good way to wrap up this page.