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Quote of the Day by President Theodore Roosevelt

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“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”  – President Theodore Roosevelt

More quotes by President Theodore Roosevelt:

I have always been fond of the West African proverb: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense… We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less. The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us. – Theodore Roosevelt

It is no use to preach to [children] if you do not act decently yourself. – Theodore Roosevelt

Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground. – Theodore Roosevelt

The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name.” “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. – Theodore Roosevelt

I never keep boys waiting. It’s a hard trial for a boy to wait. – More Theodore Roosevelt Quotes

The worst of all fears is the fear of living. – Theodore Roosevelt

Don’t hit at all if you can help it; don’t hit a man if you can possibly avoid it; but if you do hit him, put him to sleep. – Theodore Roosevelt

There were all kinds of things I was afraid of at first, ranging from grizzly bears to ‘mean’ horses and gun-fighters; but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to be afraid. – Theodore Roosevelt

I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well. – Theodore Roosevelt

Four Very Powerful Words

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“Do good, and disappear.” – Genevieve Hennet De Goutel (1886-1917)

The simple, yet beautiful, words above are from Genevieve Hennet De Goutel’s diary.  Genevieve was a heroic French nurse who served on several battlefields.  She died in World War I.  I’ve made a note to try to learn more about this remarkable woman.  As it  is, I have little more than the quote above.

But what a quote!

The quote needs no explaining or expounding from me.  The meaning is obvious:  When you do something helpful or kind for someone, you need not stand around waiting for a pat on the back.  You shouldn’t worry if anyone saw your good deed or heard your kind words, and you most certainly shouldn’t try to draw attention to yourself

You simply give, say, or do – and disappear.

Dave Thomas: The Inspiring Story Behind the Food Giant

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Just thinking about this post is giving me a killer craving for a bowl of Wendy’s chili. But, I’ll try to press on through the conversation my stomach’s having with my brain.

Dave Thomas was a fascinating man with a fascinating story. Unfortunately, he, like many people, had a difficult childhood. He was adopted and raised by Rex and Auleva Thomas, and never knew or met either of his birth parents. Sadly his mother, Auleva, died when Dave Thomas was only five. Rex Thomas moved the family often and re-married 3 times.

At the age of 12, Dave had to quit school and take his first job – working full time in a restaurant.

He worked his way up from a busboy in the family restaurant to a manager in four different failing Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants.

Kentucky Fried Chicken’s colorful founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, became young Dave Thomas’s mentor, teaching him the ropes of the restaurant business – running and promoting the restaurant, and possibly a little about letting your personality shine through beautifully.

The hero of our story was a fast learner. And how! He turned the 4 failing Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants around and was given a stake in those businesses. The profits? They made him a millionaire by the time he was 35 and provided him with the capital needed for opening his first Wendy’s in 1969.


If there are things you don’t like in the world you grew up in, make your own life different. – Dave Thomas

There are a few things that we can take away from this story and apply to our own lives.

  • Dave Thomas fought his way through adversity and, most definitely, came out on top.  He didn’t whine and gripe about his circumstances and feel sorry for himself.  He simply made life as he knew it better (and tastier).
  • He was willing to be the pupil.  Many people miss out on life-changing lessons and advice simply because they have too much pride to be the pupil.  Everyone was someone’s pupil at one time.  Everyone has something to teach us.  When we get so full of ourselves and think that we are the BE ALL and the END ALL, two thing happen:  We stop learning and we stop growing.  We’re right, then, about one thing:  It is the END of it ALL.
  • Dave Thomas didn’t give up.  How many people (with 4 failing restaurants under their hat) would have stomped out of the restaurant business and never gone back?  Probably a lot.  But Dave Thomas persevered and fought his way to success.

If that’s not a self help lesson in itself, I’m not sure what is.

The only question that remains is, “Do I want iced tea or a Frosty with my chili?”

To learn more about Dave Thomas, you might want to read his wonderful book, Well Done! – The Common Guy’s Guide to Everyday Success. I don’t know about you, but I just LOVE success stories that involve super nice, happy, quality people.

~ Joi

Shakespeare and Heidi Klum

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“Our bodies are our gardens,to which our wills are gardeners.” – Shakespeare, 1564-1616

I dearly love irony – I guess that’s why God allows me to see so much of it.  He knows it floats my boat.   I’m not sure I completely appreciate this morning’s irony, however.  It smarted.

Here I was,  in the midst of my morning ritual, sitting at my desk with my sleeping cat, Alexa, sprawled out  between me and the computer (having to dodge the occasional paw or furry tail that hangs over the edge and hovers above the keyboard).  As always, we have the blinds lifted, affording us the gorgeous a.m. showing of birds and squirrels at the feeders.  Peaceful morning. I felt the need for a Shakespeare quote for today’s Quote of the Day, so I had one of my many Shakespeare books out, looking for one that moved me.   A multi-tasker (moms have to be, out of necessity), I was also sorting through my e-mail at the same time.

I had moved joyfully to coffee cup number 2 and was contemplating one of the iced brownies with walnuts I’d recently made.

So, the stage was set for irony: Within the span of 2 minutes – I decided on two things:  I found the quote I wanted (the one above… yes, men, there’s a quote above! Good Lord…) and I decided that I had a date with the biggest brownie on the platter, with the most icing.  Yeah, baby!  Some plans are set in cement and some are set in chocolate.

Oh, but wait… there’s an e-mail from a favorite fashion site.  What?  Heidi Klum has new pictures?  She’s one of my favorite models… let me see the pics, THEN I’ll have that brownie.

I never made it to the brownies.

The picture is at the top of the post.  Guys, you’re welcome.  Girls, I’m sorry.

Lady Heidi has many children.  She recently had one, in fact.  What’s fair about that?  “Our bodies are our gardens,to which our wills are gardeners.” Heidi Klum’s will is one heckuva gardener.

I hear you treadmill. I hear you.