A Heartfelt Meme - Meaningful Quotes

My dear friend, Francis, at Caught in the Stream tagged me with a simple but beautiful Meme. I agree with Francis when he said, "I like this meme because it's as simple as they get." Here's how it goes -There is only one rule: Post a quote that speaks from and to your heart and dedicate it to at least three other bloggers.

This is one of my favorite quotes from a very unlikely source - "If you never lie you never have to play dumb."

Before I tell you who said it let me tell you what it means to me. When a person lies they have to remember everything they say on the subject there after. If they contradict themselves then another lie must be concocted. Or the person has another option...to play dumb. You've heard it before. I'm sure someone along the way has looked at you in wide-eyed innocence and said, "I don't know what you're talking about." I'll even admit that in years past I've said those words.

That's why this quote is so important to me. It's a reminder that when it counts (which is always, unless it's my mother asking me if her latest cake is the best she's ever made. In that case, the answer is always to hug her and say yes) I should ALWAYS tell the truth.

If we've done something wrong the easiest way to atone is through the truth. If we are asked our opinion, the honorable way to answer is to speak our truth. In all our dealings with each other business, personal, family, community and any other we should be honest.

I don't mean be brutally honest or to discount the feelings of others but to tell the truth with awareness and empathy for each other and our differences. Speak your truth kindly and be proud of it.

Now, who said these words that speak so clearly to me? No one said them. Someone sang them. Check out The Red Hot Chili Pepper's album "Stadium Arcadium". The song is "Storm in a Teacup" and it's brilliant but then I'm a big fan and that's my truth.

I'm tagging 3 bloggers that I think exemplify the meaning of this quote. They are truth-tellers and truth-champions. Check them out and see what I mean.

Gina Stepp at Family Matters, the place to go for in depth information about human relationships. This woman knows what she is talking about and does extensive research on her posts.

Ellen at Positive Communication, has a blog very much like my own. We have similar views and similar ways of bringing them to the blogging community.

Catherine Hughes at A Week In The Life Of A Redhead, so funny and poignant. You'll love it, too.

Michelle Obama - A Woman of Substance

Most evenings I sit down on the couch after a long day and curl myself around my husband to relax. When I close my eyes, often times a smile bubbles up from some where deep inside of me. I don't think he notices when it happens. That's when I think to myself, "Wow, how did I get here?"

Yesterday, while talking to a friend on the phone, I had a revelation. I was telling Joe about the exciting few weeks I'd had working with Barack Obama's campaign and the progress with the publication of my book . I told him about all the volunteering, the rallies, the caucus, meeting Michelle Obama, and how grateful and in awe I was that these opportunities had come into my way. His answer, "Lisa, since I've known you I can see how you've grown. You are truly the captain of your ship."

That's when it hit me. That's the difference in the "me" now and the "me" I was in my thirties. I am steering the ship and I'm very pleased with where it is going. After meeting Michelle Obama, I wondered if she felt the same way. Does she sometimes close her eyes in amazement to how she and Barack arrived at this pivotal place in their lives, poised to make history? I wonder if she has always known that she was at the helm of her ship? Has she always directed her own course? I wish I'd asked her those things when we talked.

I get the feeling she's always had a steady eye on the future. And from listening to her speak, I think she's been open to where life took her, not plodding a projected course but choosing the path as opportunities presented themselves.

She said one thing that will stay with me always. I'm paraphrasing here so bear with me. She said to never let anyone tell me that I am not ready - it's not my turn - I can't do it - someone else is more capable. Because in her experience, every time she stepped up and took her place at the table she found that she was just as prepared and just as humbled as everyone one else who'd made it that far. "Is this is? Is this what all the fuss was about? Okay, I can handle this," she said.

I met her on her 44th birthday. We are very close in age and as I listened to her describe her childhood, her schooling and career, her husband's decade in public office, I couldn't help but think, "Wow, if I'd been willing to "take my seat" all along look where I could be?" Even though I'm very happy with my accomplishments, I just feel a little behind the power curve. What an inspiration she is, at least to me, and I believe to most anyone who has the opportunity to meet her. She is articulate, intelligent, well-read, and accomplished in her own right. But what got to me was her empathy and concern for people that clearly shines through when she speaks.

She is mother, first and foremost, concerned about the world we are leaving to our children. Our children live in a country governed by fear. It's the driving force behind most all the decisions our government makes. That's not what I want for my children. She shares my vision of a different future where our children are again filled with possibility and dreaming about becoming astronauts and playwrights, not doing the duck and cover, hiding, and waiting for an elusive, undefinable enemy to strike. Fear is paralysing. Hope is propelling. Watch people around you and see if you don't agree.

She also gave a bit of advice on choosing a husband that I think every girl should hear. I think she said it was her father who passed on this advice, but again, don't quote me. She said, "A man's character is not determined by what he does when people are watching. It's determined by what he does when he thinks no one is watching. And that's why I married Barack. I saw the honorable way he behaved when no one was watching and the things he did for people that were to lift them up, not for his own glory and gain."

Girls, there's a lesson. That is the way to pick a husband. Listen to Michelle. She said that when she accepted Barack's marriage proposal he didn't promise her they would have an easy life but that it would be interesting. "And he's delivered on that!" She laughed.

Talking to Michelle one on one is like talking to an old friend that you haven't seen for a while. You know that feeling - even after years apart the two of you can pick up the conversation where you left off and it's like you were never apart. That's the feeling I got from Michelle. If her husband makes it to the White House, she will be a First Lady we can be proud of. Either way, I am proud to have met her.

Inspiration from Great Minds Around the World

After sunrise on Saturday, a few easy morning hours, the perfect time to contemplate our place in the world and the desire of our hearts.

Marianne Williamson wrote in "A Return to Love"..."Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

The 14th Dalai Lama advises, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

Gerald Jampolsky said, "When I am able to resist the temptation to judge others, I can see them as teachers of forgiveness in my life, Reminding me that I can only have peace of mind When I forgive rather than judge."

Christopher Reeve said, "There will be ups and there will be downs, there will be times when things make sense, there will be times when they won't, but you'll always be on an adventure of meaning if you live for self, family, and others. "

Edith Wharton believes, "There are two ways of spreading light — to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

In the words of Parahamansa Yogananda, “Giving love to all,feeling the love of God, seeing His presence in everyone . . . .that is the way to live in this world.”

Jimmy Carter said, "We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children."

And last and most profound in my life at this moment, Mohandas Gandhi taught, "A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble."