WRITE OR THINK YOUR WAY TO INSPIRATION
It’s that time again to use reflection and writing to inspire you. I try to give you an inspiration-boost each week. To get you started, I’ve put together three quotes by women whose words can bring light to your day (and hopefully your week).
I read through many different quotes to bring you ones that seem special. Here they are:
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is the author of our first quote. Why did I chose this one? As you know, RosieCentral focuses on Amazing Women and Angelou’s words point toward how women can show just how amazing they are (read this as "you are.")
If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. ~ Maya Angelou
Write or Think About This for the Next Seven Days:
Do you hesitate to stand out? Do you want to be considered normal—even ordinary? Do you strive to “fit in?” I urge you to be willing to stand out. Be willing to be amazing. Angelou’s quote inspires me. I hope her words inspire you as well to be the best you can be.
OR … Do you pride yourself on being extraordinary?
If so, congratulations. Take some time today and all week long to create a list of the ways you refuse to be normal...to be ordinary. Keep up the good work and find even more ways to refuse to be normal.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt was an incredibly prolific writer. Did you know she wrote her newspaper column, My Day, beginning December 31, 1935, until January 1961 — 6 days each week. Just imagine. Then, beginning in January 1961, she cut back to writing three days a week until September 26, 1962 when she no longer felt well enough to write at all — and — that was just two months before her death.
By one calculation, she wrote almost 9000 columns during those years (8747).
Eleanor Roosevelt was an amazing woman and admired by many. Acknowledging her work for human rights, Harry Truman called her the “First Lady of the World.” And indeed, she has meant so much to so many people around the world.
I remember once asking my mother what woman she most admired in the world. Although she was definitely not a Democrat, my mother responded quickly without even taking time to ponder my question. “Eleanor Roosevelt,” she said. It's wonderful when appreciation crosses over political boundaries.
Anyone who writes almost 9000 newspaper columns (plus books and other articles) is bound to have many famous quotes. I have a long list of Eleanor Roosevelt favorites. One of them: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness” was even made into a necklace for me by one of my sons.
Yet the quote I’m offering you today is a “new” one for me and I’m eager to share it with you. I hope you’ll find it as quite appropriate as we look for inspiration in our lives.
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Write or Think About This for the Next Seven Days: With the start of each day this week, consider writing about new thoughts you have … ways that you feel strong in new ways. If one of your thoughts particularly appeals to you...
Something new you will do,
Someplace new you will visit,
New people you will meet,
New ways you will express your strength,
New challenges you will accept in your life,
...reflect on it for 7 days. This is a lovely way to get yourself out of a rut.
Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono, Japanese artist and musician. Just say her name and most will respond “John Lennon.” Yes, Yoko Ono is, even today, primarily known as the widow of John Lennon. However, she is so much more — recognized as a multimedia artist, singer, songwriter and peace activist.
According to the website www.imaginepeace.com: “Yoko Ono staged a new global intervention by pausing commercial advertisements on the world’s most prominent digital screens to share a message of peace with the global community. An invitation for the world to unite, Ono broadcasted her powerful, universal mantra IMAGINE PEACE every evening at 20:22 through March 2022.
Her message appeared on digital screens in:
London, UK
Berlin, Germany
Milan, Italy
Melbourne, Australia
Times Square, New York, USA
West Hollywood, California, USA
Seoul, South Korea
Tokyo, Japan
The thought I came away with was: Just imagine IMAGINING PEACE. I find that idea to be revolutionary.
Most of the writing/thinking prompts on RosieCentral focus on personal inspiration because that is so important in our lives. You need to find your own inspiration. But Yoko Ono’s quote about peace is a wonderful balance point — it reminds us to think beyond our personal inspiration.
Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll see a big difference in your life. ~ Yoko Ono
DO This for the Next Seven Days: Follow Yoko Ono's suggestion. Each day, look in the mirror and smile. Go ahead and make it a big smile. The day may get you down. But go right back to the mirror and smile again. It will boost your spirits and give you a positive outlook on the day.