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“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln
Motivation Mondays: 45 Inspiring Quotes from U.S. Presidents #PresidentsDay
Happy Presidents’ Day! The office of the President of the United States of America (POTUS) is a very powerful position globally. As leader of the most powerful, and, some might add, only remaining superpower, the authority invested in the position requires wisdom and a measured tone. If you are wondering about the origins of this special federal holiday and why it is called Presidents Day, I’m here to help you with a brief history. First of all, it was a special day to honor the birthday of our first president – George Washington Over time, it evolved to become a celebration in honor of two of America’s greatest Presidents; George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In 1968, the 90th Congress voted to shift three federal holidays, including George Washington’s Birthday to the 3rd Monday of February. This move led to the creation of a new holiday – Presidents’ Day. There was resistance and many objections were raised but eventually it became law in 1971. The correct way to write it is Presidents’ Day NOT President’s Day because we honor more than one former leader of these United States on this special day. Got it?
1. George Washington (1789–1797)
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
2. John Adams (1797–1801)
“Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.”
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
4. James Madison (1809–1817)
“The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.”
5. James Monroe (1817–1825)
“A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue.”
6. John Quincy Adams (1825–1829)
“Gratitude, warm, sincere, intense, when it takes possession of the bosom, fills the soul to overflowing and scarce leaves room for any other sentiment or thought.”
7. Andrew Jackson (1829–1837)
“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”
8. Martin Van Buren (1837–1841)
“Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe.”
9. William Henry Harrison (1841)
“I contend that the strongest of all governments is that which is most free.”
10. John Tyler (1841–1845)
“The applause of his native land is the richest reward to which the patriot ever aspires. It is this for which ‘he bears to live or dares to die.’ It is the high incentive to those achievements which illustrate the page of history and give to poetry its brightest charm.”
11. James K. Polk (1845–1849)
“No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure.”
12. Zachary Taylor (1849–1850)
“Never judge a stranger by his clothes.”
READ: Motivation Mondays: Honoring Presidents’ Day
Motivation Mondays: Black Panther Movie Review – Lessons On Leadership
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.” George Washington
Motivation Mondays: 45 Inspiring Quotes from U.S. Presidents
Every year, I think of a way to honor the leaders of this nation and to help readers learn a bit more about their legacy. This year, for my post on the great leaders, I curated 45 quotes to represent our 45 Presidents to date. Whether we choose to celebrate it or not, we can learn something from the wisdom shared in the quotes. I’ve included at least one inspiring quote from all 45 presidents of the USA; check them out above and below. I’ve included links to their Wiki pages and also the length of time they served in the presidency. Please read them and let me know which one is your favorite from the bunch. I have a few that I love too but, I’d wait to hear your response.
13. Millard Fillmore (1850–1853)
“Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, are equal and independent, possessing certain rights and owing certain duties to each other.”
14. Franklin Pierce (1853–1857)
“While men inhabiting different parts of this vast continent cannot be expected to hold the same opinions, they can unite in a common objective and sustain common principles.”
15. James Buchanan (1857–1861)
“What is right and what is practicable are two different things.”
16. Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865)
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”
17. Andrew Johnson (1865–1869)
“Legislation can neither be wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a single interest at the expense and to the injury of many and varied interests.”
18. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877)
“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.”
19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881)
“Conscience is the authentic voice of God to you.”
20. James A. Garfield (1881)
“If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.”
21. Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885)
“Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let everyone know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using. If you are not too large for the place you occupy, you are too small for it.”
22. Grover Cleveland (1885–1889)
A government for the people must depend for its success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice, and the interest of the people themselves.”
23. Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893)
“The bud of victory is always in the truth.”
24. Grover Cleveland (1893–1897)
“Unswerving loyalty to duty, constant devotion to truth, and a clear conscience will overcome every discouragement and surely lead the way to usefulness and high achievement.”
READ: Motivation Mondays: Presidents’ Day
Motivation Mondays: MORAL COMPASS
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JAN – FEB 2019 are:
01/01 – 01 New Year’s Day, 05 National Bird Day
01/06 – 06 Golden Globe Awards, 07 Orthodox Christmas, 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day,
01/13 – 13 Critics Choice Awards, 14 Image Awards, 16 Religious Freedom Day
01/20 – 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 26 Nat’l. Spouses Day
01/27 – 27 Commemoration Victims of the Holocaust, SAG Awards
01/03 – 04 World Cancer Day, 05 Chinese New Year
01/10 – 10 Grammy Awards, 14 Valentine’s Day
01/17 – 18 Presidents Day, 14 Image Awards,
01/24 – 24 Academy Awards,
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2019?
- Join Our Blog Support & Engagement Group
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- Checkout Your Daily Word Prompts
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“The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” Rumi
Motivation Mondays: LOVE Is… #HappyValentinesDay
Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence. Vincent van Gogh
Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties. Jules Renard
Love is when the desire to be desired takes you so badly that you feel you could die of it. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Why Valentine’s Day? Every year, around the month of February, anxiety levels rise as lovers debate the merits of celebrating one of the most potent and powerful emotions on one designated day of the year. Why create more stress over an emotion that already requires 24/7 attention and displays of affection? Some would argue that, after all, it is the celebration of the life and works of two beloved Saints/martyrs named Valentinus? So for them, this day, February 14th, is not about human lovers but is dedicated to Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine because its origins are based on a Western Christian feast day in honor of said saints. Others would argue that since we have special days for all sorts of things, a day for lovers would be perfect and why not this day, right? If you have a generous mate, you might get to be wined and dined and pampered… the stress comes when you have a mate who is either jaded, can’t afford the extravaganzas, or simply forgets… I know.
We also have that group of folks who feel the whole thing is a commercial effort to separate lovers from their hard earned coins. Truth is that no one can force you to spend money you don’t have so, be wise and be clear. What resonates with me more is that this season of love is a great time to work on effective communication with loved ones. It is a great time to re-kindle the flames of love if you have been taking each other for granted. If the funds are there, it’s not a bad time to splurge a little on each other. Valentine’s Day ought to be a two way street, frankly, because love takes two to tango, and we can’t let the onus of celebrating this day fall on one partner’s shoulders. What do you say?
LOVE Is…
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. Aristotle
Love is metaphysical gravity. R. Buckminster Fuller
When love is not madness, it is not love. Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Love is being stupid together. Paul Valery
Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination. Voltaire
Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence. Vincent van Gogh
Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties. Jules Renard
Love is when the desire to be desired takes you so badly that you feel you could die of it. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. Robert Heinlein
This is love by Rumi
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,
to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment.
First, to let go of live.
In the end, to take a step without feet;
to regard this world as invisible,
and to disregard what appears to be the self.
Heart, I said, what a gift it has been
to enter this circle of lovers,
to see beyond seeing itself,
to reach and feel within the breast. via poemhunter.com
READ: Motivation Mondays: Beyond Valentine’s Day
Motivation Mondays: Happy Valentine’s Day
Motivation Mondays: Valentine’s Day Tips
“I think that Valentine’s Day is only as good as you want it to be. You know, I don’t think it should be anything fancy, nothing crazy. As long as you’re spending time with that person that’s special, I think that’s a great Valentine’s Day.” Prince Royce
Motivation Mondays: LOVE Is… #HappyValentinesDay
Motivation Mondays: LOVE Is… #HappyValentinesDay #TrytheWorld
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. Aristotle
There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved. George Sand
You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Dr. Seuss
Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
What is a Try The World Box? Have you tried everything and need a special change ? Here is a new idea for you. TryTheWorld is a Subscription Gourmet Food Gift box idea that you can share with friends and family or even treat yourself to one. Every box of curated gourmet items includes a spice, a sweet, traditional foods that folks love and cherish in the country of origin, and a Culture Guide that walks you though the history of each item, the family behind the farm or company, and a few recipes to try with your food items. If you so choose, you may use the items to create your own recipes or add them to your favorite foods… that is the beauty of enjoying foods from around the world. For a gastronomic adventure around the world, you can sit back and enjoy foods from many regions. Each food or snack box is carefully selected by a chef from the country of origin and you can be rest assured that the contents will fill your belly and heart.
What if you’ve tried all the usual gift-giving and wine/dine/floral approach and want something a bit different? Try the Word is a perfect gift that you can share with a loved one and both of you, and your family can enjoy the foods for months on end. Whoever said that the way to a lover’s heart is through the stomach was spot on. Food is a great aphrodisiac and when you present gourmet foods from around the world in beautiful boxes with enough for a full scale meal, you’ve discovered a fabulous gift that keeps on giving. Where would I rather be if I’ve sampled my share of public dining? At home with my beloved enjoying one of these boxed delights and sharing the beautiful selection of love poems included in this post. And you?
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READ: Try The World: A Taste of TURKEY
Try The World: World Box Gift Of Gourmet Foods
Try The World: A Taste of SOUTH AFRICA
Try The World: A Taste Of KOREA
Try The World: A Taste Of INDIA
Try The World: A Taste Of Sweden
Try The World: A Taste Of Paris
Try The World: Gifts Of Finest Foods Curated Globally
The Gardener By Mary Oliver
Have I lived enough?
Have I loved enough?
Have I considered Right Action enough, have I come to any conclusion?
Have I experienced happiness with sufficient gratitude?
Have I endured loneliness with grace?
I say this, or perhaps I’m just thinking it.
Actually I probably think too much.
Then I step out into the garden,
where the gardener, who is said to be a simple man,
is tending his children, the roses.
A Morning Offering By John O’Donohue
I bless the night that nourished my heart
To set the ghosts of longing free
Into the flow and figure of dream
That went to harvest from the dark
Bread for the hunger no one sees.
All that is eternal in me
Welcomes the wonder of this day,
The field of brightness it creates
Offering time for each thing
To arise and illuminate.
I place on the altar of dawn:
The quiet loyalty of breath,
The tent of thought where I shelter,
Waves of desire I am shore to
And all beauty drawn to the eye.
May my mind come alive today
To the invisible geography
That invites me to new frontiers,
To break the dead shell of yesterdays,
To risk being disturbed and changed.
May I have the courage today
To live the life that I would love,
To postpone my dream no longer
But do at last what I came here for
And waste my heart on fear no more. via mindfulnessassociation.net
READ:On Love: Valentine’s Day Wishes…
Greatest Gifts: 8 Valentine’s Day Vignettes
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JAN – FEB 2019 are:
01/01 – 01 New Year’s Day, 05 National Bird Day
01/06 – 06 Golden Globe Awards, 07 Orthodox Christmas, 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day,
01/13 – 13 Critics Choice Awards, 14 Image Awards, 16 Religious Freedom Day
01/20 – 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 26 Nat’l. Spouses Day
01/27 – 27 Commemoration Victims of the Holocaust, SAG Awards
01/03 – 04 World Cancer Day, 05 Chinese New Year
01/10 – 10 Grammy Awards, 14 Valentine’s Day
01/17 – 18 Presidents Day, 14 Image Awards,
01/24 – 24 Academy Awards, Black History Month
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2019?
- Join Our Blog Support & Engagement Group
- Check out the Daily Post for Inspiration. Resources. Idea
- Checkout Your Daily Word Prompts
- Check out SheKnows for SheKnows Living
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“Wishing you luck in the Year of the PIG (2019) 猪年大吉 zhū nián dàjí Good health, good luck and much happiness throughout the year.” Traditional Greetings
Motivation Mondays: Lunar New Year #YearOfThePig
The Pig (豬) is the twelfth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. In the continuous sexagenary cycle of sixty years, every twelfth year corresponds to hai, 亥 (the twelfth of the twelve Earthly Branches); this re-recurring twelfth year is commonly called the Year of the Pig 豬. There are five types of Pigs, named after the Chinese elements. In order, they are: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. These correspond to the Heavenly Stems. Thus, there are five pig years in every sexegenary cycle. For example, in the year 2019, the Earthly Branch is the twelfth, hài, and the Heavenly Stem is the sixth, jǐ 己. The Chinese New Year in 2019 is February fifth: this corresponds with the beginning of both the sexegenary year of jǐ hài and also the zodiac year of the Earth Pig. Wikipedia
Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy New Year of the Pig! Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái. Gōng hè xīn xǐ! Happy New Year: 新年快乐 xīn nián kuài lè! Happy Chinese Lunar New Year to everyone! If you were born in 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 … and every twelve years thereafter, this is your year. The year of the Pig, which is an Earth Pig year, will begin on February 5th 2019 and end on January 24th 2020. If you know any pig year folks, you know they are kind and compassionate, and would give you the shirt off their backs. They get along with other pigs, Tigers, Rabbits and Goats and can’t stand your proverbial snakes, oxen, and monkeys.
Ironically, according to ancient Chinese superstitious beliefs, your Chinese Zodiac year is called Ben Ming Nian, and while it may be the year to celebrate your zodiac animal, it can also be the year of bad luck or mediocre luck for the designated animal. Go figure. If you were born in any of the years listed above, it behooves you to practice caution, compassion and wisdom this year. If you’re motivated, and you should be, there are lots of ways you can contain or curtail the ancient, angry gods who want to teach you a lesson. Keep reading below.
Apparently, in the olden days, an ancient god called Tai Sui/god of Age was offended by the animals of the zodiac during their stint on the twelve year cycle. So, whenever their year arrives, the god asserts his revenge with mischief and misfortune. You can avoid said bad luck and bring good luck into your year by doing the following things: Wear red clothing, accessories and shoes. If you want red underwear which is highly recommended, others MUST buy them for you. You can accept red gifts from loved ones, jade accessories, change your direction and be more observant of your surroundings. Honor the good around you and keep your chain of communication open and clear. This year, Tai Sui is facing northwest so, make sure to change your direction and adjust your personal effects to face southeast to maximize your good luck.
READ: Happy Chinese New Year: Ten Blessings & Ten Things To Know… (2012)
Chinese New Year: Quotes, Blessings And Tips… (2013)
Motivation Mondays: Chinese New Year of The Rooster(2017)
Musings: Happy Chinese New Year! #YearoftheDog (2018)
To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” Confucius
Motivation Mondays: Lunar New Year #YearOfThePig
More On Year Of The Pig: Two Pigs can get along well with each other and ( with Rabbits and goats). It is said that the relationship between these three archetypes, (pigs, rabbits and goats), work best as they strive for aestheticism, beauty, and a more philosophical, and intellectual approach in life. Their calm nature gives them great leadership abilities.
They are artistic, refined, intuitive, intelligent, and well-mannered. These souls love the preliminaries in love, and are fine artists in their lovemaking. The Rabbit, Goat, and Pig have been bestowed with calmer natures than the other nine signs.
These three are compassionately aware, yet detached and resigned to their condition. They seek beauty and a sensitive love. They are caring, unique, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful, and prudent. They can also be naive, pedantic, insecure, cunning, indecisive, and pessimistic. Wikipedia
Other Elements of the Year of the Pig: This year, we honor the Earth Pig who represents the element of water. This pig is a Yin, and has the 10th month as its lunar month. Its lucky numbers are 2, 5, 6, 8; lucky flower is the lily, lucky color is yellow and it lives free in the winter. In case you are wondering how I got into celebrating and investigating the rich cultural history around this special holiday, I was introduced to it in high school in England; one of my roommates in the 6th form was from Mainland China and she celebrated it with other Asian students. The term we shared a dorm room, she invited me to join in and I loved it. I was so taken by the special treats, and the red envelopes that they used to exchange money with each other, that I held on to the memory for years. When I moved to the US and found out that it was celebrated here with gusto, I was sold. As I write this post, I have a huge and beautifully packed Chinese New Year gift package on my Buffet Table. I love this holiday because it’s an opportunity to start over the New Year with a review of what has occurred to date, and a commitment to move forward in a new direction. Do you celebrate it?
Stay Motivated in 2019 with Abundant Sayings and Blessings: To keep you and your progeny lucky and happy in 2019, surround yourself with positive people, affirmations and these endless sayings/blessings for the year ahead. Here are a few via 123newyear: **Just as you usher in lights, lanterns and other forms of illuminations to welcome the New Year, may the New Year usher in for you new hopes, dreams and aspirations.
**One year goes by taking with it a set of hopes and aspirations. Another year comes in with bundles of new opportunities to relive your dreams and realize your goals.
**This Lunar New Year may your life hold for you as much variety as the various phases of the moon.
**This New Year, do not live in the past for it may make you depressed; do not live for the future for it shall only make you anxious. Live only in the present for that alone will bring you peace.
**This New Year do not get impatient if things seem to be going slow for you; remember as long as things are moving you are lucky.
**Creation never takes a day off to love, to care, to guide and blessed all of you every moment of your lives and your families. **Happy New Year.?A New year, A New Start, A New Chapter, A New Beginning, Forget the bad, Cherish the GOOD, I sincerely wish u a very blessed new year ahead.
**Happy New Year One year goes by taking with it a set of hopes and aspirations.
**Another year comes in with bundles of new opportunities to relive your dreams and realize your goals.
After digesting the New Year Day sayings/blessings above, don’t forget to add some affirmations and wishes of your own and create a journal to help you record and repeat them again and again.
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JAN – FEB 2019 are:
01/01 – 01 New Year’s Day, 05 National Bird Day
01/06 – 06 Golden Globe Awards, 07 Orthodox Christmas, 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day,
01/13 – 13 Critics Choice Awards, 14 Image Awards, 16 Religious Freedom Day
01/20 – 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 26 Nat’l. Spouses Day
01/27 – 27 Commemoration Victims of the Holocaust, SAG Awards
01/03 – 04 World Cancer Day, 05 Chinese New Year
01/10 – 10 Grammy Awards, 14 Valentine’s Day
01/17 – 18 Presidents Day, 14 Image Awards,
01/24 – 24 Academy Awards,
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2019?
- Join Our Blog Support & Engagement Group
- Check out the Daily Post for Inspiration. Resources. Idea
- Checkout Your Daily Word Prompts
- Check out SheKnows for SheKnows Living
More Below Read more…
