QUOTATIONS

Episode 52 - Eric Greitens on Life/Work Balance

Eric Greitens is an author, former Governor, and former US Navy SEAL.  He knows more than most the importance of being able to take a hit and keep on going.  In his book, Resilience, he advises, through a series of letters, an old SEAL buddy who is taking the hits life throws at all of us.  

In this quote, Eric speaks about the "symphony" of life and the importance of managing the various things that come our way so as to create beautiful music and not just one long, boring honk.  

Episode 51 - Holmes & Watson on Seeing

Sherlock Holmes, detective for the ages, along with his trusty compatriot, Dr. John Watson, have provided generations of mystery buffs with their fix of seemingly otherworldly abductive reasoning.  So beloved is he that Holmes holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records!  

In today's quote, a dialogue really, Holmes and Watson enlighten us to the difference between "seeing" and "observing," an important distinction and a lesson worth internalizing for all of us!

Episode 50 - Emily Maroutian on Focus

Author, poet, and philosopher Emily Maroutian ponders, synthesizes, and presents amazingly thought-provoking observations of the world, including today's quote.  Her words on focus echo in my mind as I go about my day, taking in all around me, and help me (as I hope they'll help you too) to be discriminating in our attentions, judicious with our time, and stingy with our focus.  With this tool, we see the world and craft our future selves.  

Episode 49 - Poetry Explication #2: "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden

In our second explication, we explore the words of noted Black poet, Robert Hayden as he draws us into a cold home somewhere at some time. The speaker could be any of us, the scene is all too real. In three short stanzas, he crafts a world and an all important lesson for us to take with us as we go forward.

Episode 48 - Samuel L. Jackson on Choosing Interpretation

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most recognized and accomplished actors in history, with well over 150 films to his credit, many chock full of quotable and memorable lines.  Jackson has a very interesting history outside of film as well, including overcoming a stutter and once being expelled from his university for taking the board hostage...

The Sunset Limited is, in my opinion, one of the best films most people don't recognize.  It is from there that today's quote originates.  Jackson's character Black makes a passing comment that has endured in my mind for years.  It is a choice and one that we make all day, every day.   

Episode 47 - Daniel Brown on the Paradoxes of Rowing

The Boys in the Boat is the simply fantastic story of the 1936 US Men's Rowing team at the Berlin Olympics.  Daniel Brown wrote the chronicle of those eight men and their coxswain, their adversity, and ultimate triumph by less than a second over the Italian and German boats is one for the ages.  

Brown describes rowing in today's quote, highlighting three paradoxes in descriptive and wonderful prose.  It is often in life that the true beauty of accomplishment, athletic or otherwise, is found not only in what is done or avoided, but in the depth the world provides through contrast.  Brown captures this perfectly.  

Episode 46 - My Grandma on 80+ Years of Life

On February 22, 2021 my grandmother, Madeline Jackson, died. She taught me many things throughout my life and it seemed only fitting that I dedicate an episode to some poignant and challenging words of hers. Thanks to NPR’s StoryCorps, I had, preserved from years ago, just those kinds of words of hers.

I hope they challenge you the way they challenged and continue to challenge me. Rest easy, Grandma. I love you.

Episode 45 - Edward Griggs on the Hard Steps

Edward Howard Griggs lectured and wrote from the turn of the 20th century until well into it, giving over 13,000 lectures to more than 8,000,000 listeners.  He did this largely before the advent of the radio, TV, or internet.  That works out to hundreds of lectures per year!  Some became books, as did the lecture from which today's quote originates.  

Griggs, like others of his day, advocated for education as a means to fulfilling and accomplished life.  He captures that eloquently in today's quote.  

Episode 44 - Bessie Stanley on a Successful Life

Bessie Stanley; turn of the century mother wrote a poem for a contest in 1904 and little did she know that those words would live on. They survived the end of the publication and more than a century to land in your ears today. Exactly 100 words to describe success. I think she hits it all.

May our lives be benedictions.

Episode 43 - Barack Obama on Today

Barack Obama served Illinois state senate, Unite States Senate, and, most notably, as the 44th President of the United States for two terms between 2008 and 2016. In 2016, Howard University invited him to deliver the commencement speech to their more than 2,000 graduates. The speech was full of anecdotes, lessons, and wisdom. Doubtlessly, the graduates will remember that day for years to come.

In the speech, he talked about progress made and progress left to be made. He captured, succinctly and poignantly, the current state of the world and highlighted that, despite the ease with which we can slip into cynicism and complaint, the world was far better in 2016 for nearly everyone than it had been at any other time in history.

I would argue that trend toward positive progress has continued to today.