Vitamins for the Soul
A quote a day helps you remember what’s important. Here are this week’s quotes on risk taking.
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Quote of the day:
“Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.” --General George S. Patton Reflection: There is a fine balance between acting too quickly and waiting too long. It is important to carefully make a decision by gathering all the facts available, and then make an informed decision, but once made, swift action should be taken. Titus, the emperor of Rome understood this principle. His symbol was the image of a dolphin wound around an anchor, which was inscribed on coins during his reign. The anchor represented delay and unchanging conviction. The dolphin was regarded as the swiftest and most mercurial creature of the sea. Together they symbolized the failure that comes from rushing into something, and the failure that is the result of hesitation or undue caution. Through the years, the dolphin and the anchor have been used as his family crest, with the explanatory motto Festina Lente, "Hasten Slowly." It expresses moderation between two opposing ideas. It means the medium between acting too quickly and waiting too long. As I see it what the quote and story is saying is we should take time to carefully ascertain the pros and cons of a decision but once a decision is made, action should be taken or as Patton puts it take calculated risks. Quote of the day:
“Most of us die with our music unplayed. We should try to step out of our comfort zones and do the things we're capable of.” -- Mary Kay Ash Reflection: Share your talent with the world. Don’t die with your music unplayed like Mary Kay says. There was a man who played piano in a bar. He was a good piano player. People came out just to hear him play. But one night, a patron told him he didn't want to hear him just play anymore. He wanted him to sing a song. The man said, "I don't sing." But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!" The bartender shouted across the room, "Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing!" So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard the song Mona, Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole! He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he was pushed out of his comfort zone to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America. You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your 'talent' is particularly great, but it may be better than you think—and with persistence, most skills can be improved! Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess. The better question is not, "What ability do I have that is useful?” It is rather, "How will I use whatever ability I have?" Don’t wait to be pushed out of your comfort zone, that may never happen, but do as Mary Kay says, STEP out of your comfort zone. |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
August 2023
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