August, 2007
Journal Writing Prompt: Happy pills
“It is impossible to walk rapidly and be unhappy.”
~Dr. Howard Murphy
In your journal, consider today’s quote. Do your experience with walking rapidly seem to confirm Dr. Murphy’s assertion? What about walking rapidly due to lateness - what sort of effect does that have on your mood (if any)? Do you make an effort to walk [...]
Journal Writing Prompt: Safety vs. Purpose
“A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
~Grace Murray Hopper
In your journal, consider today’s quote in the framework of your life. Sometimes, we are encouraged to play it safe - in work, in life. However, we must weigh the security of that safety with what we were “built for” [...]
Journal Writing Prompt: Embrace life
“But pain… seems to me an insufficient reason not to embrace life. Being dead is quite painless. Pain, like time, is going to come on regardless. Question is, what glorious moments can you win from life in addition to the pain?”
~ Lois McMaster Bujold
Today’s quote provoked some mixed feelings for me. As someone who was [...]
Journal Writing Prompt: Growth
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”
~William Ellery Channing
In your journal, write about a recent difficult that arose. Did it rouse your spirit or did it discourage you? Why or why not?
Daily journal writing prompt bonus: I know with some difficulties, particularly when they are out [...]
Journal Writing Prompt: The secret of happiness
“The secret of happiness is not in what one likes to do, but, in what one has to do.”
~ James M. Barrie
In your journal, explore today’s quote. What do you think James Barrie means when he says that the secret of happiness is is in what one has to do? Do you think [...]
Journal writing prompt: Who’s in charge?
“If you don’t run your own life, somebody else will.”
~John Atkinson
In your journal, consider today’s quote. Who do you give up control of your own life to? Your boss? Your spouse? Your children? Your pets? Your business? Your circumstances? Are you aware of when you give up the duty of running your own life? If [...]
Journal Writing Prompt: Hidden
“Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there.”
~Eric Hoffer
I believe that it’s a well-accepted fact that everyone carries on some sort of pretense. I’m not sure I completely agree with that fact, [...]