Skip to main content

How to Understand People: Quotes of the Day

Over the last few days, several of you have shared inspirational stories about rebounding from potentially life-shattering circumstances to become not only a much stronger person, but a shining role model to your family and friends.

I selected today's quotes with you in mind.

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."
- Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the United States

"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
- Henry Ford (1863-1947), American industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company

You certainly embody Truman's definition of an optimist, and you've demonstrated a relentless poise to overcome hardship -- an airplane that has made it through the worst kind of turbulence.

Just know that I -- along with other fellow posters on this board -- are here to help you. We're all here to help each other through life's toughest challenges. If you ever have something personal you need advice on but would rather keep it confidential, send me a private message and I'll respond as soon as possible.

We should all strive for optimism. We should never lose hope. We should all believe in ourselves -- and in our capacity to create a good life for ourselves and an even better one for our kids.

At the end of the day, though we may be very different people, we all strive toward the same fundamental goals. As Thomas Jefferson noted, the pursuit of happiness is one of our inalienable rights. Never let anyone stop you from attaining the happiness you deserve.





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...