Suzanne mulls over: Words of wisdom

I tend to get philosophical about the time March rolls around. This year I think it’s purely self-defense. I’ve had a cold/sinus infection for the past eight weeks. (The word interminable comes to mind.)

Or maybe I'm feeling philosophical because we’re still having “horizontal” weather where I live. (For those of you in warmer climes, that means the snow or, as was the case one morning last week, the freezing fog is blowing sideways.)

Or maybe it’s because I’m working hard on the second book of my new paranormal series and I only hope it’s half as good as the first one. (This is my 40-something book, but right now it feels very much like “second book syndrome.”)

So when I opened the newspaper this morning and read the following anecdote, I felt myself veering off into that I’m-really-really-tired-of-winter-but-spring-is-just-around-the-corner frame of mind:

Pablo Casals was 94 and still practicing three hours a day and someone said to him: “Why do you still practice three hours a day?” And he said, “I’m beginning to notice some improvement.”

I laughed when I read those words, but something resonated with me. Even a master like Casals had to keep working hard at what he did so brilliantly. No resting on his laurels for the world-renowned cellist. Like so many of my favorites quotes, of course, this one will end up on the bulletin boards above my computer.

Here are a few other tidbits currently pinned to my trio of cork boards: Inspirational thoughts to be read again and again if/when my energy or enthusiasm lags:

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” —Charles Buxton. (Boy, isn’t this true? Somehow we all manage to make time for the things we really want/need to do.)

“It’s always too soon to quit.” —Norman Vincent Peale (He was one of my dad’s favorites, so reading that one is also nostalgic for me.)

“Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.” —Arnold Glasgow. (Reminds me how serendipitous success is.)

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.” —Robert Frost. (My dad’s favorite poet. Nuf said.)

“Success is that old ABC–ability, breaks, and courage.” —Charles Luckman. (Eureka!)

“Before you build a better mousetrap, it helps to know if there are any mice out there.” —Mortimer B. Zuckerman.

That last one is atop the cork board covered with humorous quotes guaranteed to make me laugh. I’ll share a few of the funny ones since I’m convinced that laughter is the best medicine of all for March:

“I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.” —Woody Allen. (A bit macabre, but funny.)

“Weather forecast for tonight: dark.” —George Carlin. (I’ve always believed that a little absurdity is good for the soul.)

“If God wanted us to bend over he’d put diamonds on the floor.” —Joan Rivers.

“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.” —Ellen DeGeneres. (This one always makes me laugh out loud.)

And my personal favorite since my hairstylist changed my hair from its natural dark brown to blonde three years ago:

“Blondes aren’t stupid. I should know. I’m not stupid and I’m certainly not a blonde.” —Dolly Parton.

So, Inquiring Minds want to know: Do you have any words of wisdom, funny or otherwise, to share with the rest of us while we wait for spring?

Cheers!
Suzanne