Resolve

Work harder than everybody. You're not going to get it by whining, and you're not going to get it by shouting, and you're not going to get it by quitting. You're going to get it by being there.
- - Barbara Walters

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. 
- - Margaret Mead

Stand for something, know what that something is.  Know what you won’t stand for, and don’t stand for it.
- - Helen Mae Boudreau (1946 - ), on her 62nd birthday

The force is within you.  Force yourself.
- - Harrison Ford

Whether you believe you can or can’t, you are right.
- - Henry Ford

The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions.
- - William F. Scolavino

All high achievers plan their work and work their plan for they are keenly aware that “luck” is most often being prepared to take advantage of a situation.
- - Unknown 

What do we do?  We do what we have to; so we can do what we want to.
- - Denzel Washington’s movie, “Great Debators” 

What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the first; but the size of the fight in the dog.
- - Dwight D Eisenhower

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, “We will never give up.  We will never capitulate.  It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail.

- - Jim Collins

No man can hope to accomplish anything great in this world until he throws his whole soul, flings the force of his whole life, into it. It is not enough simply to have a general desire to accomplish something.  There is but one way to do that; and that is, to try to be somebody with all the concentrated energy we can muster.
-- Orison Sweet Marden (1850-1924) American Editor and Speaker

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.
- - Jim Rohn, motivational speaker

Someone is sitting in the shade today, because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
- Warren Buffet

Age

You cannot be old and wise without first being young and foolish.
- Anita Ares Boudreau, aka 'Memere' (1911-1994)

Life's journey is not to arrive at your grave in a well preserved body; but rather to skid in ass backwards and sideways, totally worn out and shouting, "Holy shit! ... what a ride!"
-- Unknown

Some people try to turn back their odometers. 
Not me, I want people to know why I look this way. 
I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
-- Will Rogers

It's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your years.
- Abe Lincoln

Those aren't grey hairs, idiot.  They are strands of glitter growing out of my head.
- Unknown

After a While

(You Learn)

by Veronica A. Shoffstall, 1971

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning,
and company doesn’t always mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses are not contracts,
and presents aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead...

With the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.

And you learn
To build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much…

So, you plant your own garden,
and decorate your own soul...

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure…

you really are strong,
you really do have worth.

And you learn, and you learn…
with every goodbye,

You Learn…