To Make Average Great

So, I was having my healthy lunch of chicken soup with tofu and choy sum, and watching Oprah (yes, I watch Oprah!), when I heard this quote. Everyone's already probably heard some variation of it by now, but I like it so much that I'm going to post it here anyway:

"When you make average great, your dreams become a reality" -Suze Orman

The hope and optimism embodied in this simple phrase - quite overwhelming (and perhaps slightly idealistic?). Now to brainstorm ways to make my average great... Hhmmm...

Inspiration

in·spi·ra·tion

–noun

1. an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
2. something inspired, as an idea.
3. a result of inspired activity. a thing or person that inspires.

It's funny how simple things can be such big sources of inspiration in a person's life - the clear blue sky; an old couple holding hands; a silly tune. Simple things that make us realise the wonder of the world we live in.

I am currently reading 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell, and it has just got me thinking about my sources of inspiration - why I have chosen the path that I have, what inspires me, and whether I inspire others. It has made me appreciate the fact that anything inspired by true, unwavering passion cannot possibly result in a failure. And if it does, then you'll need to re-examine your definition of failure.

One particular excerpt from the book really made my inherent optimism 'bubble over' in excitement. And it's something I'm sure everyone knows deep down, but only sinks in when read as someone else's words:

"... if you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires."

And if you are still skeptical, there is only one way to find out if this message rings true... :p

Random, but somewhat related to this topic, here's one of my favourite paintings from the European Masters Exhibition that I went to yesterday :)

Houses on the bank of the River Zaan, by Claude Monet (1871)

Some quirky song lyrics :)

"so keep your friends close and your enemies in your pocket" - Pocket by Sam Sparro

"go and tell your white knight that he's handsome in hindsight" - Fairy Tale by Sara Bareilles

I can only think of these 2 lines because they keep playing in my head. I would call them cute... but I seem to be calling everything cute these days. So I shall refrain from doing so now :p

(but they are kinda cute, no?)

:)

Word of the Day...

KERFUFFLE!!! :p

Ok, I'll type it again minus the perkiness - kerfuffle.

I discovered it while reading an article from an architecture magazine. It IS an actual word! It's synonymous with the words disturbance and fuss and is a primarily British term.

Such a cute word!!! It is officially the cutest word in my vocabulary. I have this tremendous urge to give it a huge squeeze and pinch its cheeks. If only it were a little kid and actually HAD cheeks... :(

(No, I'm not pyscho... Yet :p)

And in line with all this randomness, I googled images for the word 'kerfuffle' and found this:

Eerrmmm... :s

The last verse from a poem called 'We Are Made One with What We Touch and See' by Oscar Wilde.
I'm not really into poetry... Too deep for me. But this bit, I really like :D

We shall be notes in that great Symphony
Whose cadence circles through the rhythmic spheres,
And all the live World's throbbing heart shall be
One with our heart, the stealthy creeping years
Have lost their terrors now, we shall not die,
The Universe itself shall be our Immortality!

... Even though it doesn't rhyme :p