Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – Bob Woodward

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5 Quotes, Bob Woodward, Books, Fear, journalism, News, Rage, Veil, Washington Post, Watergate, wisdom

Photo credit: Jay Godwin – https://www.flickr.com/photos/lbjlibrarynow/25434828916/in/album-72157665395632165/

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I’ve been reading a lot of Bob Woodward’s works this year. I read both of his books on Trump, Fear and Rage. Now I am reading his book called Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987. These books were terrific. In honor of this writer, today’s 5 quotes are from him.

The central dilemma in journalism is that you don’t know what you don’t know.

Bob Woodward

When you see how the President makes political or policy decisions, you see who he is. The essence of the Presidency is decision-making.

Bob Woodward

Nixon’s grand mistake was his failure to understand that Americans are forgiving, and if he had admitted error early and apologized to the country, he would have escaped.

Bob Woodward

A reporter’s ability to keep the bond of confidentiality often enables him to learn the hidden or secret aspects of government.

Bob Woodward

I think journalism gets measured by the quality of information it presents, not the drama or the pyrotechnics associated with us.

Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward is most famous for his work as a journalist with the Washington Post on the Watergate scandal during the Nixon Presidency. For more information, check out his Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Woodward

Daily Ramblings – Ted Talk Tuesday – Update

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family, Family Time, Good Food, Have Fun, Movies, Relax, Sister, Talking

My sister is visiting and I’ve been spending some time with her the last few days. I’ll be back on schedule with my blog once she heads home. I hope all of you are having a great week!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Funny Friday – A Note to My Readers

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Covid, Grateful, Happy, Relaxed, Thank you, Thankful, Virtual Learning, Weekend

Today is normally a day where I post something funny. Instead, I wanted to take a few moments to thank all of you – new and old – for following my blog. Everyone is so busy these days adjusting to life because of COVID, learning how to use ZOOM and all the rest that comes with working or living out of our homes without a lot of outside contact. When you think things are going back to normal, this nasty little bug does something else, and we find ourselves locked right down again.

My home state is seeing surges everywhere. This virus seems to be telling us, “You thought you were safe. Wait until you get a load of this!”

As I mentioned earlier, my parents and I got phase one of the COVID-19 shot. No side effects on the first shot. We get our final shot in mid-April. I’ll keep you posted. I want to go back to the gym again, but cannot put my folks at risk until we are all vaccinated. I qualified for an early shot because I am a caretaker. If you have elderly folks or folks in your family that have underlying conditions, I cannot recommend you do all you can to keep them safe. My Mom is asthmatic and my Dad has emphysema. They are in their late 70s and early 80s. Both are in the group of folks that this virus impacts the most. Once we have been vaccinated, we can still get COVID, but the vaccine minimizes the risk of getting the nastier side of COVID. Once we are all set, I’ll head back to the gym.

Advocates for students to return to school are spouting that the young spring back quickly from COVID. That may be true, but who are these kids carrying it back to? The elderly, people with underlying conditions, and everyone else in the family or who they come in contact with. I think virtual schooling, despite its current challenges, is something all of us need to consider.

I hope all of you stay safe, happy, and pursuing your dreams.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Until next time…

Davce

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Seasons

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blue skies, change, Seasons, Spring, Variety, Warm Weather

While I lived in Southern California and Arizona, I thought I was the luckiest guy on Earth. The weather was perfect. Blue skies and warm weather. After 7 years in the Arizona desert, I became bored with the blue skies. I became bored with the perfect weather.

Now that I am back in Michigan, we have a full four seasons and it is awesome! It is Springtime, with the green grass, blooming flowers, new buds on the trees, and all the rest. It’s a great time!

So today, I am grateful for the four seasons and all their variety.

Have a great day, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Ted Talk Tuesday – Online Learning

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Coursera, exploring, Khan Academy, Learning, Online Education, Skills, Tyler Dewitt, Udemy, YouTube

I’m a huge fan of online learning. This short TED talk will give you some more reasons you should adopt this practice. Online learning is more agile than the traditional school that can barely keep up with technology, let alone teach it. I love learning and the online platforms available are terrific.

I hope you enjoy today’s TED talk.

Have a great day!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Execution

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doubt, Execution, Little Steps, momentum, motivation, Perfectionism, Plan, Procrastination

So you have goals and a plan. What do you do now? Execute.

Get your action steps on your calendar and to-do list, and start knocking things off. Easy right? Nope.

This is the time procrastination raises its ugly head. This is the time we execute the things that have nothing to do with our goals and priorities. Why do we do this to ourselves? Fear of failure, perfectionism, and perhaps a little doubt sprinkled in (Is this the best use of my time?).

This is the time to do what Nike suggests in their logo–Just Do It. You’ve decided it was a worthy goal. You’ve put together a plan to achieve the goal. Just start knocking out the stuff on your list. Get it done.

If you still hesitate, take the action steps you have already and break them down further. Whittle these things down until you no longer resist them. Whenever we hesitate to do something we have in our plan, it is either too big, or we lack the skills to execute the steps. It’s ok to discover this when you begin executing because you likely have never done this before. It’s ok.

When you revise your plan so that it is easier to execute, you’ll find getting started easier. You’ll also build a momentum to your work. You’ll start building confidence in yourself. You’ll begin to think that you worried over nothing and your action plan will work.

Perfectionism? Don’t let this hold you back. Just do the best you can. Execute your plan and take care of the details later. It feels good to make progress. Take advantage of that and keep moving forward. You decide when you’ve gotten a project completed. You. Don’t let perfectionism slow you down. Done is better than perfect. What is perfect anyway? Do you know?

Your doubt about your ability to do something will fade as you begin getting your tasks done. You will start to see how execution helps you move forward and your confidence will build as you move through task by task. Keep going. Use that forward momentum to keep moving. Once I start moving forward, it is hard to stop. The momentum is easier to keep going, once you are going.

Well, folks. That’s all I have for today. Have a great Monday.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Funny Friday – Grandfather and Granddaughter

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Chuckle, Friday, FriYAY, Funny, Giggle, Hilarious, Laugh, Relax, Snicker, Weekend

A grandfather is walking home with his granddaughter after church. “Did God make you, PopPop?” the girls asks.

“Yep! He certainly did,” the old man answers again.

“And did he make me too?” she asks next.

“Of course he did,” the old man answers again.

“Well,” she replies, “he’s certainly getting better at it.”

Joke, courtesy: The Best Joke Book (Period)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – ZOOM Talk on Conquering Fear

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Book Discussion, Conquering Fear, ECK, Eckankar, Meetup, ZOOM Talk

I am hosting an event tonight on ZOOM discussing a book: ECK Wisdom on Conquering Fear. If you would like to attend, it is free and open to the public. Here’s the link for the event: https://www.meetup.com/the-path-of-spiritual-freedom-eckankar-port-huron/events/276690649/

When you get there, click on the link in the bottom right of the page. You’ll be asked some basic questions and sent a link to join tonight’s book discussion at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time (Detroit time). I look forward to meeting with anyone that can attend.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful/Thinking Thursday – New iPad

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2020, America, comfortable, Covid Vaccine, Grateful, Happy, iPad, Pandemic, Satisfied, Thankful

I’m getting an iPad today. I have been without one for a few years, but miss the ability to read on a bigger background than my phone. I also like watching movies and listening to music on it. It’s terrific!

It’s really nice to have the wherewithal to do what I need to do. My heart goes out to those who have suffered during the lockdowns. I constantly thought about that single Mom, working in a restaurant as a waitress, barely making it, and then watch her job disappear instantly. I am hopeful that most had family to depend on during that time.

It looks like a few countries are going back into lockdown. Boy, this thing won’t let up.

I am thankful for this country. Yeah, we had a hiccup early last year, but once the American people are motivated–we get things done.

I mentioned a day or so ago that my folks and I got our COVID-19 vaccine. My arm was a little stiff on the day of the shot, but after some exercise it loosened right up. No pain afterward. We have to get our second shot in April. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. We got ours at our local pharmacy. It was important for Mom and Dad to get them, because they both have underlying conditions. Because I live here, it was appropriate for me to get one too. I’m grateful for the nurse at our local pharmacy who did such a great job. I never felt the needle go in.

So today, I’m grateful for my health, my family, this country, first responders, nurses and doctors, and my new iPad, which is on its way.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – Nelly Bly

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5 Quotes, History, Irish, Nellie Bly, Wednesday, wisdom, Women

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History Month, today’s 5 quotes are from Nelly Bly.

“Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything.”
― Nellie Bly – https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4372012.Nellie_Bly

“I said I could and I would. And I did.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House – https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4372012.Nellie_Bly

“It is only after one is in trouble that one realizes how little sympathy and kindness there are in the world.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House – https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4372012.Nellie_Bly

“While I live I hope.”
― Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House – https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4372012.Nellie_Bly

“I’ve always had the feeling that nothing is impossible is one applies a certain amount of energy in the right direction. If you want to do it, you can do it.”
― Nellie Bly – https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4372012.Nellie_Bly

For those of you who do not know anything about Nellie Bly, here’s a Wikipedia link for further information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Bly

Have a great St. Patrick’s Day!

Until next time…

Dave