Thursday, September 25, 2014

Use it up!

I'm a quote-collector.  I've been doing it for years.  Currently, I have on my external hard drive five years' worth of quotes.

I love quotes because often different minds will put something in such a way that it resonates with me. "Yes," I will muse, "that is exactly what I think!" 

It feels good to be in the same company as brilliant minds.  No one likes thinking they are the only one who feels a certain way. There's a certain validation in finding another soul in agreement with you.
Erma Bombeck via Google images

One of my heroes is Erma Bombeck.  She combines two of my favorite things in one person - my love of humor and my respect for homemakers and mothers.  I can read one of her books and chuckle the whole time while nodding my head and thinking, "I can so relate."

Among many of her gems is my favorite:

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.

So often, I hear older people say, "Let the young people do it.  I've done my share."  No, no, no!  I don't read about retirement anywhere in the bible.  Moses was 80 when he and the people of  Israel started their journey out of the promised land. Goodness, Sarah was 90 when she had Isaac!  (I do realize that was by divine intervention, but still!)

Did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her famous Little House books beginning at age 64 and finishing at 76? (She wrote them out in longhand, too!) Roget retired as a scientist at 70 and began a second career compiling the thesaurus that we all use today. He worked on all the subsequent editions until age 90. Ghandi was 61 when he walked his famous 200 mile Salt March. Ray Kroc began the McDonald's franchises at age 52 and worked until his death at 82. Grandma Moses was a famous painter who didn't pick up a paint brush until 76.  She started painting because her hands became arthritic and she couldn't embroider anymore.  She couldn't stand to sit around and do nothing!

Sometimes our bodies give us limitations but there is always something we can do. We may have to do it at a slower pace but we can still accomplish goals.

What a shame, at the end of our lives, to find out we had untapped talent and never even tried to use it.

No, I want to be like Erma!


Mama's Losin' It


This post was written in response to Writer's Workshop prompt 2.) Share a quote you love.  If you'd like to read other responses, or link up, visit Kat's blog, Mama's Losin' It.

9 comments:

  1. Erma Bombeck has always been one of my favorites too, such a wise woman with a great sense of humor. Stopping by from mama kats kelley at the road goes ever ever on

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  2. Ah, finally a nice postive post without an swearing, even symbolic swearing. Sigh. Thx.

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  3. Love your post! And, I love the quote by Erma Bombeck. I love quotes and this one will definitely go onto my board of quotes. I'm a collector, too, and especially love quotes that inspire.

    And, I really enjoyed the fun facts of persons that started their talent in the aging years. I want to be like that!

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  4. I love all those facts! I didn't know many of them. Laura Ingalls Wilder is a favorite of mine and so is Erma. Wonderful post about not letting our age stop us!

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  5. A great inspiring post! I always enjoyed Erma Bombeck. It is easy to sit back as you get older and just veg. Have a great weekend.

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  6. I have always loved Erma Bombeck and that is one of my most favorite quotes. I enjoyed your post very much.

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  7. Well, I am not surprised. Once again you and I are on the same page. My mom got me hooked on Erma when I was about 13. And this is my very favorite Bombeck quote. Great choice.

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  8. I love Erma and I loved this post!

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  9. I had no idea the Little House series was started so late in life AND written in longhand. That. Is. Amazing.

    So inspirational!!

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