Quotes, Observations

OBSERVATION: Some mothers are never disappointed; some are never satisfied. Some brag obnoxiously about their children; others complain and criticize incessantly. Some moms are instinctively supportive and accepting; others are controlling and judgmental. Most are a little of each. For some the challenge is to be as good as your mom; for others its to be sure you are better.

by Michael Josephson on May 12, 2012

in Odds & Ends, Quotes, Observations

QUOTES: For Mother’s Day: The Best Quotes Ever About Mothers by Michael Josephson

by Josephson Institute on May 11, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

OBSERVATION: Every full life has enough BRIGHT DAYS and DARK DAYS, TRIUMPHS and DEFEATS to justify viewing the past through the lens of GRATITUDE or DISAPPOINTMENT. The lens you choose will determine how you experience your life and whether you look to the future with HOPE and ENTHUSIASM or WORRY and FEAR. Choose the lens of positivity.

by Michael Josephson on May 3, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – There’s one sad truth in life I’ve found while journeying east and west. The only folks we really wound are those we love the best. We flatter those we scarcely know. We please the fleeting guest, And deal full many a thoughtless blow to those who love us best. — Ella Wheeler Wilcox

by Michael Josephson on May 2, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting a bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. Lots of good things come to good people, but virtue does not provide immunity to misfortune, which strikes everyone at random times in unanticipated ways. When your turn comes, don’t take it personally.

by Michael Josephson on May 1, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget  how you made them feel.  Maya Angelou

by Michael Josephson on May 1, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

OBSERVATION: One of the objectives of the Founding Fathers is captured in the expression of John Adams that the new American political system was to be based on “a government of laws, and not of men.”

by Michael Josephson on May 1, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

OBSERVATION: Authentic constructive criticism must be motivated by a sincere desire to help, and delivered in a way that engenders gratitude rather than defensiveness or resentment.

by Michael Josephson on May 1, 2012

in Personal growth, Quotes, Observations

WORTH READING: What is Constructive Criticism?

by Michael Josephson on May 1, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Reading, Worth Your Time

QUOTATION: It’s been said that expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting a bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. Lots of good things come to good people, but virtue does not provide immunity to misfortune, which strikes everyone at random times in unanticipated ways. When your turn comes, don’t take it personally.

by Michael Josephson on May 1, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

QUOTATION: “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in”. — Andrew Jackson.

by Michael Josephson on April 30, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

FOR TEENS: School isn’t always fun, but neither is life. If you want to have fun in life, take school seriously. Stick with it. Do your best. It’s worth it.

by Michael Josephson on April 29, 2012

in Education, Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing

WORTH SEEING: Poster – “You will never know how strong you are or how strong you can be until you lose something you really care about.”

by Michael Josephson on April 29, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing

OBSERVATION: Life is difficult

by Michael Josephson on April 27, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, The Good Life, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – Ordinary people, even weak people, can do extraordinary things through temporary courage generated by a situation, but the person of character does not need the situation to generate his courage. It is a part of his being and a standard approach to all life’s challenges. — Michael Josephson

by Michael Josephson on April 26, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, The Nature of Character, Worth Seeing

WORTH SEEING: Poster – It’s important but difficult to say no to others, but it’s even harder and more important to say no to yourself. Controlling your life becomes easier when you control yourself. — Michael Josephson

by Michael Josephson on April 26, 2012

in Odds & Ends, Quotes, Observations

QUOTATION: For those with no voice, no position, no privilege, no authority, you be those things for them. Jeffrey Marx, Season of Life (slogan for Teen Summit, Downey Unified School District)

by Michael Josephson on April 26, 2012

in Bullying, Quotes, Observations

OBSERVATION: Expressing Appreciation — Why is it that so many of us wait until it is too late to experience and express real gratitude to those who gave us the gifts of love, wisdom, and encouragement?

by Michael Josephson on April 15, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

OBSERVATION: On the issue of how to think about and treat gay people, would the answer be different if, instead of asking “What does the Bible say?”, the question was “What would Jesus do?”

by Michael Josephson on April 10, 2012

in Quick Thoughts, Quotes, Observations

OBSERVATION: A Mother’s Message About Bullying: Hang in There. It Will Get Better.

by Michael Josephson on April 9, 2012

in Bullying, Quotes, Observations, Worth Reading

WORTH READING & SEEING: “Stand Tall,” a song encouraging bullied victims to have strength

by Michael Josephson on April 9, 2012

in Bullying, Quotes, Observations, Worth Reading, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

QUOTE: “I didn’t choose to be gay. Facing this reality was the most challenging thing I had to do in my life. I knew for the rest of my life I would face a world that thought I was wrong. My body works different than yours. My brain and my hormones work different. But I can’t help or change that.” — Kayla Kearney, high school senior, telling her class that she is gay

by Michael Josephson on April 9, 2012

in Bullying, Integrity, Quotes, Observations

Don’t Miss This One! OBSERVATION & WORTH SEEING: Out of the Closet. I know many of the people who follow my work have a deeply grounded religious belief that homosexuality is a sin. Many fortify their convictions by believing that God would not make any child homosexual and, therefore, that it is a choice to be gay or lesbian. Whether you fall into this group or simply want to better understand the human dimension of this aspect of the bullying problem, please take the time to watch the videos included here. It could change your perspective, maybe even your life.

by Michael Josephson on April 8, 2012

in Bullying, Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – Integrity. Integrity is one thing you cannot afford to lose. You can give it away or sell it, but you can’t buy it. Without integrity you become nothing and will have nothing. — Michael Josephson

by Michael Josephson on April 8, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – Gratitude & Appreciation. “The deepest craving of human nature is to be appreciated.” — William James. Expressing appreciation with words, a smile, or a hug costs so little and means so much. It can make a day or even change a life.

by Michael Josephson on April 7, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – “Don’t be limited by what you see from where you are. Climb to a higher place and you will see how unlimited your future can be.” — Michael Josephson

by Michael Josephson on April 4, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing

OBSERVATION: About the ethical duty of respect

by Michael Josephson on March 31, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

QUOTE: “Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard Baruch

by Michael Josephson on March 29, 2012

in Quotes, Observations

WORTH SEEING: Poster- “Kind hearts are the gardens, / Kind thoughts are the roots, / Kind words are the flowers, / Kind deeds are the fruits. / Take care of your garden, / And keep out the weeds, / Fill it with sunshine / Kind words and kind deeds. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

by Michael Josephson on March 29, 2012

in Caring, Compassion, Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

WORTH SEEING: Poster – Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be. — David Bly

by Michael Josephson on March 23, 2012

in Quotes, Observations, Worth Seeing, Worth Your Time

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