Archive for the ‘Thought of the Day’ Category

Keep on going

Monday, March 10th, 2014

Keep on going, and chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down.

–Charles F. Kettering

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

Unrecorded Past

Monday, March 3rd, 2014

“The unrecorded past is none other than our old friend, the tree in the primeval forest, which fell without being heard.”

–Barbara Tuchman

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

Clock of Life

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

Winston Churchill on fanatics

Tuesday, February 18th, 2014

Winston Churchill described a fanatic as someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

serving on a committee

Monday, February 10th, 2014

If you think that serving on a committee is a time consuming and thankless task, consider Harry Chapman’s advice. It may put a whole new spin on the situation. Here is what he recommends:

“Having served on various committees, I have drawn up a list of rules: Never arrive on time; this stamps you as a beginner. Don’t say anything until the meeting is half over; this stamps you as being wise. Be as vague as possible; this avoids irritating the others. When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed. Be the first to move for adjournment; this will make you popular; it’s what everybody is waiting for.”

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

Live one day at a time

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

“Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece.”

–Dale West

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

One of the hardest decisions in life

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever face in life is whether to walk away or to try harder.

–Anonymous

That’s my thought of the day for you. What do you usually do?

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

the three R’s

Monday, January 20th, 2014

Follow the three R’s: Respect for self; respect for others, and responsibility for all your actions.

–Dali Lama

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal

 

One in a million

Monday, January 13th, 2014

Food for thought:

Everyone tells us to be one in a million… What they don’t tell us is that being one in a million also means being one against a million.

–Saahil Prem

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

 

 

Mind versus Heart

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Mind versus heart – intellect versus emotion. Powerful players in the human struggle. Sometimes these two forces collaborate. Sometimes they compete. We’d like to think that we have full control over the outcome of these battles when, in fact, we are often quite oblivious to the influences that wrestle within us. The nature of the conflict and of the bias of the individual determine the winner.

One of my favorite quotes–author unknown–goes like this:

“The Mind replays what the heart can’t delete.”

Only a better understanding of the power of these forces leads to control over them. Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom shows us an example of the mind versus heart struggle. Which one, do you think, wins in this memoir?

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com. Walled-In is a story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.