Friday, May 1, 2015

Productive life, sassy, sophisticated and lesson learned

Mockingbird. Illustration by Talitha Shipman

- From Georgia State University Alumna Anne Marie Evans, who turned 101 years old this month*,
How To Live To Be 100
Be Tenacious. In the face of life’s obstacles, be innovative and creative. If you’re afraid or worried, don’t show it.
Befriend Positive People.
Value Education. Always get a good education because that’s the one thing they can’t take away from you.
To Thine Own Self Be True. Analyze how you act and react. Know your skills and capabilities. Then set realistic goals and produce something in justify your existence. Have confidence in yourself and say your prayers because they will bear fruit. Get plenty of sleep and don’t worry about the things that might not happen.

* Originally posted in November 2008 (wow - doesn't that seem like a long time ago???)  This appeared in the GSU magazine I receive (since I am also alumna) and I cut this out and posted it in my cubicle back then.  Good words to live by that work for me.

- My book club read the book, "The Mockingbird Next Door" by Marja Mills and will meet about it Sunday night.  An easy read - it's about the months that the journalist / author lived next door to the fiercely private Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird", and her sister Alice, in Monroeville, Alabama.  I think the author, Nelle Harper and Alice all qualify as "sassy, sophisticated Southern Ladies".  If nothing else - the book tells you what day to day life was like for Harper Lee. 

- The November quote on the calendar in my office: "The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn." David Russell, Classical Guitarist*

Feeling reflective today - I ran across this post while scrolling through old posts.  Happy May 1st everyone and Happy Friday!

9 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Lynn - what an amazing lady and with such wise words ... so so true. Interesting read for your book club ... fascinating story, I expect ..

Cheers and happy May day .. Hilary

Elephant's Child said...

Love those tips for living rather than just existing. Happy May Day.

Riot Kitty said...

May 1 here means - guess what? Protests. :)

Anonymous said...

Good advice!

Leonora said...

We have a sassy, southern mockingbird who's been 'working it' every morning at 6:00 AM. What a song those birds put out! They want the whole world to be awake with them.
I hope your reflective day was the good kind : )

Ileana said...

Great advice and a beautiful post. I'm also hearing about a vegan diet helping us live longer and I'd be willing to try it, but I'm not sure I can give up cheese. :/

Joanne said...

To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorite books, so I'm going to have to read the book you mentioned!

Sparkling Red said...

I like "Be Tenacious". Although I do complain sometimes, I think we'd all be better served by just making the best of things most days.

Lee said...

That sounds like it will be a interesting book to read. I must keep an eye out for it.