I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.
Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. And this week, on Proverbial Thursday, I have invited the author of Decocraftsdigicrafts to share a pertinent quote to Ponder About. Raewyn is a blogger from New Zealand who is not only a prolific photographer, but also enjoys digital art and adding her unique touch to photos and quotes.
Raewyn has selected the following to share:
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
– Lao Tzu
If you want to succeed in the world you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until some one comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence
– John B Gough
Raewyn writes:
“My view is that it is up to you only as to what you get out of life. It is you that must take that first step. If you wait for someone to help you then you will get nowhere.
Also people expect that the world owes you. It doesn’t owe you anything. You are the master of your own destiny and it begins with that first step.” [Raewyn Duff]
How do you feel about being a master of your own destiny?
Is it still possible in the modern world?
And what do you think about the seventh wave?
Please share your thoughts.
Something to Ponder About this Thursday
Something to Ponder About 
Two wonderful quotes that your blogger friend Raewyn shared. The first one, I agree with. To get going on something we want to achieve, we have to look forwards and simply put ourselves out there. We can only do and learn so much when we stay in one spot. To get somewhere, we have to make a move and dare to change ourselves for the better.
I also really like the second quote and Raewyn’s thoughts on it. Sure, we can wait for someone to come by and offer us a deal in our favour, But there is no guessing how long we can wait. By stepping up and saying ‘yes I can with my own two hands’ we not only create opportunities for ourselves but also push boundaries and go where no one has gone before. It’s sort of like many aspiring writers, musicians and artists today. The online world has given us so many opportunities to get our works out there to whoever may be interested.
Agree that others around us and the world don’t owe us. It seems a bit big-headed for someone to think like that, like that they expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. Always good to rely on ourselves because you never know who can turn around and not turn your way once again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Dare to change ourselves for the better and step out of our comfort zone’: I agree. If we can do that we can experience exhilaration, relief and more importantly a sense of achievement. This is a move forward even if it isn’t always a successful outcome. Vitality is looking forward not back. For backwards would consume positivity, do you think?
We are the master of our destiny, the ship’s captain and to expect something more from the world is opening ourselves to disappointment, frustration and dependency. I am reminded of Baz Luhrman’s Sunscreen Song: ” Do something every day, that scares you.” This in itself could be interpreted many different ways too but if we apply it in reasonable ways we can accomplish much more than we think we are capable of. Challenges chosen wisely are healthy for our mind. Parents often seek to smooth the path for their young children or choose for them, and I like many others am guilty of this, yet real growth and development comes from meeting challenges and finding ways to overcome problems and find better solutions. Having support is important but having it too easy also leads to detrimental expectations.
LikeLike
I don’t think it’s entirely wrong that we look backwards. Sometimes we might need to look backwards and go backwards to a place previously in order to relearn a lesson or connect with someone. Looking bacwards might mean valuable time away from advancing towards our own goal, but it is for the better if we can take something away from that as we go forward once again.
The quote you shared is interesting. The more we put ourselves out of our comfort zone, the more I think we feel more compelled to go places and achieve things we never thought we could achieve.
LikeLike
Yes I can see that might be necessary. People slip back into their bad habits. Could this be because they haven’t learnt that salient lesson yet?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think a lot of us like comfort, feeling comfortable, and that is why we often slip back into bad habits. It takes a lot of determination and self-discipline to break away from this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. It is easier, takes less focus and effort and as you mentioned self control! At times, continually trying is exhausting, and it is then we or at least I, might slip backwards and give up. I think it takes at least three weeks to build a new habit and that does take self control and self discipline!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the two quotes are very similar in that they both tell us to get up and make our own way in life, along the journey of our own choosing. The first quote simply stresses that making that initial step is vital and can lead to much greater things. The second takes things a little further by telling us that the first step towards our dreams and aspirations/goals must be made of our own accord. Opportunities rarely seek us out and come knocking on our doors, so we must make things happen for ourselves. It reminds me of another similarly themed quote, ‘If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door’ – by Milton Berle.
I do agree, we all masters of our own destinies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do like Milton Berle’s quote Millie. Actually, that is the first time I have read it! Some of us have to work hard to make a door, some have no timber or raw materials to build one with, and still others have loads of timber and nails, but can’t work out what to do or where to start! What a great quote! And absolutely, the initial step is vital. Without that, there can be no further steps towards our goal. The procrastination prior to the first step makes it so hard sometimes, that its importance and height seems enormous, almost insurmountable. But it is just the same height as all the other steps, as long as we take it!! Thanks for your comment. I appreciate you popping over, knowing how busy you are!
LikeLike
I love your analysis of the Milton Berle quote, and you’re right about some of us having difficulties in building that door in the first place. I mentioned the quote because the two you gave just reminded me of it.
I have been busy over the last few months, Amanda, and you’ve been away for a while, haven’t you? I hope you had a great time. I’ve now published my book of ‘flash’ stories so I’m really busy now, trying to get my trilogy finished. I’ll try to pop over as often as I can. I do write some posts, but nowhere near as many as I used to. (I haven’t done a WOW post since last December!). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Millie and I was so pleased you took a look at Proverbial Thursday. It really added to the discussion. Yes I have had a really, really wonderful northern summer and now it is back to the real world again. I am hopeful that the post holiday glow lingers for some time yet. Holidays are so therapeutic!! Congratulations on gaving the flash fiction published. That seemed to happen really quickly? Was it the same publisher as the Trilogy? The Ff stories that I read were excellent. So I think it will do well.
And of course, please pop over here when time permits!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was good to read some of your posts again, Amanda, and I’m happy you had such a wonderful holiday. Therapeutic is just how I’d describe holidays, too.
I’ve been working on my book of flash fiction on and off all year. I’ve written quite a lot of new stories for it because I didn’t want the book to consist of only the ones already on my blog. There are several much longer ones up to 1,000 words. I needed the book to be at least novella size and it was, in the end. Some ‘flash’ books published on Amazon are ridiculously short.
On top of that, I’m still plodding along with Book 3, although things are moving faster since I finished the short stories! (I’m an idiot to have taken on both at the same time, and I’m just glad it’s finished!)
LikeLiked by 1 person