What if the most important decisions you make this year depend on how honestly you answer one simple question: Whose life are you actually living? It’s a question that hits differently as I (we) get older and start to see how easy it is to slip into living by other people’s expectations.  This week’s Steve Jobs quote speaks directly to that:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Steve Jobs

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Care Package to Explore and Contemplate

Questions to Ask yourself: 

Are you building a life you enjoy, or a life that looks good to others?
If you lost your internet connection for a week, what hobbies or passions would resurface?

Article to read: The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) – Why saying "no" is the ultimate 2026 power move.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-is-state-mind/201807/jomo-the-joy-missing-out

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Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

 Can a no‑nonsense quote really inspire me to start digging through all the “stuff” I’ve accumulated over the years? 

I sure hope so!

"You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse." 

  As quoted by Denzel Washington  

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The Care Package: Explore & Contemplate

That quote really got me thinking — about what I’m holding onto, and why I’m holding onto it. I’m trying to thin out my stuff so it doesn’t turn into a burden for someone else someday (BTW, I’m not planning on going anywhere anytime soon ;-) — but still, you never know).  I’ve procrastinated on this for a long time, so I asked AI for a little help to get me moving. Here are 2 perspectives and 2 questions it offered. I would also like to hear your thoughts as well!

2 Perspectives: The world has a strict "no luggage" policy at the finish line. |  The best stuff in life? It doesn't actually fit in a box.
2 Questions: Do I love it, do I use it, do I need it? | Is this helping me live the life I want to live?

Watch:  You Can’t Take It With You (1938). A reminder to choose people over property.

(Amazon Prime/YouTube)

Watch: Denzel Washington’s Dillard Speech. (U-Haul quote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROiNPUwg9bQ

Search: "Swedish Death Cleaning.

https://www.margaretamagnusson.com/

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Another Quote to think about:

"The only thing we actually keep is our love and our character."
Grandpa Vanderhof (from the movie, "You can't take it with you.")

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Wishing you a most beautiful week wherever this may find you

 This week’s inspiration comes from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, reminding us that stagnation is the enemy of growth. Whether it’s a new habit, a fresh perspective, or a complete reset, let’s keep the gears turning and the spirit light.

 "We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Your Weekly Care Package for your for Contemplation and Exploration

2 Contemplative Questions:

Where in your life do you feel yourself "hardening" into fixed patterns?
What's one small way you could introduce novelty or learning into your daily routine?

Explore:

Video: TEDx Talk "After Watching This, Your Brain Will Not Be The Same" by Lara Boyd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHBMFCzznE

Article: Carol Dweck on Growth Mindset

https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/teaching-guides/foundations-course-design/learning-activities/growth-mindset-and-enhanced-learning

And in honor of President's Day, we have this quote by Theodore Roosevelt...

"The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits."

Both men feel  that true living requires a relentless, active commitment to growth and effort!   

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Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

 Feeling the mid-winter blues?

This week, we look to our Norwegian friends for a reminder that perspective is everything. It serves as a gentle reminder that even when days feel heavy or circumstances cloud our view, the blue sky remains steady and waiting just beyond what we can see. We also dedicate this week's quote to long-time member Ashley Cox, who celebrated her birthday yesterday! Ashley is someone who always looks for the blue skies, perfectly embodying the sentiment of this Norwegian proverb!

“Bak skyene er himmelen alltid blå.”

Behind the clouds, the sky is always blue.

Norwegian Proverb

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This week's Care Package ~For your Contemplation and Exploration

Questions to ask yourself:

What "clouds" are you mistaking for the entire sky right now?
Can you recall a past storm that felt permanent but eventually cleared?

A Song or two

I can see clearly now: Johnny Nash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0cAWgTPiwM

Clouds: Zach Sobiech (Be sure to watch and listen to these 2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDC97j6lfyc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guooaJ6lGI8&t=21s

Article: Behind the clouds the sky is always blue in Norway

https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/behind-the-clouds-the-sky-is-always-blue-in-norway

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Wishing you a most beautiful day with lots of blues skies wherever this may find you!

 Well, it’s Groundhog Day today — a quirky holiday and a movie that may look like light comedy, but is packed with deep insights and wisdom about how to live a good life (One of my favorite movies). So instead of a quote this week, here are a few life lessons inspired by Groundhog Day to carry into your week.  Which lesson most resonates with you?

Gratitude turns routine into joy. (When Phil, the protagonist starts appreciating what’s right in front of him, every repeated day becomes meaningful. Gratitude shifts our mindset from “Why me?” to “I get to.”)  
Every day is a chance to begin again. (We might not wake up to the exact same day, but we often face the same patterns, choices, and reactions. Each morning offers a reset — a new opportunity to do better, to grow kinder, and to live with intention.)

Growth isn’t instant — it’s gradual and built through daily effort. (Transformation happens through patience, repetition, and engagement.)

Self-improvement can't begin without self-awareness. (True change starts when we stop blaming circumstances and start noticing our own reactions. Awareness breaks the cycle and opens the door to compassion for ourselves and others.)

The present moment is the only day we ever really have. (The heart of this movie lies in this truth: life isn’t about escaping repetition but embracing the now. Every day, no matter how ordinary, is worth living fully.)

We all have our “Groundhog days. (Certain situations, conversations, or feelings seem to repeat. But small shifts in attitude and action can change the entire feel of our lives.)

The goal may be the destination, but life — and loving life — is the path. (Our big goals matter, but how we show up along the way is where meaning and fulfillment are actually found.)

If you are in a bad loop, you don’t escape by changing the world — you escape by changing yourself. (Stop asking “What do I get?” and start asking “Who can I become?”)

Service as a way of life. (When life feels stuck, serving others often becomes the key that unlocks our own sense of purpose and possibility.

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Care Package ~For your Contemplation and Exploration

The Ending Quote of the movie: “When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.” Phil Connors, Groundhog Day

Questions to ask yourself based on the Phil's journey:

If I had to live today over and over again, what would I do differently?

Am I spending my time trying to change my circumstances, or am I changing how I react to them?
Who can I help, or what small act of kindness can I perform today

Explore Further:

Check out the Film "Groundhog Day" (1993)

Article: The Science and Practice of Staying Present Through Difficult Times

https://www.mindful.org/science-practice-staying-present-difficult-times/

Meditation: The Present Moment

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIvsFLHJ0-I

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"On a personal note, I’ve always been drawn to the movie Groundhog Day, and playing the Grinch during the holidays helped me realize why. Both characters begin stuck in their ways, which serves as a reminder of how often I have my own 'Groundhog Days'.  I’m still a work in progress—at least, I hope so! Here’s to self-awareness, patience, and the lifelong process of learning."  

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Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

 This week's quote, William James, reminds us that fighting reality drains the very energy we need to heal. Acceptance isn’t giving up—it’s the solid ground from which real change begins. Only when we face what is can we move toward what can be.

"Acceptance of what has happened is the first step 

to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune." 

William James

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Explore and Contemplate Care Package

Questions for your contemplation:
What reality are you still resisting that's draining your energy?
How might accepting "what is" free you to focus on "what's next"?

Explore Further: Video Topic: Search for "radical acceptance DBT therapy" - Marsha Linehan's work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTG7YEWkJFI

Article: The Second Arrow of Suffering
https://grandrapidstherapygroup.com/second-arrow-of-suffering/

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OneWord | OneYear 2026 Entries

 

Thank you to everyone who shared their word for 2026!

 May your chosen word guide you, surprise you, and bring you closer to the breakthrough you seek. 

Good luck on your journey!

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Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

 On a weekend honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of purposeful service, this week's quote echoes the same call to meaningful action. True fulfillment comes not from comfort, but from pouring ourselves into something larger than our individual concerns.

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." 

George Bernard Shaw

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For your Contemplation and Exploration

2 Questions:

• What would it look like to be "thoroughly worn out" in service of something you believe in?
• Are you consuming your life energy on grievances, or investing it on purpose?

Explore Further:

Article: MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" - on urgency and purpose
https://fee.org/articles/letter-from-a-birmingham-jail/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21607921915&gbraid=0AAAAADkIVmfOLMS_H_vjSC8juEXaVa7QI&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1JLLBhCDARIsAAVfy7jl84igrN0p2A2zWIy5bzDLj09GV6H2yINPKPx_2sdEkXKJG2Uk8S8aAj90EALw_wcB

Search for "ikigai purpose framework" - Japanese philosophy on life purpose
https://organicconsumers.org/10-rules-of-ikigai-the-japanese-secret-to-a-long-and-happy-life/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22191999341&gbraid=0AAAAADSVWhXa3-RtabzLVHgUj_dcpnPb1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1JLLBhCDARIsAAVfy7j_voGv8xLP6nZPRzZiL81WFAA3wcjwEQ6H7Mq01MYFZSzZJvfL8G0aAny1EALw_wcB

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A Call-to-action / Question: 

What “mighty purpose” are you willing to give your energy to this week?

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Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

 January is often about resolutions, but Goethe points to something deeper: the necessity of continuous renewal. Like water that must keep moving to stay fresh, we need ongoing transformation to remain vital and engaged with life.

"We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden." 

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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For your Consideration...

Based on this week's quote, 2 Reflective Questions:

• Where in your life do you feel yourself "hardening" into fixed patterns?
• What's one small way you could introduce novelty or learning into your daily routine?

Care to Explore Further?:

• Video: TED Talk on neuroplasticity and lifelong learning
• Article Topic: "Growth mindset research" - Carol Dweck's work on change and development

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UPDATE: One Word | One Year ~  Please submit your word and receive a Personalized Desktop Wallpaper with your word!!! In the meantime, here are Words submitted so far...

Inner Peace| Equanimity | Health | Love | Expansion | Flow | Breakthrough | Appreciate

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Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you

As we step into a new year, Marcus Aurelius reminds us that the greatest risk isn't failure or endings—it's never starting at all. This week, what have you been postponing that deserves your attention? The Roman emperor-philosopher believed that true living requires conscious choice, not passive existence.

"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live."

Marcus Aurelius

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This week's Care Package... 

 

Questions to ask yourself...

What would you begin today if fear of imperfection wasn't holding you back?

Are you more afraid of trying and failing, or of looking back and wondering "what if"?

Care to Explore Further?:

Article: Search for "cost of inaction vs action psychology" - research on decision regret (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24304800/)

Podcast: The Daily Stoic podcast episode on Marcus Aurelius and memento mori (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq8lGTBF1PE)

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Don't forget THE ONE WORD/ONE YEAR PROJECT for 2026 | A Quote of the Week Tradition since 2008!

This word could reflect:

• Who you want to BE rather than what you want to DO?
• Your vision for personal growth
• Your focus for the next 365 days
• What do I want to feel this coming year?
• What kind of experiences do I want to have?
• What results, effects, or changes do I want to see?

Share your chosen word and receive a free custom desktop wallpaper/poster (Regular price: $49.99)

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Bonus... Did you miss a quote from 2025? Check out the 2025 quote review with the attached Four Seasons of Wisdom (pdf) presentation and/or listen to a 15 minute podcast about the 2025 quotes (click on Link)!

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 Universal_Wisdom_for_a_Well-Lived_Life.m4a

Wishing you a most beautiful day wherever this may find you!

 

 Welcome to the last quote of 2025!  As we stand at the threshold between years, it’s natural to feel both the weight of what has shaped us and the lightness of what might still unfold.  The T.S. Elliot's quote invites us to see transitions as natural turning points—in other words, Every phrase, action, or moment is both an end and a beginning, part of an ongoing flow.

"What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from." 

T.S. Eliot

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This Week's Care Package (Articles, videos, podcasts, thought provokers, and other nutrients for these challenging times...)

Based on the quote; questions to ask yourself for deeper introspection

1. What am I ready to end so that something new can begin?
2. How can I honor both the completion of this year and the fresh start ahead?
3. What wisdom from this year's endings will guide my new beginnings?

Meditation of the Week: Transitions and New Beginnings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x0vgPjYjew

Article: The Psychology of New Beginnings https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/201212/the-psychology-fresh-starts

Interesting Website: Poetry and Reflection Year-End https://www.poetryfoundation.org/

Mantras (based on this week's quote...) 

Endings birth new starts. | Circle closes, circle opens— From end, beginning.

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Wishing you a most BEAUTIFUL day wherever this may find you!

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PS RETURN OF THE ONE WORD/ONE YEAR PROJECT FOR 2026 | A Quote of the Week Tradition since 2008!

This word could reflect:

• Who you want to BE rather than what you want to DO?
• Your vision for personal growth
• Your focus for the next 365 days
• What do I want to feel this coming year?
• What kind of experiences do I want to have?
• What results, effects, or changes do I want to see?

Share your chosen word and receive a free custom desktop wallpaper/poster (Regular price: $49.99)

 Welcome to the Quote of the Week ~ Thoughtful quotes that hopefully inspire and brighten your day!

As the year draws to a close, do you feel the magic of this season of wonder? 

Albert Schweitzer reminds us about the miracle of existence:

"Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame 

by an encounter with another human being." 

Albert Schweitzer

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This Week's Care Package (Articles, videos, podcasts, thought provokers, and other nutrients for these challenging times...)

Based on the quote; questions to ask yourself for deeper introspection

1. Who has rekindled my inner light when it was dim?
2. How can I be a source of encouragement for others who are struggling?
3. What encounters have transformed me in unexpected ways?

Meditation of the Week: Connecting with Others https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-Bb0EYnJM

Article: The Healing Power of Human Connection https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships-2010113051

Interesting Website: Albert Schweitzer Fellowship https://www.schweitzerfellowship.org/

A Mantra for the Week (based on this week's quote...):  Light can flicker low. Another soul rekindles flame— We heal each other.

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Wishing you a most BEAUTIFUL day wherever this may find you!

 Welcome to the Quote of the Week ~ Thoughtful quotes that hopefully inspire and brighten your day! During this season of giving, have you considered the gift of your presence? Ram Dass offers timeless wisdom about being fully here:

"The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear." Ram Dass

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This Week's Care Package (Articles, videos, podcasts, thought provokers, and other nutrients for these challenging times...)

Based on the quote; questions to ask yourself for deeper introspection

1. What am I missing because my mind is too busy to listen?
2. How can I create more space for silence in my daily life?
3. What is my inner wisdom trying to tell me if I would just be still?

Meditation of the Week: Silent Listening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHnE_5eGLs0

Article: The Power of Quiet

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-power-of-quiet/

Interesting Website: Ram Dass Love Serve Remember Foundation

https://www.ramdass.org/

A Mantras (based on this week's quote...) 

Silence speaks volumes. | In stillness, truth makes itself Known to patient hearts.

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Wishing you a most BEAUTIFUL day wherever this may find you!