Group Beyond Blue member Micaiah started a fantastic thread on Group Beyond Blue called “Quote of the Day.” He explains:

One of the things I do in my classroom every day is post a “Quote of the Day.” These used to be the typical quotes…you know, well-thought, profound word spins that people wrote throughout history. 

This year, they’ve taken a different turn. With the students’ help, we now post “real” quotes — things we’ve actually heard straight from other people’s mouths that have struck a chord inside. They aren’t thought out ahead of time; they are situational and spontaneous. But they stick and we remember them.

One example (that now sticks with me) is one Randy Pausch gave in his “Last Lecture”. He was a grad assistant for his mentor as he was obtaining his PhD. And apparently, many thought he was a rather arrogant young man (he admitted he felt like he could save the world from the horrors of failing computer science). One day, his mentor pulled him aside and said:

“You know, Randy… it’s a real shame you come off as arrogant to so many. It’s going to limit what you are able to accomplish in this world.”

What an effective way of telling someone they’re being a jerk.

So… what “real” quotes have stuck with you? I’ll let you know if it ends up on my classroom board someday. 🙂

Here are some of the responses, quotes that really stuck for Group Beyond Blue members:

This past spring, I was watching the movie, “The Hurricane.” Rubin Carter, the boxer doing time for a murder he did not commit, said, “You have to learn to transcend all that holds you.” That caught my attention, and I wrote it down. It’s one of the quotes on my computer.

And when my daughter was five years old, she and her older brother and sister were having a squabble. The older ones reported what had caused the problem. So, after considering the situation, I called the little one in, had her sit down beside me, and told her, “You know, Honey, Jesus wants us to love one another, and that means loving your brother and your sister and being kind to them, too. Isn’t that right?”

Her big beautiful brown eyes widened and she grew as serious as a five year old can. She looked into my eyes with the innocence and truthfulness of a child and said, “I know, Mommy, only truble iz I can’t hear Him, He talks too low.”

(Today she is a Buddhist, by the way. Please, if you would like to pray for her, do. After all, she is chanting for you and your happiness!) –Rather Be a Dolphin

I’m still cracking up about my 6 six year old saying “face painting just isn’t good for my career mom” (I’d just offered to have it done at a festival…at the moment his goals were army, the day before NBA, and currently NBL I think… ; ) –Deep Within

“If someone deals you all the aces, it’s time to walk away from the table. Especially if you just sat down.” My dad’s take on “If it’s too good to be true.” –Melzoom

My boss always says “it’s hard to fly with the eagles when you’re hanging out with the turkeys…” -Dancing to Grace

“God don’t make junk.” -Great

“Tiny positive steps forward.” -Pathwalker

I read this in a book for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.. “We can help those afraid of dying.. but how do you help those afraid of living?” –Plaidypus

Garfield said, “It’s not the getting or the giving, it’s the loving.” –Joycon

I laughed out loud when I read this from Micaiah on the same thread. Keep in mind I still have to facilitate my kids with the potty so we’re all about bathroom humor in our household:

One of my favorite quotes came from a colleague several years ago when I was venting my frustration about a certain student. After I got my feelings out, he shook his head and in a slight country drawl said, “Well you know, you can’t polish a terd.”

I think of that often when I have a particularly difficult child… while I never give up on any student, I am limited in what I can do considering I only work with them one hour a day. Sometimes I just can’t do everything I wish I could. His quote is just a lighthearted way for me to remember my own limitations.

One of the most profound quotes that has stuck with me came from my dad a few weeks before he died (I talked about this in my humor video), when he said to me, “I’m worried that you’re not having enough fun.”

And here’s one I intend on using a lot in the future … that was on a card I recently received from no other than my guardian angel Ann: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But when life hands you a pile of crap … don’t do anything with it. Trust me on this one.”

To read more Beyond Blue, go to www.beliefnet.com/beyondblue, and to get to Group Beyond Blue, a support group at Beliefnet Community, click here.