I’d like to write a series on some of my favorite quotes from unexpected sources. There are literally books dedicated to the great sayings by amazing folks throughout history---these will probably not be found there.
I will start with one I have loved for many years, but my understanding of its powerful message has increased through the years. It is from that epic, “The Sound of Music.”
While the premise for the show---finding and fulfilling one’s purpose and/or place in life---is serious and meaningful, this quote deals with a specific challenge Maria has to face, becoming the governess for the Von Trapp children. Her fear is the subject of a song (of course): “I Have Confidence,” in which she imagines the potential problems and how she will deal with them. The challenges she describes could fit in lots of new job situations. The quote I consider most powerful is near the end as she has listed many reasons she should be confident and is more a commentary on being strong in the face of challenges with potential failures implied. It is about strength.
Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!
The older I get the more I realize the truth of strength/success/happiness/health/whatever being embodied in “nights of peaceful slumbers.” I sure know that for me the quality and quantity of sleep I get is directly proportional to the “strength” of my life at any given time. We can’t buy good sleep. More quotes coming. I’d love to hear yours.
8 comments:
Maybe we have to trade nights without peaceful slumber to eventually get them?
Or maybe we trade nights of peaceful slumber in efforts to attain some deceptive "strength?"
"But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep."
---Robert Frost
But did he really have to go all those miles and why did he make all those promises if they are such a burden? Maybe the more responsibility he assumes, the more "strength" he has?
The promises give him worth/purpose/identity?
Maria's strength gives her peaceful slumber? Robert's strength keeps him from peaceful slumber?
Or maybe Maria accepts her limitations better and sleeps well while Robert insists on carrying extra weight around.
As a former chronic insomniac, I agree. During that year when we sat on the middle school stage together during lunch, I went about two or three months without a really good night's sleep (except maybe on the weekends). I think my sleeping troubles lifted as the burden of feeling like I had to constantly prove myself lifted. I still work hard, but now I work hard to get a desired result, not because I'm afraid of what people will think of me if I don't.
Now, I only have significant sleeping trouble maybe once a year. It actually hit this past week, and it was clearly because I was trying to push myself too hard (I had to stay late at work for programs and meetings and then would try to grade as many essays as I could before bed, without giving myself any down time).
I was able to stop the problem because I know that my students don't really care if it takes a couple extra days to get their essays back. The pressure to get them done quickly came only from me. I knew that I was going to end up making myself sick, which would do no one any good, so Friday afternoon I left work a little early, let those essays sit, and went to bed. I had a lot going on this weekend, but I continued to let those essays sit during my downtime. Now, I've had three good nights of sleep in a row, and I'm ready to get back to work on them tonight.
All that to say that I agree. What good is it to accomplish a lot if you're miserable? Plus, you'll accomplish more in the long run if you keep yourself healthy (physically and emotionally).
Aaron and I have had this conversation in some form for years: the skills/drive/attitude which help us succeed are the same forces that drive us crazy! You can't have it both ways---laid back and intense; sensitive and invulnerable. I believe finding the balance you describe is the key.
Those moments talking on the stage during my lunch duty saved me!! My brother always used a saying to describe crazy situations like middle school lunch duty: being chained naked in the monkey house! Fits...sadly!
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