Wise people ask questions

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.

[Thanks Rudyard Kipling via DogStarNYC.com for this great quote!]

Write down the memories you hold deep in your heart

Cezve

This morning I made coffee reminiscent of the way my mom and grandmother made coffee for Grandpa. I have his beloved ‘cezve’, a small odd-shaped pot with a very long handle.

I remember my mom stirring its contents and watching the bright flame glowing from underneath the cezve. Its thick, dark mud-colored molten lava-like contents would steam up before my eyes as I would look up at the stove in wonder.

One of Grandpa’s purest pleasures was his Turkish coffee. As I stirred the coffee in my French press, I thought of Grandpa, as I often do, and beautiful moments in time that are no longer.

How can a child understand that our time together is as ephemeral as that bittersweet aroma that fills the air only for those moments when the cezve still brims with its master’s coffee.

by Sheri Jordan, August 10, 2011

© Sheri Jordan and Aunt Sheri Says, 2009-2011.

Look before you leap

It’s tempting to focus on just what’s in front of you. Whether it’s the jump you’re about to take into ice-cold quarry water or a new drop in at a skatepark, you know you’re young, strong, and you feel invincible. Smart dudes study every new situation and know their new environments before they plunge in with both feet literally or figuratively.

Take in a 360 view of the room or the park when you enter —

• How does the crowd look?
• Does someone know where you are?
• Are you there with a bf?
• What’s the word going around?
• Anyone to watch out for?

Once you’ve surveyed your surroundings and determine everything and everyone is cool, try something new and have a blast

If anyone asks you, “Who says you can have so much fun?” Tell them, ‘Aunt Sheri says!’

 

Difficulties are chances to recommit or reinvent ourselves

When I find myself facing my deepest and darkest days, I ask myself whether or not I am on the right path.

It seems whenever I struggled at a job, or with a person, or trying to achieve a goal, when I stepped back and looked at the situation objectively, sometimes I was trying to force a square peg into a round hole. In some instances, I wasn’t the right fit as an employee, friend, girlfriend, musician, or athlete. Other times, it seemed like everything was effortless: I felt satisfaction, happiness, and received compliments—for example, ‘you are such a gifted writer’.

Some things come easier to us while other things just never seem to be the right fit. Over the years I learned I was not meant to be a violinist or a serious tennis player. And, although I didn’t know it at the time, I now recognize my talent as a writer.

In my personal life, I’ve never walked away from a difficult relationship. But difficult people have walked away from me. It was not until I was in my 40′s that I realized how dangerous it is to need to be liked or loved. That is not to say we all don’t need friends, family, and love. What matters is whether or not you like yourself and love yourself.

If you are a person who does the right thing and treats people right, it will follow that people will like you (and probably love you). When someone walks away although your intentions are good and your heart is pure, then they fail to appreciate you. If another person fails to appreciate your goodness and love, you have not failed. The issue lies within the other. It is never possible to change someone else’s thoughts, actions, or heart unless they want to change. The only person you can change is yourself.

If you encounter difficulties, ask yourself if the path you are taking is the path you really want to follow. If you feel it is, don’t give up, but keep an open mind. If it’s not, keep traveling new paths until you find the one that leads to your happiness, well-being, the fulfillment of your potential, and the love of people who understand and respect you as you are.

© Sheri Jordan and Aunt Sheri Says, 2010.

Reach out and stay in touch with special someones

When life is fun and you are very busy, it’s even more important to remember to stay in close touch with the people who love you. I’ve noticed when people are out of a job (or on a break from school), they often ‘network’ with old friends and talk to family members more. It certainly makes us feel good to know there are people we can always turn to when life gets rough or even just plain lonely or boring.

But, when you’re on top of the world, you also need to call, write, chat, text, meet up (you get the idea).

Did you ever think that the other person may need to see and hear from you? You might reach someone when they weren’t feeling tip-top and you could make their day. We all tend to do what feels good for ourselves. But, when we think about the important others in our lives and make that effort to stay in close contact, life is richer all the way around.

© Sheri Jordan and Aunt Sheri Says, 2010.

Learn and Master English Language Grammar

Rich or poor, male or female, young or not-so-young, use good grammar! If you think you can get by without using the right words and punctuation when you write, you are sadly mistaken. People are judging you, not only by the words you speak, but also by the words you write (even in email). In fact, the higher you rank in your social circles, the farther you will fall when you speak or write the wrong words, or write grammatically challenged sentences.

Today, there are literally dozens of excellent grammar resources at your finger tips via the Internet. Here are just a few:

• Grammar Girl
• The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
• The Elements of Style
• The Chicago Manual of Style Online (Subscription-based)

Just for fun: Here is a famous seen from the classic movie, My Fair Lady (starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison). It shows Eliza Doolittle (Ms. Hepburn’s character) revealing her lack of ‘breeding’ when she attempts small talk with members of ‘society’ at Ascot.

My Fair Lady—Eliza Blunders the Small Talk

© Sheri Jordan and Aunt Sheri Says, 2010.

Believe in yourself, set goals and convert your thoughts into action

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

I found this quote on my friend Shelley Lieber’s Facebook page. Check out her website, wordywoman.com. I am so proud of Shelley! We met about 7 years ago working as copy editors for The Sports Authority. Back then she told me she had several goals she set for her life and career. Shelley is now CEO of the Visual Impressions Companies. She coaches writers and teaches aspiring authors how to get their books published and how to market themselves—her advice is invaluable.

Shelley’s success is a wonderful reminder of what you can do when you believe in yourself and convert your thoughts into action.

Woo Hoo Shelley, way to go!

How did you thank your mom today?

Today’s post is in honor of Mother’s Day:

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.”

—Abraham Lincoln

Read more books

“The man who does not read books has no advantage over the man that can not read them.”

– Mark Twain

(In memory of the 100th anniversary of the death of Mark Twain, the New York Public Library published this quote on Facebook.)

If you don’t have a library card, do yourself a favor and get one from the library nearest to where you live. And, if your school has a library, check it out–and, check out some books, too! There are worlds beyond Google you have yet to discover when you do research for school papers, work and just for the sake of learning. I also take out audio books and DVDs. They are all FREE—as long as I return them on-time

Your body is sacred

When you’re young and healthy and full of life, it’s hard to imagine that one day you may not be physically able to do all the things you love to do.

My dad always said to treat your body like a temple. He meant that your body is sacred. My dad always ate healthy foods, got at least 8 hours of sleep, exercised (he loved to play tennis, soccer and golf). He also did push-ups and sit-ups. He limited the amount of alcohol he drank (which was usually no more than a glass of red wine when dining with friends). He never smoked or used drugs. He never ate too much because he thought it was very important not to be overweight and carrying excess fat.

If you love to participate in sports, do so safely and responsibly:

• If you swim, NEVER dive into shallow pools or lakes, especially when you can’t see the bottom.
• If you skateboard or participate in contact sports, wear protective gear.
• If you are a gymnast, be sure you always have a spotter.
• Don’t go jogging or hiking in isolated areas alone.

Be sure to get some down time, so you can clear your mind. Your mind and body both need time to rest and get refreshed. Discover yoga.

PS—If your friends are not on-board with this advice, make new friends!

© Sheri Jordan and Aunt Sheri Says, 2010.