Welcome
to Out on a Limb,
a monthly newsletter from Martha Clark Scala. This free e-zine
is meant to invite and inspire you to maximize the joy in
your life.
To
Subscribe, click
here.
Collect
Your Pithys
I’ve been hearing the word, pithy, a lot lately. It’s
an adjective. The definition that made me laugh at dictionary.com
was “of, like, or abounding in pith.” I guess
the good folks at that website assume we know what pith is!
The more useful definition is: “brief, forceful, and
meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning.” This
suggests that a pithy observation or phrase is quite valuable
to the recipient.
What pithy
words of wisdom help you in your pursuit of joy? I have
a few. I suggest that we call them pithys: that’s
the plural form of the NOUN, pithy. Don’t ask me why
it’s not spelled p-i-t-h-i-e-s; my whims don’t
pay attention to spelling conventions! What collection of
pithys guide your life and your decision-making?
I can’t tell you how often I heard the phrase “salt
water heals all wounds” in my childhood. Some people
hate to swim in salt water but I spent more time in the ocean
than in any swimming pool, lake or pond. As a result, just
wading at water’s edge is a joyful activity for me.
Being by the ocean, if not fully immersed in it, is my best
prescription for sorrow. But obviously, there’s no
universal, one-pithy-fits-all, is there? For example some
people have never even seen an ocean! Perhaps they have gargled
with salt water to ward off a sore throat.
For a few more from my private collection of pithys, scroll
on down the page. |
Looking
for Some Grief Relief?
I interrupt this regularly scheduled newsletter for the
following announcement: A few more of my brief FAQ responses
have been published at the website, www.Caring.com
Click
here for: Is it Normal Not to Feel Social
After Someone Close to Me Has Died?
Click here for: How Do I Find a Grief Counselor?
Coming soon at www.Caring.com: What Can I Do to Speed Up
the Grieving Process?
|
Pithy
This
“Less
is more.”
The older you get, the more ways in which this is true.
Striving is over-rated.
|
|
Pithy
That
“It’ll
all come out in the wash.”
Ah, the rinse cycle
of life. This is a great anti-anxiety “prescription.”
|
Pithy
These
“What
other people think of me is none of my business.”
One of
the best self-esteem salves I’ve ever heard.
“What
goes around comes around.”
A perfect pithy that reminds us to conduct our lives with
integrity and congruence. Byproduct: Joy!
"Life
is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight."
— Rossiter Worthington Raymond
A comforting quote to re-visit with each accumulated loss.
|
Joy-Gram for August 2009
As your
reflect on your own collection of pithys, think about the
person, place or situation where you first heard or read
these words. Express gratitude where applicable, and watch
your joy rise. |
Disclaimer
By no means
do I have joy “figured out.” Please do not assume
that I do! I write Out On a Limb as much as a meditation for
myself in the ongoing pursuit of joy, as for you. I think this
pursuit is a lifelong journey and that the full experience
of joy is, at best, episodic. May we all have more episodes! |
