Tim Sanders‘ newest, Today We Are Rich (available in print, and digital), has done a fine job of reminding me of how much of life is up to me. It’s not that I believe I am capable of creating anything on my own, but my choices do shape the quality and content of each day, relationship and experience.
The book is framed around the story of Sanders’ grandmother Billye, a depression era divorcee that raised him. It centers around her beliefs, based in scripture, and accentuated by the greats of positive thinking. It starts with the story of a man named Clarence wandering into Billye’s yard, asking for a day’s work and pay. Billye responds by making him work hard, and paying far and beyond what he deserved. She then comments to young Tim: “Today we have all we need, and enough to share with Clarence. And because we were able to share, we’re worth something. By being able and willing to give, we are rich.”
Since I’m super excited about how easy it is to capture quotes on my new Kindle, I’ll share a few more with you.
“Uncertainty is a spiritual enemy that will siphon out your rocket fuel.”
“You should be as careful about what you put into your mind as about what you put into your mouth. Your mind is a machine. When you ingest a piece of information, your mind goes to work, chewing on it, digesting it, and then converting it into a thought. When good stuff goes into your mind, good thoughts emerge. People who maintain purposeful mind diets of positive stimuli think healthy thoughts.”
“Many people suffer poor health not because of what they eat but from what is eating them.”
“When you look for friends, evaluate their outlook, not just their proximity or relevance to your practical needs.”
“In my own experience, very little news is truly bad (meaning the damage is permanent and there’s nothing I can do about it). It’s news that simply means, “You need to get busy and do something about this. The status quo will no longer work.” Once I realized that the “bad news” required me to put on my solutions hat instead of my freak-out cap, my internal conversation changed from panic to planning.”
“I’ve never met devil’s advocates with many good ideas.”
Today We Are Rich is a quick read, not too preachy, and a great reminder of what makes life work well.
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