First, read James Richardson's "Aphorisms & Ten-Second Essays" in Brief Encounters. An aphorism is a concise statement of a truth, and the most effective aphorisms are the ones that avoid cliche and reveal both a personal and universal truth.
For this post, write a series of five aphorisms and/or concise "ten-second" essays about what makes life meaningful to you or how you find (or make) meaning in your life (or, conversely, fail to do so). Be sure to avoid cliches!
There is a fear of change, yet change is constantly occurring.
ReplyDeleteIf something is not broken, do not attempt to fix it.
Mistakes are opportunities for learning.
You are never too old to learn.
You get what you pay for.
Music makes the soul feel fulfilled when playing songs that feed your soul.
ReplyDeleteExperiences is what leads one to success
You can never fail if you see it as a lesson learned
All good deeds pay off
Ones happiness begins with their attitude
If you stare at the sun too long, then your vision will go bad.
ReplyDeleteYou drink a gallon of water a day, to keep the doctor away.
Stress is only temporary, but tomorrow is another day.
Bills don’t pay their selves, we must get up the next day and work.
If you want move on, you must let go and forgive.
Tomorrow is my favorite excuse for today.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning I wake up and get ready for bed.
I keep telling myself I’ll do better; I also keep telling myself I’ll do it tomorrow.
Difficulty is not a lack of intelligence, but a lack of effort.
It seems as though every time I wash my car, it rains shortly after. I guess that’s how life works. Finally, things seem right, but then the rain comes and leaves a whole bunch of dirty water spots on your life. I suppose the rainbow is an apology.
The situation that turns a good man bad is decided by the man himself.
ReplyDeleteThe knife that kills the chicken slices the cake.
The cream of the crop had to fight to the top.
If god gave man gills they would go skydiving.
If you open your window mosquitoes might get in.
You can only get what you work for.
ReplyDeleteMusic hears you when no one else is listening.
Mistakes are often made; it’s what you do with them that defines you.
Learning is a lifelong continuous process.
You can’t fail if you succeed.
Heriberto Pina
ReplyDeletePatience is not very different from courage. It just takes longer.
I say nothing works anymore, but I get up and its up tomorrow.
If you want to know how they could forget you, wait till you forget them.
Why should the whole lake have the same name?
There are silences harder to take back than words.
I hear powerful ideas that change my perspective on the world, yet I cannot remember them clearly enough to explain them and change someone else's.
ReplyDeleteMy anxiety keeps me from working, and I really need to work on my anxiety.
You do not feel validated when someone you love proves to you that leaving them was the right choice.
I have a college education, but no idea what to do with it.
They lied to us in elementary school; the truth is words can hurt you.
Being immersed in a different culture, causes you to be more open with the world around you.
ReplyDeleteHelping people brings more joy to me than anything else.
There is too much information to stop learning.
Procrastination delays satisfaction.
Do things that make you happy and who cares what anyone says.
ReplyDeletePatience is a ritual
You get what you pay for
What goes up, comes down
Our minds are powerful, therefore, what you think, you become
What you believe is what you will succeed.
Things happen for a reason
ReplyDeleteLive your life to the fullest
Life is to beautiful to mess is up
Enjoy life today, yesterday was in the past
Stay focused and surround yourself with good people
You live and you learn
ReplyDeleteDo what makes you happy
Discard the negativity and focus on the positive
Learn from your mistakes and move on
Aim for success
Dress for the slide, not the ride.
ReplyDeleteFour wheels move the body but two wheels move the soul.
If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living
Patience is the key to success
If one wishes to improve, one must accept their downfalls
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
ReplyDeleteIf you can dream it you can do it.
Life is not always perfect, but it's always what you make it. So make it count, make it memorable, and never let anyone steal your happiness.
A good friend knows all your best stories. A best friend has lived them with you.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
ReplyDeleteYou have to work twice as hard to get half of what they get.
How people treat you, is their karma, how you react, is yours.
Its not what people call you, it’s what you answer to.
Who you hang around is who you become.
Water your grass and it won’t matter if it’s greener on the other side.
ReplyDeleteDogs are the only therapists that can’t give bad advice.
If you do nothing but dream you will never live.
You can’t always make your fantasy a reality, but you can make your reality a fantasy.
You can plan all you want but until you do, you’re not accomplishing anything.
God wouldn’t bring you to it, if he wouldn’t bring you through it.
ReplyDeleteWhat doesn't kill you, will always make you stronger.
You get in life, what you have the courage to ask for.
What you have done in the past, will lead you to a brighter future.
It isn't about how hard you fall, it's about how quickly you get back up.
Music is something that gives me a feeling that is hard to describe.
ReplyDeleteIt is there for me when nobody else is.
Music helps me go through emotions that I can't find words to explain.
It helps me figure out my feelings.
I'll skip through a random playlist and find a song that is saying all of the things that I'm experiencing and feeling and it's an awesome feeling to relate to.
Live life one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the present rather than the past.
Don't spend too much time thinking about the future, because you never know what it has in store for you.
Forget the stress and always laugh.
Enjoy each day as if it was your last.
You get what you work for.
ReplyDeleteWhen life gives you lemons wash them, sell them and make a profit.
What today seems like a sacrifice tomorrow will be an achievement.
They could take everything away except what your education.
Education is the key to success.
Things happen for a reason
ReplyDeleteWe think too much and feel too little
Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience
Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get
Procrastination delays satisfaction