My kids can't wait.

I’m woken up every morning by a two-year old who wants food.  And he wants it now.  That isn't the only thing my two-year old or my three-year old want right now.  Anything they want, they want it now.  Right now.  A few days ago while I was cooking dinner, they were fussing about how long it was taking.  I admonished them by saying, “You’re acting like children”.  Of course, this didn't have much impact on them, since they are children.  What exactly was I expecting?

(Creative Commons)

But, beyond that they simply don’t have patience, there are two lessons I take from this.

The opportunity to pass on today. To quit.

You will have a million opportunities to do this today. This isn't unusual. It's probably a day like any other. Every day will present these same opportunities. And while it is important to take advantage of the day's opportunities, this is one of the exceptions. Don't take advantage of this one.

Today will give you millions of opportunities to quit. Don't take them.

The Thinking Life by P. M. Forni

Title:  The Thinking Life

Author:  P. M. Forni

Rating:  Good

Reason for Reading:  This book was recommended by my friend Mark Sanborn, author of The Fred Factor and Up, Down, or Sideways.

Format:  Hardback, borrowed from my local library.

Summary:  This book is Dr. Forni’s treatise on the importance of intentional thinking to improve every aspect of your life.  As a professor of romance literatures, Dr. Forni includes throughout the book lessons from classic Greek and Roman philosophy and mythology where the value of clear thinking is demonstrated.  The book also has numerous contemporary stories as well, and Dr. Forni includes specific tasks that the reader can do to harness the potential power of intentional thinking in their life.

Review:  This book is a wonderful read for anyone interested in exploring the power of their own thinking habits.  I’m reminded of Susan Cain’s comment in her book Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking when she says that there is a word for people who live in their heads too much, they are called thinkers.  For anyone more on the introverted side of the spectrum, who enjoys thinking deeply, I would recommend spending the brief time to read The Thinking Life by Dr. Forni.

Other resources: http://krieger.jhu.edu/civility