Sunday Snippet: Dale Carnegie

“All of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon – instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”

When it comes to these Sunday Snippet posts on the Beyond the Rhetoric, I usually try to avoid highlighting the same person more than once. That said, some people just happen to have some great quotes and one of these individuals is a man named Dale Carnegie.

The self-help author and lecturer offered many great insights into self-improvement and interpersonal skills, but he also had a profound perspective on just life in general. The core message from the quote above echoes sentiments that I have previously expressed on this blog. I’ve written about why life is a song and while you may continue to chase those dreams that feel just out of reach, you mustn’t neglect the wonderful things that already surround you.

When you ask people why don’t they do this or why don’t they do that, a common response is that they will do that “some day.” They may wait until they’re retired. They may wait until they “have enough money” to do it. That’s living for tomorrow and simply trudging through the hardships of today. Life is tough, unquestionably, but you also have to take the initiate, seize the day, and make the most of what time you have on this Earth.

We often wonder whether the grass is really greener on the other side, but the fact of the matter is that you are much better off spending the time to nurture the grass under your feet. Make it lush, make it green, and you can enjoy the “roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”