lara simmons

Anna: "If you'd the chance to see the private rooms of the King and Queen would you give six bits for that?" Bates: "But what would it tell me? They sleep in a bed? They eat at a table? So do I." I love this quote from Sunday's episode of Downton Abbey  for its quiet profundity.  If you don't watch the show it may not make much sense so here's the gist: The aristocratic Crawley Family decided to open up their home (Downton Abbey) to the locals for six bits each in order to raise money for the local hospital. The household staff were in disagreement about whether or not this was a good idea and were discussing it during a break between household duties. Mr. Bates was neither in favor or opposed, merely puzzled as to why anyone would want to take a tour and thus ensued the above conversation with his wife, Anna.  Bates has always been a realist, comfortable with his position, never aspiring to a heightened position or lamenting his fate a...

"Don't compare someone else's middle with your beginning." -- Radhika Chugh Following on from Tuesday's quote about having the courage to be where you are, we have this from Radhika Chugh, my newest internet angel, from her weekly reading on Youtube. Sometimes being where you are means starting something new and that can be SCARY. Especially if it is something you haven't ever done before, or haven't done in awhile. Comparison can be our worst enemy at times like these because we tend to judge ourselves harshly and often find ourselves coming up short. Just as these three spindly palm trees don't look like much when compared to the 140 year old Banyan tree from the other day, we can feel weak, inferior and a little bit funny-looking when we compare ourselves to someone else. So, if you are starting something new this week, resist the urge to compare your beginning to someone else's middle, or even to their beginning. You are exac...