Wednesday, September 02, 2015

Beyond the Books: Those Who Inspire and Library Sales

Every Thursday Karen of KissinBlueKaren hosts Beyond the Books, at which time participants are given a topic and asked to write about it on their own blogs. They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Today Karen's Beyond the Books topic is about my favorite teacher and mentor and why.


I hate this question any time it is asked. I have such a hard time thinking of an answer. I never really had a favorite teacher. Even in my work, I cannot say I have had just one mentor. I picked up lessons and advice to live by from a variety of people over the years, but not one in particular stands out above the others. After spending days trying to decide how best to approach today's topic, four people in particular stood out in my mind as having inspired me, who I think highly of, and admire, and would like to emulate in some way. Mostly because I value what they stand for and admire how they chose to live their lives. True, a couple are not real. But the voices behind them are.

Eleanor Roosevelt

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously.”

“I believe anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.”

“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.”

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”

“You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.”

Maya Angelou

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude about it."

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."

"We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror? And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay -- and rise!"

"I am a Woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal Woman, that's me."

"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."

Albus Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling)

"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities." ~  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” ~ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." ~ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." ~ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

"Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it." ~ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Doctor Who

“The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don’t always spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” ~ The Eleventh Doctor

“Books! The best weapons in the world!” - The Tenth Doctor

"Let me tell you about scared. Your heart is beating so hard -- I can feel it through your hands! There's so much blood and oxygen pumping through your brain, it's like rocket fuel. Right now, you could run faster and you could fight harder. You can jump higher than ever in your life. And you are so alert, it's like you can slow down time. What's wrong with scared? Scared is a super power! It's your super power!" - The Twelfth Doctor

"We all change, when you think about it. We’re all different people all through our lives. And that’s okay, that’s good, you’ve got to keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be" - The Eleventh Doctor

 “Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters, it’s the person.” — The Tenth Doctor

How about you? Do you have a favorite teacher or mentor?

Book Blogger Hop


Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.


What time of the year does your library have its library sale? (submitted by  Elizabeth)
My local library sells books during their business hours year round. There's a room in the library full of books patrons can purchase. I am ashamed to admit I have never been in that room nor have I ever actually purchased a book from our library (although I have donated hundreds of books to them). By the time I started visiting the library regularly, I had mostly stopped buying paper books. If I buy a paper book now, it's usually one I am looking for specifically. I seem to be more prone to impulse buy e-books these days.

Do you frequent your library sales?


 © 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

19 comments:

  1. Great list of people! I had some great teachers through the years but a high school English teacher really stands out for me.

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    1. Kathy - Thank you! I was just thinking about how the most inspiring teachers I had were the ones who told me I couldn't do something--and so I was inspired to do it. Haha

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  2. I loved what you did with this post. I was hoping with this topic to see what characteristics mentors or teachers share that made them awesome. You nailed this topic!
    I have never been to a library sale. Although the library near me in Florida was like yours and sold books (really cheap!) year round. The one near me here in Connecticut has twice yearly sales. One is coming soon!

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    1. Karen - Thank you. I hated that I was having such trouble with it.

      I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't frequent library sales. Someday I may go see what they have.

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  3. Great choices and great quotes!

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  4. I like your list of people, especially Doctor Who...lol. I hardly ever go to a library book sale but that is because ours is never very big and never have anything I want to read... :(

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    1. Stormi - Thank you! I couldn't leave out Doctor Who. ;-)

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  5. Great selection. I think Dumbledore would make quite a lot of people's list, not so much the good Dr.

    I love library sales. Our library tends to have a large one quarterly but ex-library stock is available on a trolley all the time. Priced 50p for a hardback, 25p for a paperback and 10p for children's books as you can imagine my TBR pile never gets less than mountainous.

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    1. Tracy - Thank you. :-) yes, Dumbledore is the quintessential teacher/mentor figure, isn't he?

      Those are good prices! If I didn't already have a mountainous TBR pile, I'm sure I'd have a reason to visit our library sale.

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  6. Our library doesn't even sell the culled books, just puts them on carts near the door for anyone to browse and choose for free. I donate a lot of my ARCs to the library, some of which are shelved and some go to the free book carts. :)

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    1. Jenclair - That's a neat way to do it. We've set up a little library at work that I help keep well stocked with books. Everything is free. It's one of the things I love about my current office--so many readers! It's usually not that way.

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  7. I like your gathering of mentors; one essential mentor for me is C.S. Lewis. I do frequent the book sales room at our library and usually buy a book or two. I am a retired librarian and so you know I love libraries.

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    1. Terra - I thought of C.S. Lewis when I was making my list, but decided I had listed enough people. I don't use our library enough for my own use. I love to take my daughter though. I just wish they had story times on the weekend. We can't go during the week when most of the children's programs are held.

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  8. We do have library sales here once in a while but I rarely buy them. However, I do donate books to them and they've this corner where you can place your books on the shelves and whoever wants them can bring them home. I try not to buy too many books nowadays; as much as I love print copies they take up lots of space. As my husband always love to say to me, no matter how many shelves we bought they'd always be not enough, lol.

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    1. Melody - Yes, print books do take up a lot of space. After our move four years ago, my plan is to never have more books than I have shelf space for. I love books, but I don't want the extra clutter. That makes e-readers extra special. LOL

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  9. Fantastic post and the first three on your list are ones who would make my list as well. Rowling's quote about not dwelling on dreams is among my all time favorites. I used to read alot of Maya Angelou, and she truly is an inspiration. I also like Anais Nin quotes and also Lady Di.

    I can't resist library sales, my library always has books for sale in one corner, but there is a large library sale twice a year in a library a town over that I just love. I have found some gems there during the sale.
    Happy weekend :)

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    1. Naida - I love that Rowling's quote too. I agree with you about Maya Angelou. She's one of my heroes.

      Someday I will take full advantage of the library sales. :-)

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  10. I just adore this. :)

    I wish my library had sales! I haven't seen one happen yet.

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