A quotation from Samuel Johnson.

"There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the practice, and who believe themselves mild and moderate, charitable and faithful, because they have exerted their eloquence in commendation of mildness, fidelity, and other virtues….how much more easily men may shew their virtue in their talk than in their actions." --Samuel Johnson.

*
Aaaack. This describes me, all too often. I talk about what I'm going to do, and I know what I should do -- and then I don't do it.

Comments

[KCCC]

Yup.

A while back, I ran across a quote that said "Action is what separates belief from opinion." It made me uncomfortably aware that I had too few beliefs and too many opinions by that criteria.

Been working on that one.

[Dina]

Hey Gretchen, I couldn't help but notice your posts about "fake foods." apparently i'm addicted to them as well. One day last week i had 4 large tasti d-lite cups, hmmm all the yummy goodness of air, water, and skim milk with lactase. anyways i've never heard about the Creation cookies with 152 calories and so i did some research on them. here's what i came up with:

http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AD/alert.asp?ReleaseID=654

maybe that'll help :) now all i have to do is find some proof that Tasti D-lite is a scam too..and then maybe i'll stop wasting 50 bucks a week on fake ice cream.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh my goodness, twice as many calories as the label says! There were many days when I ate three of those cookies...that's 900 calories on fake food.

I LOVE Tasti-D-Lite, and get that stuff constantly, too. The one thing that keeps me in check is that in cold weather, I don't like to eat a frozen treat. Also, one the stores closest to my apartment (on 86th and Lex) closed recently, so that has cut me back too. But those Nutritious Creations cookies are ubiquitous in my neighborhood. Never again.

[Art]

Gretchen:

I love your blog. Bob Sutton at Stanford indirectly introduced me to your blog last fall while I was enrolled in a professional development course. I've become a somewhat regular reader ever since - with much delight. This blog is a wonderful resource and certainly succeeds in putting a smile on my face.

I particularly like the service orientation of the blog. I understand that the end goal here is to publish a book, but I'm curious if you have any interest in writing a magazine column. Sorry for posting this message in the comments field. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like to continue this conversation. Thanks.

[Don Norton]

Here's one, Gretchen: Marcus aurelius said, "Do not then consider life a thing of any value. For look to the immensity of time behind thee, and to the time which is before thee, another boundless space. In this infinity then what is the difference between him who lives three days and him who lives three generations?"

[Charlotte Tonne]

Here is my idea to achieve happiness: why don’t you create a blog where people post superficial aphorisms about happiness. Encourage the idea that we are all in this together, that we all “want to be Gretchen” in our own way. Make others do research for your project by stroking their egos. Nurture the feeling that they are a part of a very profound group. Pay particular attention to those who find meaning in vacuous platitudes. There is nothing wrong with pursuing the lowest common denominator. And there is nothing wrong with simple--or simple minded--messages that give us a nice warm feeling.

Eliminate all blog entries that are not positive. After all this is a “feel good” project that must be, above all, inspirational. Publish this mindless, navel gazing drivel. Sell it for lots of money. Consider the possibility of add-on sales. For example, your followers might go for Happy Dolls, warm and fuzzy little creatures with encouraging words embroidered on a pink heart.

And... have you thought of exporting this cult? You might offer the men, women, and children who are starving in Africa a condensed “budget” version at a price they can afford. Why should the poor, the sick, and the hungry of the world be denied the benefits of your encouraging and uplifting insights?

You’ll be basking in the glow of a robust bank account and the delusion that you’ve done something intelligent and important.

Look in the mirror and say “congratulations.”

You go girl!