Says Dawn this morning after hitting herself: “Mommy, I hit my finger-elbow!” She was pointing to the middle joint of her finger! Maybe she has discovered a good name of it.

Speaking of fingers and hands, I came upon this website today that has interesting information and facts about the intricacies of the hands. Check it out!

From a friend on an online mailing list:

When my niece Pixie (2,5 years old) was visiting, I took her to the park one day so she could try the swings and the rest of the playset they have there.

She was asking for help with a lot of things, and wanted to hold my hand when we walked etc. And it’s not that I mind helping her, of course, or mind holding her hand for that matter (in fact, if we are walking with cars nearby I prefer it, that way she at least isn’t running out in to the traffic). But I was a little curious as to why she wanted so much help when she usually wants to do everything herself.

I realized later that the reason is of course that I am not her parent, so she needn’t have that independence struggle with me. In any case, I asked “How come you are so little all of a sudden, your mum says you’re such a big girl” and she answered: ”I AM a big girl. AND I need help. Big girls need help too some times”

Well, there’s me told…She is absolutely right of course. How could you get too old/big/grown up to need help?

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, unlearn, and relearn.

~Alvin Toffler

Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.

~Abbé Dimnet, Art of Thinking, 1928

I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

–Maya Angelou

It’s interesting how the terms “making a living” and “making a life” have had their meanings melded together over the past 100+ years.

Making a living is what people do when they get up, send their children to school, then come home in the evening only to repeat it again the next day. It’s gaining the resources necessary to survive (either sparsely or in great luxury) in this world.

Making a life, on the other hand, is more about psychological well being. Do you HAVE to become a doctor, or would you be much more content living as an artist with enough money to get by, though not live extravagantly? Personally, I’d rather have less money and make my life in a happy way than be financially abundant and unhappy.

How would YOU define making a life? Please share with us in the comments area!