The KellyGram

Wisdom and Wit About the Wonderful and Often Wacky World of Words

Published by Bob Kelly

Resident Wordsmith and Quotemeister

WordCrafters, Inc.

www.wordcrafters.info

Providing the Right Word for Speakers, Writers, Ministry Leaders, Business Executives and Just Plain Folks — since 1979!

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Volume 8 — Number 1 January 2010

EXTRA! NEW BOOK NOW AVAILABLE. SEE COMMENTS BELOW!

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Welcome to Year 8 and Issue 85 of The KellyGram!

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I’m not much of a believer in the value of making resolutions every time a new year arrives. They don’t usually last very long. However, it can be beneficial to take a look at some of the habits we’ve developed over the years, pick out a couple of the bad ones and make specific plans to replace them with good habits.

I’m indebted to Loren Ekroth for some great suggestions on how to approach this task. He had included them in the December 2, 2009 issue of his Better Conversations ezine, and I’ve summarized them following this month’s quotations which, as you might guess, are on the topic of "habit."

My thanks to you all putting up with my ramblings over the past seven years, and my best wishes for a bountiful 2010.

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In This Issue:

Fun with Words
The Quote Corner (Habits)
Ekroth’s Tips on Changing Habits
Kind Words for Our New Book!
Smile Awhile
Odds and Ends
The Last Word

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FUN WITH WORDS

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Column 1 below lists the names of famous authors who were born in January. Your job is to connect each name with the applicable clue in Column 2.

	Column 1		Column 2
	1. Edgar Allan Poe		A. "Winnie" author
	2. Lewis Carroll		B. Lincoln biographer
	3. Horatio Alger		C. Wrote "The Raven"
	4. Jack London		D. "Fairy Tales" co-author
	5. Carl Sandburg		E. "Looking Glass" author
	6. Jacob Grimm		F. Wrote "rags to riches" stories
	7. Alan Alexander Milne		G. Wrote "The Call of the Wild"

You'll find the correct answers elsewhere in this issue.

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THE QUOTE CORNER (Habits)

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To learn new habits is everything, for it is to reach the substance of life. Life is but a tissue of habits.
Henri-Frédéric Amiel

It is easy to assume a habit; but when you try to cast it off, it will take skin and all.
Josh Billings

Bad habits are like chains that are too light to feel until they are too heavy to carry.
Warren Buffett

A habit is something you can do without thinking — which is why most of us have so many of them.
Frank A. Clark

Habits are safer than rules; you don't have to watch them. And you don't have to keep them either. They keep you.
Frank Crane

We're worn into grooves by Time — by our habits. In the end, these grooves are going to show whether we've been second rate or champions.
Frank B. Gilbreth

Winners have simply formed the habit of doing things losers don't like to do.
Albert E.N. Gray

A habit is like old-fashioned adhesive tape — easy to stick on, but the longer it stays the harder it is to get off, until finally, when it’s ripped off, it takes skin and all with it.
Sydney J. Harris

The beginning of a habit is like an invisible thread, but every time we repeat the act we strengthen the strand, add to it another filament, until it becomes a great cable and binds us irrevocably.
Orison Swett Marden

It's like magic. When you live by yourself, all your annoying habits are gone!
Merrill Markoe

The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones.
W. Somerset Maugham

Incredibly, many people continue their old life-style, their habits, even if they feel miserable, lonely, bored, inadequate, or abused. Why? Of course ... because habit is an easy place to hide.
Tom Rusk

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
Jim Ryun

Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.
Mark Twain

A bad habit never disappears miraculously; it's an undo-it-yourself project.
Abigail Van Buren

(Note: These quotations are from our collection of more than 425 published volumes of quotations and 1.5 million entries. If you're looking for quotes on virtually any subject, send us an email at bob@kellygram.com, or call us at 480-895-7617. Or, if you have a quote topic you'd like us to feature in an upcoming issue, email it to us and we'll get it on the schedule.)

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LOREN EKROTH’S TIPS ON CHANGING HABITS!

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Consider the positive and negative consequences of a habit you've identified. Write the name of the habit at the top of a sheet of paper, draw a line down the center, then list the plusses and minuses of repeating that habit. Also, list any rewards for eliminating the habit. Thinking about a habit makes it more conscious, and awareness is a solvent to reduce the power of habits.

Think of an alternative behavior to use. Replacing a habit with a more helpful behavior will help you eliminate it. The new habit will "crowd out" the old one.

Write down your goal and read it daily, at least once in the morning. Read over the rewards for making the change. As a reminder that you’re seeking to change your behavior, install a reminder "trigger," such as wearing your watch on the other wrist. For a bit of extra "zing," some habit-changers put a rubber band on their wrist and give it a brisk snap whenever they catch themselves expressing the unwanted habit.

Give yourself time to install the change. Usually two or three weeks is sufficient. Habits that have been exercised for years don’t yield to instant change, but each day of mindful practice will weaken the old habit and strengthen the new one.

Use the "five-penny" method to practice. Put five pennies in one pocket and move a penny to another pocket each time you've practiced a new skill to replace an unwanted habit. No pockets? Use a coin purse instead and move a penny into another purse for each practice time. Over time, you'll have fewer chances to practice because you’ll have weakened and maybe eliminated the unwanted habit.

Sometimes old habits will reappear even when we think we have made a permanent change. Don't be deterred if this happens. Under conditions of stress, we humans tend to revert to old ways. Rethink your goal and begin again.

(Editor’s Note: Loren Ekroth, known as Dr. Conversation, publishes an excellent ezine, Better Conversations. For a free subscription, visit www.conversationmatters.com.)

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KIND WORDS FOR OUR NEW BOOK!

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As I announced last month, my new book: The Best of Success: A Treasury of Inspiration, beautifully illustrated in full color and written in conjunction with Mac Anderson, founder and CEO of Simple Truths, LLC, is now available on the Simple Truths web site, www.simpletruths.com.

Each of the book’s 25 chapters focuses on a specific characteristic of success, opening with a story about someone who demonstrated that characteristic, followed by about 20 quotations which support it. The stories are of the famous and the obscure, of men and women of various ethnic backgrounds and nationalities, each of whom traveled a different path on the journey to success.

We’ve already had some positive feedback about the book. Veteran publishing consultant and literary agent Gary Foster wrote: "What a delight to open today’s mail and find a copy of The Best of Success. Not only is it a beautiful book, but the stories and quotes are packed with compelling power. This is a book I’m sure you are extremely proud of."

G. Armour Van Horn, publisher of the excellent "Quotes of the Day" ezine, included this brief review in his December 28 issue: "Longtime Quotes of the Day reader and fellow quote collector (he actually has more than I do) Bob Kelly has just published a beautiful book on the 25 building blocks of success. Teamed with businessman and author Mac Anderson, the book includes inspirational anecdotes, stunning photography, and over 350 quotes."

Tracey Jones, daughter of the late Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, who succeeded her father as president of Tremendous Life Books, wrote: "I got the book yesterday. It is gorgeous and I love the way you’ve put it together."

You may preview the book at www.simpletruths.com, and order copies by clicking the following link: http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=17824&userID=344748&productID=468240100"

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SMILE AWHILE

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High School Sweethearts

George and Edith had been high school sweethearts 50 years ago, but had gone their separate ways after graduation. Then, two years ago, their paths crossed again, and they began seeing each other regularly. With age 70 just around the corner, they decided life was too short, and they might as well spend the rest of their lives together.

Excited about their decision to marry, they went for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and found themselves in front of a drugstore. George said "Let’s go in. I have an idea."

Addressing the man behind the counter, George asked, "Are you the owner?" The pharmacist answered, "Yes sir, I am. How can I help you?"

George: "Do you sell heart medications?"
Pharmacist: "Of course."

George: "How about support hose?"
Pharmacist: "Definitely."

George: "What about medications for rheumatism, osteoporosis and arthritis?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds."

George: "How about waterproof furniture pads and Depends?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, sir."

George: "Hearing aids, denture supplies and reading glasses?"
Pharmacist: "Yes."

George: "What about eye drops, sleeping pills, Geritol, Preparation-H and Ex-Lax?"
Pharmacist: "Absolutely."

George: "You sell wheelchairs, walkers and canes?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, indeed. But why all these questions?"

George smiled, glanced shyly at Edith and replied, "We’ve decided to get married and we’d like to use your store as our Bridal Registry."

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ODDS AND ENDS

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Back Issues:

All previous issues of The KellyGram, dating back to January 2003, are available on our website: http://www.wordcrafters.info/back_issues.html.

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Comments/Questions:

Your comments and questions are always welcome. Please contact us at bob@kellygram.com, or call Bob Kelly at (480) 895-7617.

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FUN WITH WORDS

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Here are the answers to this month’s puzzle:

	Column 1		Column 2
	1. Edgar Allan Poe		C. Wrote "The Raven"
	2. Lewis Carroll		E. "Looking Glass" author
	3. Horatio Alger		F. Wrote "rags to riches" stories
	4. Jack London		G. Wrote "The Call of the Wild"
	5. Carl Sandburg		B. Lincoln biographer
	6. Jacob Grimm		D. "Fairy Tales" co-author
	7. Alan Alexander Milne		A. "Winnie" author

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THE LAST WORD

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"We are ruled by our habits. When habits are young they are like lion cubs, soft, fluffy, funny, frolicsome little animals. They grow day by day. Eventually they rule you. Choose ye this day the habit ye would have to rule over you."
(Elbert Hubbard)

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