Inspiration

I don't know much about Ben Franklin. I learned about him throughout school, I know he invented bi-focals and the printing press, I know he helped write the Declaration of Independence, and I know he wrote Poor Richard's Almanac. Other than that, I don't really know the guy. Back in school he was just another old colonial dude to me.

A few months ago I came across a quote of his, "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." I remember hearing it before, and like I hear most things, it passed through my mind without reflection. Lately it has been sticking in my thoughts, so I thought about it. Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today... hmm... do the stuff today that needs done, not tomorrow... makes sense. Logical statement.

Then I thought, well maybe it's not just everyday things that need done. Maybe it's anything; everything. It's telling people how you feel, or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Maybe it's writing a novel. And maybe it's just not good things, maybe it's hard things too. Reporting the screams from next door, or leaving an abusive situation. Maybe it's getting help for an addiction, or making an appointment with a counselor.

Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today. Do it today. Whatever needs done, whatever you've been telling yourself to do someday, good or bad, easy or hard, do it today.

I know I will be.

After I fully reflected on and appreciated this quote, I looked up some of his other quotes.

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth reading or do things worth the writing."

"You may delay, but time will not."

"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle."

"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move."

"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do."

"Each year one vicious habit discarded, in time might make the worst of us good. "

"He that displays too often his wife and his wallet is in danger of having both of them borrowed."

Tip of the iceberg. How is it that no school teacher had ever told me how brilliant and witty this man was? Fools! I am now bent on researching and learning more about good ol' Benny. His words make sense and give me some much needed inspiration.