It was compiled at the end of last century but it seems so much is relevant today.  It is a book of quotes.  In this day when I see what I consider are the excesses of social media, I thought immediately of the words of the song, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
“The right to do something does not mean doing it is right” By William Safire and “My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular” by Adali E. Stevenson says it all for me.
There were what I consider random quotes that I really liked. “a society that values its privileges above it’s principles soon loses both” by Dwight Eisenhower and “it is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken from you” by Dick Cheney seem to me to be very relevant today.
One that immediately had me think of a song I particularly like was, “freedom is the right to choose the habits that bind you” by a Renate Rubenstein.  The song I like contained the words “you set me free with that ball and chain.”  Cicero said, “we are in bondage to the law, in order to be free.”  Igor Stravinsky put it this way, “if everything would be permitted to me, I would be lost in this abyss of freedom.
I totally believe in free choice, and I also  know that not all choices are good ones.  A child is told not to put its hand on a hot plate not to limit but to warn.
The quotes I am drawn to include, “the function of freedom is to free somebody else” by Toni Morrison and “loving someone else more than you love yourself, that’s freedom” by Malcolm Muggeridge.  The reason I like those quotes is I am a big believer in putting others before oneself.  That sounds noble but I have really found that by seeing the needs of others met my own are.

Here we are over “hump” day.
Wednesday has come and gone.  We had our market first thing Wednesday morning.  We had a good chat to different ones while providing bargains for sale.  We aim for a certain amount which all goes to a food pantry that runs at the same time.  We made it.  What had not sold in the five hours we offered it (Wednesdays and Saturdays) we take to the Treasure Market.  It is hoped that items available to a wider audience will sell.
We also offer cloths for free (though I am trying to put a lid on cloths donations as we are getting inundated, and we have limited storage.)  I must admit free cloths prove to be very popular.
After our trip to the Treasure Market we head off for lunch at a local joint.  That is something we look forward to.  We also often get a few items needed from a local Woolies before we head home.  At home we have a rest before getting into preparing for going out that evening.
This week is also Menzone Saturday in the month.  That happens once a month.  I have guys over for breakfast, a chat and a talk by someone organized beforehand.  It has proven to be popular, and I am looking at using today to reorganize the set up to allow for more to sit together while eating and having a chin wag.  Guys who have never been before have said they want to come.  What happens remains to be seen, but I set up as though it will be.
Merril has an appointment early this morning and will get the sausages waiting for me (that I forgot to pick up).  Merril will also use the time later to clean up the BBQ area.  Ok it looks ok to me, but when Merril does a clean up it is a real clean up and I am always glad she did it.
I was looking forward to time off after that, but I have asked myself why.  When I think of the coming week, I have things to do every day except next Thursday (which I have designated my day off).
Still I would have it no other way.  I love what I do and time off is not just Thursdays but often between events.   I find the best way to grow as a person is to do.  There are plenty of opportunities to do.

I find it interesting the sorts of things that come to mind.  Something I read reminded me of what I heard a Captain in the Army say decades ago.  I have never forgotten it.  He mentioned something the army did.  I have forgotten the conflict he was talking about, but I do remember the principle.
He mentioned “active patrolling.” In that instant it involved troops patrolling no mans land.  The traditional concept is that no mans land is seen as belonging to neither side.  If any-one ventures there from either side they get picked off by the enemy  (though there was a famous incident where at Christmas two sides declared a truce and celebrated Christmas with each other in no mans land.  The next day hostilities recommenced.)
What the Australuan soldiers were doing was patrolling no mans land like it was theirs.  It meant they held more ground.
The reason I think I thought of that is that so often I feel like I am maintaining rather than advancing.  I may have advanced to claim what I claim but instead of my efforts going towards more, they are going towards what I have.
I reckon for some this sort of thing does not matter.  But to me it does.  I feel I can drift and “go with the flow” or I can work towards my goals and make them happen.  Making them happen involves vigilance and ongoing activity.
It seems to me I am at my most vulnerable when I stop looking forward.  No doubt I need to ensure I hold what I have, and ensure supply lines are in order.  But I have seen it with empires and think it is true for me as an individual too, that comfortable is vulnerable.  I may enjoy a time of tranquillity, but the enemy is at the gate.
What I want is to be at the enemies gate.  R&R matters as does not over-extending, but I reckon one of the most dangerous things I can do is declare pre-mature victory.  I am a work in progress.  There are things about me that need changing for the better.
I do not bemoan what is not mine, but, where legitimate, I work to make it mine.