February 11, 2019
Good morning dearest readers.
Thank you for tolerating our few days off. Writing is an interesting activity. It is not physically taxing, but every now and the mind needs a rest, too.
It’s good to be back, though. Today the Almanac visits two events in the 1990s and Top of the Charts is from 1978. Philosophy 101 has some drivel about believing in yourself.
Many thanks for stopping by, and have a good day.
xoxoxo
Kaitlyn
THE DAILY ALMANAC
On This Date:
In 1990 – Nelson Mandela is released from a South African prison, after 27 years of captivity for having the nerve to protest racist conditions in his country. Mandela earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was president of South Africa from 1994-99. He died in 2013 and his full name was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, with the middle name meaning ‘troublemaker’ in Xhosa.
In 1999 – Pluto – after 20 years inside of Neptune’s orbit – crosses the orbit of Neptune and once again becomes the farthest planet from the sun. The planets are not in any danger of colliding, however, as they travel on different planes and will never be in the same place at the same time. Pluto will again duck inside Neptune’s orbit in 2227.
Top of the Charts
#1 songs on this date in 1978:
Hot 100 – Stayin’ Alive…The Bee Gees (2nd of four weeks)
Soul Chart – Theme from Which Way is Up…Stargard (2nd of two weeks)
Country Chart – I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love…Larry Gatlin (only week)
Album Chart – Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack…Various Artists (4th of 24 weeks)
– Chart data courtesy of Billboard.
Numbers Racket
10,643: the continuous number of days the US has been at war.
21.971: the number of dollars, in trillions, of America’s national debt. – Source: usdebtclock.org
638: days until Election Day 2020.
Philosophy 101
…never think that you are not good enough yourself…My belief is that in life people will take you very much at your own reckoning.
Anthony Trollope
There is no substitute for confidence: you must believe you have what it takes. It doesn’t matter the endeavor, either. It could be a tryout for the church choir or making a quilt for the county fair next summer or preparing for the Olympic Trials. Sometimes the difference between champion and runner-up is the champions deep-seated believe in himself. Nobody – and nobody means no one – will believe in you as much you do. Your mother and a good spouse will try but, really, no one believes in you as you do.
Now, we must confuse confidence with cockiness. The former is earned, born deep inside and forged in the fire of experience. The latter is mere conceit, born of arrogance and forged in ignorance and does neither you or me any good.
People will take us often how we take ourselves. How many times have you drawn conclusions about someone based on how they conducted or presented themselves? Probably a lot. Perhaps it was an opponent or someone you were interviewing for a job, how they projected themselves gave you a first impression, one that was probably pretty accurate. It’s the same for us. If we’re confident, if we look the part, if we exude energy and purpose people will sense that. If we’re slouched, or unenthusiastic or otherwise giving the impression of not being interested or caring, people will sense that, too.
Those that get on in this life put themselves in a position to succeed, and a big part of being in a position to succeed is believing you will succeed.
Anthony Trollope (1815-82) was an English writer.