God, Guns, & Rock'N'Roll

I just finished the first book that I have read in a long time - "God, Guns, & Rock'N'Roll" by Ted Nugent. Now I know that I probably don't sound like someone that would read a book by Ted Nugent, but I have to admit, I really liked this book. Based on the fact that the word guns is in the title, I knew that he would be talking about guns. Not only does he address guns, but a lot of what he talks about is hunting, something that I know barely anything about. But I've got to hand it to him - his writing really changed my mind on a lot of things.

I have never really had an opinion about guns, other than the fact that I am terrified of them. It may be because I have never taken a gun safety course, or because I don't know anything about them, but I have never been a huge fan. Not only that, but I never saw a need to have a gun since I don't hunt. But Ted Nugent managed to change my mind. After reading this book, not only would I like to learn how to shoot a gun (and maybe even own one), but I also would love to give hunting a try. He and I are both on the same page when it comes to enjoying nature and that may have played a key part in his ability to write so beautifully.

This book is not only for those who hunt or use guns, but is a great book for those who do not. I never thought that this book would have any sort of message for me since I didn't hunt or shoot for fun, but I was completely wrong. Not only did the book get me interested in those things, but it taught me more about discipline, family, adventure, nature, food, and passion. I definitely give this book an A+ for not only opening my eyes and the wonderful writing, but for being a book that almost anyone can relate to.

Quotes

Since I was a freshman in high school, I have had a fascination with quotes. I'm not sure what it is about quotes in general - the way they can make you feel, the way they can empower you or lift you up, and the way they can inspire you is probably what I like about them most. They can make you think about things you normally push aside and they can come from any source.

When I was in the 9th grade, my English teacher had a bunch of quotes that she was trying to get organized. I knew that she needed help with that, so I volunteered to help her with it. I would sit at her computer for a couple of hours after school and type quotes into categories and whatnot. Of course, I would read the quotes as I was typing them into the computer, and it just made me feel inspired and thoughtful. It really brought out a side of me that I didn't know existed: I was hooked and now had a passion for all things "quotes."

I do have some favorite quotes that I thought I would share with you:

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
- Martha Washington

"Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits."

"Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal." - Mike Ditka

"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." - Henry David Thoreau

"In the end, what we regret the most are the chances we never took."

"A kiss is a nice trick devised by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."

And probably my all time favorite one (at least for now) is:

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."


If you've got any quotes that you enjoy, go ahead and share them. We can always use a little inspiration.

Life

Oh life and all its glory. Have you ever spent time just completely absorbed in the sounds of nature or the beauty that surrounds you? I know that I have a habit of taking things for granted and how beautiful the world is just happens to be one of those things. It's gorgeous outside today - 80 degrees F with a slight breeze, partly cloudy, not too humid. I should probably be outside enjoying the weather, but since I am not feeling 100%, I am inside with my back door open enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. I love that sometimes it doesn't make a lot of noise, but every once in a while, I will hear a car drive by or the sound of a child calling to her friends. Sometimes in the distance, I will hear someone mowing their lawn and the sound of the rustling of the trees is magical. I must sound like I am on some sort of drug to feel so in tune with nature, but it's really one of those things that I love about life. I think we all go through life not really paying attention to the world around us because we are so busy dealing with the problems and situations of our lives. But sometimes, all we need is a few moments of solitude to look around - look outside and appreciate the beauty of the world.