4 Things I Loved, Learned, Celebrated, and Let Go of This Month
{Share 4 Somethings - August 2025}
Each month I share 4 somethings that I have:
- Loved
- Learned
- Went well
- Let go of
And then I link up with Jenn.
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Something I loved
- A NEW KINDLE PAPERWHITE
After only 3 years, my newest Kindle became painfully slow and glitchy. I know they aren’t meant to last forever (I bought my first one in 2010), but this third one seemed too short-lived to me. Maybe I wore it completely out? I did use it every single day. (And I’ve given up on trying to reduce my Kindle samples.)
(And I tried again here last year.)
But regardless, it is what it is. So I bought another Kindle Paperwhite to replace it. And I’m loving how fast and responsive it is again.
While paper books will always remain my first loves, my Kindle is a very, very close second. It travels with me everywhere.
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Something I’m learning
- THE MAN IN THE ARENA
Eleven years ago, when I first read Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly (2012), I was introduced to a powerful excerpt that has stayed with me: Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” passage, from a speech he delivered in 1910 in Paris, France.
Recently, in another book I was reading, the author mentioned that her father had memorized the passage and often quoted it to her. That did it for me—I knew I had to add it to my list of quotes to memorize.
I started memorizing it three weeks ago. I even asked AI to build me a memory plan—some of its strategies I’m using, some I’m not. I’ve got the first half memorized (I have to go slowly!).
Here’s the excerpt I’m learning, divided up for my own purposes:
1-It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
2-or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
3-The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
4-who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
5-but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
6-who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
7-and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
8-so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
It’s a timeless reminder that what matters most is not the critic, but the person who dares to step into the arena.
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Something that went well
- AN 85TH BIRTHDAY
On Sunday, my father-in-law turned 85 years old (my mother-in-law is 86). Despite major heart surgery a few years back, he is amazingly healthy. He even bounced back from a recent case of COVID while they were vacationing at the beach for a week, a trip they take frequently.
To celebrate, we enjoyed visiting together sharing fresh brownies, ice cream, and caramel syrup—a simple but sweet way to mark the occasion. I’m grateful for the gift of such wonderful in-laws.
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Something I let go of
- SAYING GOODBYE TO MARCIA
The same day we celebrated life, we also grieved a loss. My friend Marcia passed away on Sunday. She was younger than me, but she had been in failing health the past few months. Even though she had been telling us that the end was very near, I didn’t fully believe it. Maybe I just didn’t want to believe it.
Earlier in the week, she gave me one of her most prized possessions—a musical angel that had belonged to her mother. I felt honored by the gift and promised I would take care of it.
Marcia will be missed by many of us.
What is something you are loving, learning, has gone well, or had to let go of this month?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
I’m linking at these blog parties
I am not sure I have ever heard “The Man in the Arena,” though it’s teasing at something just out of memory’s reach. It makes a valid point. Though it’s important to think through and evaluate things, sometimes I do wonder, when I hear critics, “Well, what are YOU doing about the issue?”
Happy birthday to your father-in-law! Jim and I much prefer low-key celebrations like that, too.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your friend. What a neat idea to give treasured keepsakes to loved ones ahead of time.
I love the video, as always. It was especially fun to see your grandson playing with the salad spinner. 🙂
What a worthwhile quote to memorize, Lisa, and one I’d never read before. Definitely an inspiration! Glad you could celebrate your father-in-law’s birthday together, but so sad that your friend, Marcia, passed away . That angel she gave you is a priceless reminder of the friendship you shared.
Blessings always!
I love that quote too. I also like a similar Roosevelt quote: “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” I had that one pinned up on my wall for a long time. (It’s also easier to memorize. :-))
I am so sorry to read about the loss of your friend. How lovely that you have such a beautiful heirloom to help keep the memory of her near. It sounds like a lovely birthday celebration. You can never go wrong with brownie sundaes!
What a beautiful celebration with your in-laws! I’m so sad to hear about your dear friend, Marcia. Gifts given at the end of life are so precious; it says a lot that she trusted you with something from her mother. I had to update my Kindle this year, and it’s nice to have it working well. 🙂 And I always enjoy your one-second videos.
so sorry for the loss of your friend. so many emotions in this post, good ones too. I love it that you are memorizing that quote. I have memorized things but never really considered finding a memorable saying like this to tuck into my heart. What a good idea. mmm, not to find just the right one. You certainly found a very powerful inspiring one.
We’ve had a similar week Lisa. We saw a family member pass into glory this week, like you it was much quicker than we thought.
I posted a tribute to her on my blog.
I enjoyed your family video.
Blessings, Jennifer
Freshly painted walls…very nice! Loved all the pictures of the little guy (who isn’t so little anymore).
When our Kindle (that lasted for 25 years) decided to finally give up the ghost, we also went with the Kindle Paperwhite. Carroll especially loves it.
I’m sorry about the loss of your friend. What a special way to remember her.
Your in-laws are amazing!
Yay for the celebration of your FIL, 85 is great! I had to get a new Kindle a few years ago, and I updated to the new paperwhite at that time, and I don’t love it. I will use it until it dies, but I loved my older model better, it was more user friendly. I am SO sorry about the loss of your friend. While its great she is no longer suffering, it is always painful to say our good-byes.
My condolences on the loss of your friend, Lisa. What a lovely gesture to give you a prized possession. It could be a lovely idea to incorporate into my own life.
I love my Kindle and have a Paperwhite too but I too feel the need for a change. Let’s see if I can drop my husband enough of hints!
AI does make our life easier – I got it to make a set of affirmations for September based on my WOTY and my theme of the month.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. It’s fascinating and a little discouraging sometimes how one day can hold so much happiness and sadness together.
So sorry for the loss of your friend, how lovely that she gave you a keepsake to remember her by, though of course you will never forget her.
A friend of mine died this past month, too, she was OK, then she was weirdly ill and no one knew what was wrong with her, she rallied and then died. Hideously, her husband died suddenly last year, so now her four children are orphans (the youngest is 24). It’s hard as she was woven into the things I do locally (a local councillor, which is how I know her, and helping with our community centre project like I was).
In happier letting go news, I have found a home for my mother-in-law’s piano – she and her husband have moved into a nursing home and the house is being sold to pay for it, and there was the piano. I took that burden from my husband and his brother and Plan B appears to have worked …
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend but it’s lovely that she gave you a gift to help you remember her. I love the Theodore Roosevelt quote – that’s a good idea to memorise it. And your Kindle case is lovely, but I agree, three years doesn’t seem like a long time for a Kindle to last. I think I got mine in about 2012 and it is still going strong!