Ray's Daily

I love your smile!

“I was smiling yesterday, I am smiling today and I will smile tomorrow.

Simply because life is too short to cry for anything.”

Santosh Kalwar,

 

Yesterday was really busy and also rewarding. It started with my meeting a friend who has spent the last few years often away from home because the job included many visits around the country and overseas. We talked about how she was in the process of getting her life back in balance. I knew the feeling as years ago my work dominated my life to the point I was missing far too much; my family, my community. It seemed as if the world around me did not exist. I, like my friend decided the price was too much to pay and I was truly rewarded when I made the change.

Later in the day I met with one of my favorite people, the head of a professional theatre company. It was fun to share in the excitement of his and his fellow actors plans to offer another season of unique enjoyment to their audiences by providing outstanding entertainment. He, like my friend earlier in the day has chosen to live a full life as he balances his profession with his family and personal enrichment. He and his talented wife could have chosen to stay in New York but came to us instead and for that I am grateful.

I left both meetings with a smile on my face and who knows what that might of done. Trust me never underestimate the magic that a smile can create.

 

SMILE!!!!!

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger…

The smile seemed to make him feel better…

He remembered past kindnesses of a friend

And wrote him a thank you letter…

The friend was so pleased with the thank you

That he left a large tip after lunch…

The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,

Bet the whole thing on a hunch…

The next day she picked up her winnings,

And gave part to a man on the street…

The man on the street was grateful;

For two days he’d had nothing to eat…

After he finished his dinner,

He left for his small dingy room…

He didn’t know at that moment

That he might be facing his doom…

On the way he picked up a shivering puppy

And took him home to get warm…

The puppy was very grateful

To be in out of the storm…

That night the house caught on fire…

The puppy barked the alarm…

He barked till he woke the whole household

And saved everybody from harm…

One of the boys that he rescued

Grew up to be President…

All this because of a simple smile

That hadn’t cost a cent…

Written by: Barbara Hauck

~~~

A young woman was having a physical examination and was very embarrassed because of a weight problem. As she removed her last bit of clothing, she blushed. “I’m so ashamed, Doctor,” she said, “I guess I let myself go.”

The physician was checking hers eyes and ears. “Don’t feel ashamed, Miss.  You don’t look that bad.”

“Do you really think so, Doctor?” she asked.

The doctor held a tongue depressor in front of her face and said, “Of course. Now just open your mouth and say “Moo!”

~~~

“Jack, will you still love me when my hair is grey?” asks Rachel.

“Of course,” says Jack. “I’ve loved you through blonde, brunette, red and every other color. Why not grey?”

~~~

An optometrist was instructing a new employee on how to charge a customer.

“As you are fitting his glasses, if he asks how much they cost, you say ‘$75.’

If his eyes don’t flutter, say, ‘For the frames. The lenses will be $50.’

If his eyes still don’t flutter, you add ‘Each.'”

~~~

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quietest voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow”.

Paulette Tuers

~~~

Irving walked into a lawyer’s office and inquired about the lawyer’s rates.

“$150 for three questions,” replied the lawyer.

“Isn’t that awfully steep?” asked Morris.

“Yes,” the lawyer replied, “and what was your third question?”

~~~

Hold fast to time! Use it! Be conscious of each day, each hour! They slip away unnoticed all too easily and swiftly.

Thomas Mann

~~~

An old nun who was living in a convent next to a Brooklyn construction site noticed the coarse language of the workers and decided to spend some time with them to correct their ways. She decided she would take her lunch sit with the workers and talk with them. She put her sandwich in a brown bag and walked over to the spot where the men were eating.

She walked up to the group and with a big smile said : . . .  “Do you men know Jesus Christ?”

They shook their heads and looked at each other. One of the workers looked up into the steelwork and yelled “Anybody up there know Jesus Christ?”

One of the steelworkers asked why.

The worker yelled “His wife is here with his lunch”.

~~~

Life is a paradise for those who love many things with a passion.

Leo Buscaglia

~~~

Old Jacob Johnson, a raging hypochondriac, was convinced that the pain on his left side was appendicitis.  Mrs Johnson explained that his appendix is on the right.

“So, aha!  THAT’s why it hurts so much….” said Jacob.

“My appendix is on the wrong side!”

~~~

“Peace begins with a smile.”

Mother Teresa

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

Do them a favor, say no.

The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time.

Richard Cech

If you are like I am you find it really hard to say no when someone asks you to do something. Regrettably saying yes when you should say no can create major problems. Too often when we think we are already loaded down we agree to take on an additional burden only to find we just can’t do it all and so we end up either letting something else slip or we fail to do as well as we could. It gets even worse we get so stressed out that we become even less capable. It is so much better to only say yes when you can make the time to do it well and exceeding the expectations of others.

I know far too many people who always say yes and regularly miss deadlines or produce shoddy work. It does not take long for these folks to get a reputation of unreliability. Unfortunately I am speaking from experience as I have been guilty in the past of thinking I could do more than I could. It is so much better to do fewer things and do them well while keeping your word than it is to load yourself up with so much that you never get a break causing you to flounder. Trust me the best you can do for the people who ask is to say no when you can’t deliver.

Here are a few ways you can say no when it is the right thing to do:

“I’M REALLY NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB” If you don’t feel that you have adequate skills to take on a task, that’s okay. It’s better to admit your limitations up front than feel overwhelmed down the road.

“I JUST DON’T HAVE ANY ROOM IN MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW” Be honest if your schedule is filled — and “filled” doesn’t have to mean really FILLED! It just means you have scheduled as much as you are willing and you’re stopping.

“I WOULD RATHER DECLINE THAN END UP DOING A MEDIOCRE JOB” Knowing that you aren’t able to deliver a quality product — for whatever reason — is reason enough for turning a request down.

“I’M REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE RIGHT NOW” People act ashamed of wanting to spend time with their families — like it means they don’t have goals. Having a strong family is a goal in and of itself!

“I REALLY DON’T ENJOY THAT KIND OF WORK” Who said you were supposed to enjoy your chores and assignments?! Well, if you don’t enjoy them, why do them? Life isn’t about drudgery and boredom.

“I CAN’T, BUT I’M HAPPY TO HELP OUT WITH ANOTHER TASK” If someone asks you to do something you really despise, refuse — but then offer to help with something you find more enjoyable or stimulating.

“I HATE TO SPLIT MY ATTENTION AMONG TOO MANY PROJECTS” Let people know that you want to do a good job for them — but that you can’t when your focus is too divided or splintered.

“NO” Sometimes it’s okay just to say no! Just make sure that you say it in a way that expresses respect and courtesy — that leaves the door open for good relations.

~~~

It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

Aesop

~~~

In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery:

Here lies an Atheist

All dressed up

And no place to go.

~~~

On my recent birthday my wife gave me a superb birthday present. She let me win an argument.

~~~

Four retired Army vets are walking down the street window shopping. Then they turn a corner and see a sign that says “Veterans Bar” over the doorway of an entry into an establishment that doesn’t look all that well kept up. They look at each other then go in. On the inside, they realize in this case, they could judge the ‘book by it’s cover’.

The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, “Come on in and let me pour one for you! What’ll it be, gentlemen?” There seems to be a fully stocked bar so the men all ask for a martini. In short time the bartender serves up 4 iced martinis – shaken not stirred and says, “That’ll be 40 cents, please.” The four men stare at the bartender for a moment then look at each other – they can’t believe their good luck. They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis and or! der another round. Again, four excellent martinis are produced with ! the bartender again saying, “That’s 40 more cents, please.”

They pay the 40 cents but their curiosity is more than they can stand. They’ve each had two martinis and so far they’ve spent less than a dollar. Finally one of the men says, “How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime a piece?”

The bartender replies, “No doubt you’ve noticed the decor in here. And the outside ain’t nothin’ to write home about. I don’t waste money on that stuff. But, here’s my story. I’m a retired Master Sargent and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the lottery for $45 million and decided to open this place for real veterans. Every drink costs a dime, wine, liquor, beer, all the same.”

“Wow. That’s quite a story.” says one of the men. The four of them sipped at their martinis and couldn’t help but notice three other guys at the end of the! bar who didn’t have a drink in front of them and hadn’t ordered anything the whole time they were there. One man finished his martini and, gestured at the three at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, “What’s with them?”

The bartender says, “Oh, those are retired Hoosiers. They’re waiting for happy hour

~~~

Jewish Marriage advice “Don’t marry a beautiful person. They may leave you. Of course, an ugly person may leave you too. But who cares?”

~~~

At a diner, I was standing in line to pay my bill behind two women who handed the young waitress a credit card.  After swiping the card, she loudly called out to her manager, “Mr. Allen, what do I do if it says ‘reject’?”

As the women’s faces reddened and customers turned to look, Mr. Allen, also the cook, calmly walked out from the kitchen.  “Well,” he answered, the first thing you do is shout it out loud enough to embarrass the customer, who might have been thinking about leaving you a tip.”

~~~

A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.

~~~

The sad thing is that I can relate to some of the following:

Three old guys were out walking.

First one says. “Windy isn’t it? “

Second one says, “No its Thursday”!!

Third one says. “So am I. Lets go get a beer”

~~~

A man is telling a friend about his recent divorce. “Yeah, she divorced me for her religious reasons. She worshipped money and I didn’t have any.”

~~~

I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That’s my idea of a perfect day.

~~~

“The happiness of too many days is often destroyed by trying to accomplish too much in one day. We would do well to follow a common rule for our daily lives – DO LESS, AND DO IT BETTER.”

Dale E. Turner

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

I keep learning!

For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh…

St. Paul

 

One of my all-time favorite people is Gene Glick who is an old acquaintance of mine. Gene has been one of our countries most successful developers and in later years one of our cities leading philanthropists. I learned many things from Gene over the years but what I appreciate most was his suggesting more than thirty years ago that I listen to books on tape. Gene at the time listened while he shaved, listened as he helicoptered around the country visiting his developments and whenever he had free time.

I view his suggestion as one of the greatest gifts I have ever received for ever since I have been listening in my car, on the tread mill when I exercise, in airplanes and like Gene whenever I get the chance. First it was on tapes, later CD’s and now I carry an Ipod Nano that is always loaded with a number of unabridged books that I have downloaded from Audible.com. Many are mysteries which are a great form of escape and relaxation for me but some are more substantive. Right now I am listening to “The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom” written by Jonathan Haidt and I am really glad I am. The book has helped me to see that many of my life long perceptions needed to be reviewed and verified since I now have learned so much about we humans. What is especially rewarding is the feeling I have of greater understanding and tolerance of the people I have met and especially those I care about. Since it has had such an impact on me you might consider either getting the audio edition or the book to see if it does for you what it is doing for me. Here is a recent review that will tell you more.

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

“Exceptional synthesis of psychology and philosophy”

The publisher’s title for and capsule summary of “The Happiness Hypothesis” doesn’t do full justice to the exceptional range of learning, research, and wisdom that combine in this book. It’s not pop psychology or a generic self-help book: Haidt is a professor in the Psychology Department at the U. of Virginia, and a leading researcher in the “moral emotions”. His working hypothesis is that human moral systems have underpinnings in evolutionary biology, but he’s as far from being a reductionist as possible. Instead he believes it’s impossible to understand morality, and by extension happiness, without examining their history in human cultures and religions.

Haidt covers a tremendous range of interwoven topics: the history of Western moral philosophy; ideas of virtue and the sacred in Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism; child development and parent-child bonding in relation to the moral emotions; modern neuroscience and the biological foundations of behavior; and the role of trauma and adversity in personal growth. He is especially gifted at explaining things in everyday language, avoiding jargon and carefully defining and illustrating new terminology.

~~~

The whole universe is change and life itself is but what you deem it.

Marcus Aurelius

~~~

A 3rd-grade girl came home from school. She was very happy, and her Mom noticed

this.  Mom asked, “What makes you so happy today?”

The girl said, “Mom, we learned how to make babies in school today!”

Thinking that 3rd grade was a bit early for that, she asked her daughter to tell her how.

“It’s easy, Mom — you just drop the y, and add ies,” the daughter said.

~~~

You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and shut-up.

~~~

QUESTIONS I’VE WONDERED ABOUT

Do people in Australia call the rest of the world “up over”?

Does killing time damage eternity?

Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?

Why is it that night falls and day breaks?

Why is it that when you are driving and looking for an address, you turn down the radio?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Do pilots take crash courses?

How can there be self-help “groups”?

~~~

Why is it when you turn on the TV you see ads for telephone companies, and when you turn on the radio you hear ads for TV shows, and when you get put on hold on the phone you hear a radio station?

~~~

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.  After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

~~~

“Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?”

George Carlin

~~~

The bartender asks the guy sitting at the bar, “What’ll you have?” The guy answers, “A scotch, please.” The bartender hands him the drink, and says “That’ll be five dollars,” to which the guy replies, “What are you talking about?  I don’t owe you anything for this.”

A lawyer, sitting nearby and overhearing the conversation, then says to the bartender, “You know, he’s got you there.  In the original offer, which constitutes a binding contract upon acceptance, there was no stipulation of remuneration.”

The bartender was not impressed, but says to the guy, “Okay, you beat me for a drink.  But don’t ever let me catch you in here again.”

The next day, same guy walks into the bar.  Bartender says, “What the heck are you doing in here?  I can’t believe you’ve got the audacity to come back!”

The guy says, “What are you talking about?  I’ve never been in this place in my life!” The bartender replies, “I’m very sorry, but this is uncanny.  You must have a double.”

To which the guy replies, “Thank you.  Make it a scotch.”

~~~

Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?

Jesus

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

Don’t worry, I’ve got it, you go have fun

Be safe! Have fun! But more importantly; just live your life to the fullest!

Hey we have a weekend coming up, how about we have some fun and enjoy the next couple of days. I’ll even do all your worrying for you so you can set your problems aside for a while. Don’t be like those who have convinced themselves that they are too busy or even worse forgotten how to let go and enjoy life.

I wonder sometimes if too many of us have been conditioned to believe that only the biggest, the flashiest, most expensive or currently fashionable will provide us enjoyment. I am afraid that when we chase that elusive brass ring we seldom get it and when we do find it turns out to not be all that great. What disappoints me is many of us waste our time in our work or chasing rainbows and then miss so much in life that has intrinsic joy that is only unleashed if we stop and let it work its magic.

As an example I would like to go to New York and see the latest Broadway Show or buy tickets to every road show that comes to my city but I have found that as often as not I did not enjoy what I see as much as I thought I would, of course I really can’t not afford too many in the first place. Fortunately I have found plenty of enjoyment in regional theater, both professional and amateur. I think my secret of enjoying so much of what I see is that I am ready to like the performers. Sadly some of my companions often expect to dislike what they see and only like it when the performers knock their socks off. Sometime I feel like knocking something else off of them when they try to tell me that I should not enjoy life as much as I do.

Want some enjoyment ideas? Try some of these:

Have a good meal. Don’t just eat. Taste it and appreciate its richness.

Feel music and not just listen to it.

Gather with old friends.

Take a walk in the park.

Go hiking.

Read a novel.

Find and watch a movie you like.

Give yourself a lazy day.

Play board games with your friends.

Have a candle-light dinner with your partner.

See beautiful pictures.

Read inspiring quotes.

Read a classic book.

Exercise with friends.

Watch funny videos.

Play with kids.

Have a cup of coffee.

Get a massage.

Go to a museum.

Go to a theater.

Watch sunrise.

Take pictures.

Browse your photo album for your treasured memories.

My bottom line, if you expect to enjoy the simple things in life you can, if you expect to be disappointed you will be. OK now I’ll tell you the truth, I will not worry for you this weekend I hired a professional fretter to worry for both you and me, so now go out and have fun, just don’t get arrested.

~~~

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

Dr. Seuss,

~~~

Boy do I buy into this one.

“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.”

Alfred Hitchcock

~~~

Little Nancy wailed over her doll, crushed by car tires when her mother had backed over it. Finally, her mother had heard enough, “Don’t come crying to me. I told you not to leave it on the porch!”

~~~

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”

Paul Boese

~~~

A man is driving with his wife at his side and his mother-in-law in the backseat.

The women just won’t leave him alone.

His mother-in-law says, “You’re driving too fast!”

His wife says, “Stay more to the left.”

After ten mixed orders, the man turns to his wife and asks, “Who’s driving this car – you or your mother?”

~~~

I saw a movie with a happy ending.  Everyone was glad it was over.

~~~

A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, “Daddy, you shouldn’t wear that suit.”

“And why not, darling?”

“You know that it always gives you a headache next morning.”

~~~

Did you know that dolphins are so intelligent that within only a few weeks of captivity, they can train Americans to stand at the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?

~~~

Things I’ve Learned From The Movies

Large, loft-style apartments in New York City are well within the price range of most people-whether they are employed or not.

Should you decide to defuse a bomb, don’t worry which wire to cut.  You will always choose the right one.

Most laptop computers are powerful enough to override the communications system of any invading alien society.

It does not matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts-your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one by dancing around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their predecessors.

If you are blonde and pretty, it is possible to become a world expert on nuclear fission at the age of 22.

Rather than wasting bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their archenemies using complicated machinery involving fuses, pulley systems, deadly gasses, lasers, and man-eating sharks, which will allow their captives at least 20 minutes to escape.

All beds have special L-shaped cover sheets that reach up to the armpit level on a woman but only to waist level on the man lying beside her.

All grocery shopping bags contain at least one loaf of French bread.

Once applied, makeup will never rub off-even while scuba diving.

A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds.

If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises in their most revealing underwear.

All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red readouts so you know exactly when they’re going to go off.

If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you meet will know all the steps.

When they are alone, all foreign military officers prefer to speak to each other in English.

~~~

There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them.

Charles D. Gill

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

Live NOW!

Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.

Horace

I am off to another full day of meetings and adventures. My day reminded me that a friend will be offering a course in a few months entitled “What to do when your things to do list is empty” and how lucky I am that my things to do list is always full. I hope the many that struggle with what to do next take advantage of the opportunity to learn from my friend. Boredom and inactivity can truly be debilitating. I consider myself really fortunate that my life has so much content. If you would like to brighten up the months and years ahead read the following article written by Dorothy Tannahill Moran, Life Coach and Change Agent and if you are not already living a full life you can start to do so today!.

 

8 Critical Skills for the 2nd Half of Life

Too many people are simply bored with their life. The boredom can create a downward spiral. The spiral can include depression, listlessness, hopelessness and many other negative feelings. Perhaps the biggest issue for a person in this situation is a sense that they don’t know what to do and so they do nothing. I’d like to present 8 critical skills that you need to develop now and keep finely tuned. These skills will help you avoid the negative spiral and keep you out of the traffic.

Skill #1: Dream about the future

You don’t need to sleep in order to dream. Spend time thinking BIG about your future life. If you have an unfulfilled dream from childhood, re-examine it as a place to start. What exists in your mind but is so exciting it scares you?

Skill #2: Eliminate barriers for your life dream

More than likely, you’re your own barrier. What is holding you back? I know of a thirty something that regrets not going to college. She thinks she’s too old to do it now. That is the kind of barrier I’m talking about. I have a friend that at 50+ is the “old man” in his political science department. He’s getting his Doctorate. No barrier there.

Skill #3: Attain purpose and meaning

Over 40 sometime, we start seeking purpose in new ways. Earlier in life, purpose was creating and establishing elements of life such as: spouse, children, house and career. Now that many of those are in place the purpose shifts. Purpose can be found in giving yourself and surrounding yourself with those things that nurture you. Explore. Find your purpose.

Skills #4 Empowered to choose life direction

Our future is more than the circumstances of our past. There are only 2 things you don’t have a choice over: death and taxes. Like the gal previously mentioned, she can choose what comes next. It’s your life, take charge of it.

Skill #5: Continuously learn new things

The benefits of learning are numerous. The primary benefit for you will be all the new opportunities that will open up. The possibilities are unlimited. You could learn a new skill, about new places, interests or attitudes. Basically, you will continue to grow. If you aren’t growing, you aren’t thriving.

Skill #6: Recognize what’s possible

Somewhere in our life we start shrinking the possibilities. Remember when you thought you could do pretty much anything? I went to a lecture by Dr. Wayne Dyer and listened to a young man play improvisational drums. He had no hands. He didn’t let that fact shrink him. He looked AND FOUND what was possible.

Skill #7: Learn from mistakes

Failure is a good thing IF you learn something in the process. It’s also good because it means you are striving toward something important. Failure can also be an attitude. I’ve read that Thomas Edison “failed” 10,000 times. He never considered himself a failure. He looked at these results as 10,000 chances to improve his work. If you haven’t failed recently, give it a try.

Skill #8: Cultivate meaningful relationships of trust and respect.

We find nourishment from others in our life. We are social creatures that need to give and receive of ourselves to others. Think of this concept like fabric. Fabric has many threads, going in different directions. The sum of the parts is stronger than any one thread.

~~~

“Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.”

Les Brown

~~~

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the person behind the wheel was knitting!

The trooper cranked down his window and yelled to the driver, “PULL OVER!”

“NO!” the driver yelled back, “SCARF.”

~~~

Conscience is what hurts when everything else feels so good.

~~~

A distraught patient phoned her doctor’s office. “Is it true,” the woman wanted to know, “that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the woman continued, “I wonder then, just how serious is my condition. This prescription is marked ‘NO REFILLS’.”

~~~

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I’m not sure

~~~

Every evening, a mother and her young son, knelt down beside his bed so he could say his prayers. One night, obviously bored with the same old prayer, the little boy said this: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake…… can I have breakfast with you in the morning?”

~~~

It’s bad luck to be superstitious.

~~~

A missionary suddenly came face to face with a lion. Thinking that his situation was hopeless, he sank to his knees in prayer, but then became greatly relieved when the lion got down on his knees beside him.

“Dear brother lion,” said the missionary, “how heartening it is to find you joining me in Christian prayer when a few moments ago I feared for my life!”

“Don’t interrupt,” growled the lion, “I’m saying grace!”

~~~

“Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.”

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

~~~

When Brandon’s mother found out she was pregnant, she told the good news to anyone who would listen. But Little Brandon overheard some of his parents’ private conversations. One day, when Brandon and his mother were shopping, a woman asked the little boy if he was excited about the new baby.

“Yes!” Brandon answered, “and I know what we’re gonna name it, too. If it’s a girl, we’re going to call her Christina, and if it’s another boy we’re going to call it quits!”

~~~

He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much.

Bessie A. Stanley

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

You can do it!

“This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind…let it be something good.”

Author Unknown

It’s another one of those days, I am off to Cardiac Rehab and then some meetings where I will learn and hopefully contribute. I am not sure when I will be done so rather than take a chance on missing a Daily I thought I would send you this one from 7 years ago. It is in keeping with my recent concern that too many of us wait too long to invest in our own happiness. Have a great day and I’ll be with you again tomorrow.

Ray

~~~

Ray’s daily first published on February 22, 2005

Saturday I lost a friend who was only 66 years old, today I learned that a colleague from my UNIVAC days died at the age of 58 while he was making final arrangements for his Florida retirement home. Over the years I have lost too many friends who died before their time. I consider myself fortunate that I have been able to do so many things now that I did not do when I was younger. I wish my friends had taken the time to do so while they could. So often we seem to let others and the world take us on a path that provides us no way station, or at least we think it doesn’t. Please stop and look around, there are things you can do and places you can go if only you decide to invest in yourself. Too often he who hesitates is lost, so do your job, take care of your family, fulfill your obligations and above all take care of yourself.

~~~

“I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.”

Dawna Markova

~~~

She said:

While attending college, I worked evenings at a retail store.  On slow nights my co-worker Susan would often sing along with the radio while we did paperwork or restocked merchandise. One evening as the manager was leaving, I expressed my concern to him about our safety, being two women working alone at night.

“Oh, you’ll be fine,” he said, waving of his hand.

“If you see anybody who looks suspicious, just warn him that Susan knows karaoke.”

~~~

“Sometimes the fool who rushes in gets the job done.”

Al Bernstein

~~~

Top signs that you are addicted to the Internet:

* Your opening line when meeting people is, “So what’s your e-mail address?”

* Your best friend is someone you’ve never met.

* You see a beautiful sunset, and you half expect to see “Enhanced for Netscape 1.1” on one of the clouds.

* You are overcome with disbelief, anger and finally depressed when you encounter a Web page with no links.

* You feel driven to consult the “Cool Page of the Day” on your wedding day.

* You are driving on a dark and rainy night when you hydroplane on a puddle, sending your car careening toward the flimsy guard rail that separates you from the precipice of a rocky cliff and certain death. You look for the “Back” button.

* You visit “The Really Big Button that Doesn’t Do Anything” again and again and again.

* Your dog has his own Web page

* So does your hamster.

* When you read a magazine, you have an irresistible urge to click on the underlined passages.

~~~

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

~~~

At an Easter mass, at which some young ladies were to take their final vows to become nuns, the presiding bishop noticed two rabbis enter the church just before the mass began. They were seated at the back of the sanctuary and insisted on sitting on the right side of the center aisle. The bishop wondered why they had come but didn’t have time to inquire before the mass began.

When it came time for some announcements, his curiosity got the best of him. He announced that he was delighted to see two rabbis in their midst at the mass but was curious as to why they were present at this occasion where the young ladies were to become the “Brides of Christ.”

The eldest of the rabbis slowly rose to his feet and explained, “Family of the Groom.”

~~~

The guy put on a set of snow tires; Spring came and they all melted.

Jim Weir

~~~

A woman is very distressed because she has not been married very long and yet her husband has lost interest in sex. So, she goes to see her doctor and relays the problem. The doctor doesn’t seem worried at all and tells her that it is nothing serious, that her husband has merely lost his animal instincts. The doctor tells her to crumble some dog biscuits on her husband’s cereal every morning without telling him, and little by little this will bring out the savage beast in him. He wishes her good luck and tells her to come back in a week with a progress report.

A week later the woman returns to the doctor, who asks how her husband is. “He’s dead,” she replies. “Dead?” the doctor asked. The woman says, “Yes. He was sitting in the driveway licking himself and I backed over him with the car.

~~~

He said: My mother is a typical Jewish mother. Once she was on jury duty. They sent her home. She insisted SHE was guilty.

~~~

Not that my wife’s the jealous type or anything, but one day at work, I had taken this temp who was filling in for my secretary to lunch in gratitude for an outstanding job on a very difficult project.

As luck would have it, there was my wife waiting in the office for my return.  The temp, who was truly a ravishing beauty said, “Oh, Mrs. Moore, I’m so happy to meet you. I’m your husband’s new secretary.”

Within a single heart beat, my wife quietly intoned, “OH? Really?  WERE you???”

~~~

People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.

~~~

I was browsing in a souvenir shop when the man next to me struck up a conversation. Just as he was telling me that his wife was getting carried away with her shopping, a brief power shortage caused the lights to flicker overhead.

“Ah,” he sighed loudly…. that must he her checking out now.”

~~~

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

~~~

 

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

Decisions – Decisions

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”

Keri Russell

 

Decisions, decisions, decisions − if you are like so many of us you are faced with more and more decisions each year. For some of us they are like a stone hanging over our head that grows larger the longer we avoid making a choice and doing whatever we decided to do. Still others of us waste no time, we either go immediately with our gut or we fall back on that old flip a coin technique. Even worse are those of us who never make any decision, we just let others make them for us.

The sad part is that if we don’t look at our life alternatives and start to make choices we miss one opportunity after another. We don’t have to rush into everything without at least looking where we leap nor do we have to spend so much time deliberating, researching and planning that we risk missing opportunity. Fortunately we just need to decide and then do something, the great thing is that in most cases even if we take a wrong turn we can retrace our steps and follow a different path. Sure some decisions require faith and courage, but the joy that can come from moving ahead is well worth the effort.

Here is some decision making tips offered by Kathy Gates is a Professional Life Coach in Scottsdale Arizona that you may find worth your time, that is if you decide to read what she says.

 

What’s the alternative to making decisions? Allowing someone else, or circumstances, to make them for you. And that is giving up control of your life. That’s giving up all power to your life to other people or circumstance. And that will make you miserable.

It reminds me of walking through a wonderful food buffet where you could have anything you want — 0 calories! — and allowing someone else to decide what you took on your plate. Unacceptable! So when faced with decision anxiety, is the alternative — giving up all control to others or circumstance — the preferred method? Definitely not. No matter how difficult the decision, making it yourself gives you some modicum of control.

To reduce anxiety for your decisions:

1. Stop looking for a prediction of the future.

There’s a difference in making a decision and looking for a prediction. There is likely to be a risk in most any decision more complicated than deciding on a type of dessert. Things change, people change, ideas change, desires change. The decision is made on what you know, what you believe, what direction you want to go in. The future cannot be predicted. Don’t let that stop you.

2. Be as informed as possible before making a decision.

Do what you need to do, but try to be realistic about it. For example, if you tried to read every article on decision anxiety, you’d be 100 years old before you finished — not much help, there, huh. So if you find yourself procrastinating, give yourself a time limit –“I will read 50 different articles, and talk to 10 people, and decide by 5:00 pm on Thursday.”

3. Realize that very few things are set in stone.

Maybe you have lots of things you want to do in your life, and you just seem to make a decision on what to do or how to do them all. This is “analysis-paralysis”. Instead, remind yourself that focusing on one thing right now doesn’t mean that you’re giving up others. It simply means that you have decided to get started on one project, with the realization that you can do the others at any time you choose.

4. Remind yourself of successful decisions.

One of my clients didn’t believe that she could make any good decisions until we started her keeping a list of the many good decisions she made every day. Sure some were small, but throughout her life, she began to realize that she had made many more good decisions than bad ones.

Easier decision making is really about valuing yourself and your own opinions. Believe in your ability, and trust your instincts. Appreciate your input into your decisions, and understand and accept that every single decision you make might not be perfect. Learn from it, expect the best from yourself, and you’ll get the best.

~~~

“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion”

Chinese Proverb

~~~

The Kids said:

It sure would be nice if we got a day off for the president’s birthday, like they do for the queen. Of course, then we would have a lot of people voting for a candidate born on July 3 or December 26, just for the long weekends. –Age 8

As you make your way through this hectic world of ours, set aside a few minutes each day. At the end of the year, you’ll have a couple of days saved up. –Age 7

~~~

If all those psychics know the winning lottery numbers, why are they all still working?

~~~

A father noticed that his son was spending way too much time playing computer games. In an effort to motivate the boy into focusing more attention on his schoolwork, the father said to his son, “When Abe Lincoln was your age, he was studying books by the light of the fireplace.”

The son replied, “When Lincoln was your age, he was The President of The United States.”

~~~

Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool.

~~~

While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage.

The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign…

“Energy efficient vehicle.  Runs on oats and grass.  Caution: Do not step on exhaust.”

~~~

The butler entered the room, a solemn procession of one.

P. G. Wodehouse

~~~

A Mothers fantasy:

10. To be able to eat a whole candy bar (alone).

9.  To have my 14 year-old daughter answer a question without rolling her eyes in that “Why is this person my mother?” way.

8.  Five pounds of chocolate that won’t add twenty

7.  A shower without a child peeking through the curtain with a “Hi Ya Mom!” just as I put a razor to my ankle.

6.  A full time cleaning person who looks like Brad Pitt

5.  For my teenager to announce “Hey, Mom! I got a full scholarship and a job all in the same day!”

4. A grocery store that doesn’t have candy/gum/cheap toys displayed at the checkout line.

3. To have a family meal without a discussion about bodily secretions.

2. To be able to step on a plane with my toddlers and NOT have someone moan, “Oh no!  Why me…!”

And the #1 thing that I REALLY want for Mother’s Day is…..     Four words: Fisher Price Play Prison

~~~

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure , the process is its own reward.”

Amelia Earhart

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

Well

“A day will never be any more than what you make of it. Practice being a “doer”!

Josh S. Hinds

You’ve heard me talk a lot lately about avoiding the trap of isolation which can result in permanent stagnation. I have discovered that many of us hold back not because of fear that we won’t find happiness but because we think we have no alternative but to continue as we have been, at least for now. I know I have harped a lot in the past about not waiting to do things for yourself until there is little time left to do even a few of the things on our wish lists. Some of us feel even more pain when we finally convince ourselves that we now have the time to take that long hike or climb that mountain only to find that we no longer are physically capable of doing so and our hopes then turn to regrets. I hope you remove things from your list by doing them and not by your health making them impossible to do.

I have been surprised at how well I have been able to maintain my dietary discipline. I am pleased with what I am doing but I am not a fanatic and so I reward myself now and then with a treat rather than waiting until I have forgotten how enjoyable some calorie rich food can be. So join me and take this anonymous author’s advice and don’t wait, just do it now.

 

Just Do It

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back… From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn’t suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word “refrigeration” mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched ‘Jeopardy’ on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, “How about going to lunch in a half hour?” She would gasp and stammer, “I can’t. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.” And my personal favorite: “It’s Monday.” She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because we cram so much into our lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We’ll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of “I’m going to,” “I plan on,” and “Someday, when things are settled down a bit.”

When anyone calls my ‘seize the moment’ friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now… Go on and have a nice day.  Do something you WANT to…… not something on your SHOULD DO list.

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?  And why are you waiting?

~~~

The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure”

Joseph Campbell

~~~

More from the unofficial Catholic dictionary:

Egypt—the country which created the first form of writing: hieroglyphics—the basis for all medical prescriptions.

Envy— The sin Catholics commit when they think of non-Catholics who get to remain seated during their church services.

Eternity—The time between Communion and the end of Mass.

Evangelists, TV 1. Preachers with miraculous power—the ability to squeeze dollars out of the penniless.

Everlasting life— What a Catholic will need to understand all the changes since Vatican II.

Eye of the needle— The analogy that provides a strong incentive for rich men to breed tiny camels.

~~~

What a pity human beings can’t exchange problems. Everyone knows exactly how to solve the other fellow’s.

~~~

I hate smart sales clerks. I said to one, “What do you have in lingerie?” She said, “More than you’ll ever have!”

Cleaning your house before the kids have stopped growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.

The last thing my kids ever did to earn money was lose their baby teeth.

He is a typical husband. When I drive he complains about every telephone pole I hit. But does he ever compliment me on the ones I miss?

Once my husband said to me, “I’m going to have some coffee. Do you want me to put some hot water on for you?”  I thought that was the least he could do, considering I was giving birth!”

Phyllis Diller

~~~

“It’s just to hot to wear clothes today,” said Jack as he stepped out of the shower.  “Honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?”

“Probably that I married you for your money.”

~~~

“There are two different kinds of people in this world: those who finish what they start, and”

Brad Ramsey

~~~

The minister’s little six-year-old girl had been so naughty during the week, that her mother decided to give her the worst kind of punishment.  She told her she couldn’t go to the Sunday School Picnic on Saturday. When the day came, her mother felt she had been too harsh and changed her mind. When she told the little girl she could go to the picnic, the child’s reaction was one of gloom and unhappiness. “What’s the matter?  I thought you’d be glad to go to the picnic.” her mother said. “It’s too late!” the little girl said.  “I’ve already prayed for rain!”

~~~

Originality is the art of concealing your sources.

~~~

John was called into his bank to discuss his accounts.

“Your finances are in terrible shape,” the banker stated. “Your checking account is overdrawn, your loan is overdue.”

“Yes, I know.” said the man. “It’s my wife Jill, she is out of control.”

“Why do you allow your wife to spend more money than you have?” asked the banker.

“Frankly,” replied the man with a deep sigh, “because I’d rather argue with you than with her.”

~~~

“To the degree we’re not living our dreams, our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves.”

Peter McWilliams

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

It’s working!

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Author Unknown

I have had a pretty good week, I hope you have as well. My weight loss continues apace and I have become use to hearing the pounds falling off, fourteen of them so far. I also got on my treadmill on the days that I did not have a cardiac rehab session. The thing that has amazed me the most is that I have had events in the evening for the last three nights which have cut into my sleep and yet I seemed to stay alert as well as survive. It has been a long time since I have been able to do this well, who knows what I might accomplish if the energy curve continues to rise.

OK now that I have reported on how pleased I am with my progress I need to admit I am somewhat mortified that I at the same time demonstrated my lack of intelligence. I knew I needed to lose weight, I knew that my months of sedentary living was taking its toll. Yes I have had some medical setbacks but instead of working my way out of some of the problems I used my maladies as an excuse for inaction. True I had little energy, but rather than do what I could I let the lack of activity feed my downward spiral. Like I said I know better and now what I need to do is burn into my memory how much better my current improvement is than how I was while I rationalized inaction. I should have dipped into my Ralph Marston wisdom file and followed this advice that he provided some time ago..

 

Your time to begin

The place to start is where you are. The way to start is by doing what you can, with what you know, using what you have. You may get it wrong at first. But if you wait until you’re sure you can get it perfect, you’ll never get it done.

The best learning comes from doing. The way to get the experience you seek is to get busy without hesitation. The longer you wait to get started, the more powerful your doubts will grow. Jump in right away, get  going, and those doubts won’t have a chance to take hold.

Time always moves forward whether you move forward or not. Your most effective strategy is to make use of each moment as soon as it arrives.

 

Marston said “But if you wait until you’re sure you can get it perfect, you’ll never get it done.” In my case I was waiting to work on feeling better until I felt better, how dumb is that.

Have you got something that you could do that will provide you some health and/or happiness dividends? If you do how about joining me and get to work today, like he said “you may get it wrong at first” but I guarantee you’ll never get it right if you don’t start. Now my dear friends I am off to enjoy a super weekend I hope you will do the same.

~~~

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

World Health Organization

~~~

We Were So Poor That We Could Only Afford…

Medicines called placebos

Five of the Ten Commandments

Bagel holes

Sunrise Or Sunset

Webster’s Extremely Abridged Dictionary

White Crayolas

Lipton Tea Bag strings

~~~

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.

Aldous Huxley

~~~

My friend Ken sent me this Terrorist Alert some years ago:

We have just been notified by Security that there have been six suspected terrorists working out of our office.

Five of the six have been apprehended. Bin Sleepin, Bin Loafin, Bin Goofin, Bin Lunchin and Bin Drinkin have been taken into custody. Security advised us that they could find no one fitting the description of the sixth cell member, Bin Workin, at our office Security is confident that anyone who looks like he’s Bin Workin will be very easy to spot.

You are not a suspect at this time.

~~~

Everyone thinks I’m psychotic, except for my friends deep inside the earth.”

~~~

– Hello, that’s you, Abe?

– Yes, dis is Abe…

– It doesn’t sount like Abe

– Vell, dis is Abe all right.

– You’re positive it’s Abe?

– Absolutely.

– Vell, listen Abie, dis is Moe. Can you lend me fifty dollars?

– Ven Abe comes in, I’ll tell him you called…

~~~

My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.

~~~

A member of the Country Club asked the lifeguard how he might go about teaching a young lady to swim.

“It takes considerable time and technique.” replied the guard. “First you must take her into the water, then place one arm about her waist, hold her tightly, then take her right arm and raise it very slowly…”

“This is certainly most helpful.” said the member. “I know that my sister will appreciate it.”

“Your sister?” said the lifeguard. “In that case, just push her into the deep end of the pool. She’ll learn in a hurry.”

~~~

Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

~~~

An off-duty police officer, familiar with radar guns, drove through a school zone within the legal speed limit when the flash of a camera went off, taking a picture of his license plate.

The officer, thinking the radar was in error, drove by again; even more slowly.  Another flash.  He did it again for a third time, at an even slower speed.  Same result.

“This guy must have screwed up the settings,” the off-duty officer thought.

A few weeks later, when he received the violations in the mail, he discovered three traffic tickets: each for not wearing a seat belt!

~~~

If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself.

Leon Eldred

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.

Don’t let the wall hold you back!

No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.

EDMUND BURKE

I attended a great meeting yesterday where we discussed how we might help retirees have more fun in their lives even if they don’t live on a golf course or in a retirement community. As I thought about the conversations later I decided that what holds most of us back from much of life’s fun is a misguided lack of confidence sometimes bordering on fear. You know the feeling, it starts with a belief that “I probably can’t do it so why try”, or “What will people think if I fail or I am not good it.” I hate to think how many wins we have missed because we were unwilling to play. You know that wall that so often holds us back was not placed there by someone else, we built it and we can tear it down. Here is what I copied off a wise woman’s blog that I offer to you as demolition tools to help you to remove what might be holding you back

 

How to Overcome Fear + Live the Life You Deserve

• Do something brand new. Be a beginner. Be open to the different and the difficult. Push yourself. Follow someone’s lead. Ask questions. Try. Fail. Try again. Fail again. Succeed.
• Focus on what needs to be done. Take small calculated steps to get to your end goal. Don’t give your fear attention or energy. Let it die a slow death. Build your courage muscles one action step at a time.
• Let go of what you don’t want and visualize what you do. Stop running negative images in your mind of bad things happening. Create the image of the outcome you want and dwell on it. Work towards it. Each time you feel fearful replace it with your image of success.
• Take your fear to the gym. When you are stuck in fear and feel paralyzed by negativity, get active. Lift weights, run, or walk off your fear. Move physically. Motivate yourself with a play list of positive songs
• Use affirmations and quotes. I write down positive quotes and affirmations on index cards and put them in my car, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. It only takes a few minutes to see things differently and change my calm my emotions.
• Release attack thoughts and negativity. We project our own negativity and fear when we get caught up in drama and become envious of the success of others. Somebody else’s success has nothing to do with yours. Focus on taking action on your own behalf. Choose to be happy for people who get what you want. Learn to say and mean, “Good for them.”
• Change your perception and change your story. Stop doubting yourself. Become aware of the stories you tell yourself about your self-worth, intelligence, strengths, and possibilities. Own your greatness. Create stories that resonate with the beautiful person you are. No one else can do it for you.
• Create new expectations. Expect to succeed. Tell yourself things are going well. Know that people want to help you. Spin new stories about the future. You have a choice. You can expect the best or the worst. Why wouldn’t you choose the best?
• Replace fear with fun. Fear can lead to a work addiction. When you lack balance in your life it shows up in your relationships, business, and health. Carve out time to laugh and play. Get away from all electronics and get your fun meter running. Dance, hike, begin a new hobby, and laugh as often as possible.
•  

The alternative to facing your fears is that your fears will control you. Don’t miss out on opportunities. Don’t cheat the people who will benefit from your gifts. Live is meant to be lived out loud and in joy. This is your time. This is you life. Live it with gutsy, risk-taking, glory.

The author of the blog got this from Tess Marshall the founder of The Bold Life, where she inspires people to live a fearless life.

~~~

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.

JOSEPH CAMPBELL

~~~

The shipwrecked mariner had spent several years on a deserted island. Then one morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a smaller vessel pulling out toward him.

When the boat grounded on the beach, the officer in charge handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and told him, “The captain said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued.”

~~~

I had amnesia once or twice. I think.

~~~

One night a wife found her husband standing over their newborn baby’s crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions; disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, and skepticism. Touched by this unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, with eyes glistening she slipped her arms around her husband.

“A penny for your thoughts.” she whispered in his ear.

“It’s amazing!” he replied. “I just can’t see how anybody can make a crib like that for only $46.50!”

~~~

TEAMWORK…means never having to take all the blame yourself.

~~~

A stalwart Vermont farmer bought some land that was still just as it had been before the Pilgrims landed.  He dug up hundreds of stones and built a fence; cut down trees to create a clearing; built a house and a small barn; cleared land for pasture, dug a well and over several years just generally worked his fingers to the bone in creating a small, neat, productive farm.

Eventually his pastor came out for a visit and marveled rather fulsomely, and at great length, at all that “you and God have done together.”

“Eh,” the farmer said dubiously.  “Ya shoulda seen the place when God ran it on his own.”

~~~

If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos…then you probably haven’t completely understood the seriousness of the situation.

~~~

The kid’s advice to the pastor:

Dear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your church if you moved it to Disneyland. Loreen. Age 9. Tacoma

Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon where you said that good health is more important than money but I still want a raise in my allowance. Sincerely, Eleanor. Age 12, Sarasota

Dear Pastor, Please pray for all the airline pilots. I am flying to California tomorrow. Laurie. Age 10, New York City

Dear Pastor, I hope to go to heaven some day but later than sooner. Love, Ellen, age 9. Athens

Dear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God’s help or a new pitcher. Thank you. Alexander. Age 10, Raleigh

~~~

You call it caution. You call it common sense. You call it practicality. You call it playing the odds, but that’s only because you’re afraid to call it by its real name, and its real name is fear.

MICK FARREN

~~~

Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

 Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

This daily is sent only to special people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at https://raykiwsp.wordpress.com/ currently there are about 2000 readers from around the world.