Ray's Daily

“Enthusiasm is the most important thing in life.”

Tennessee Williams

I think Williams is right, enthusiasm is the key to truly getting the most out of life. When we forge ahead with optimistic energy we build the momentum that results in our accomplishing much more than we ever could if we just passively took on our tasks. No one is more surprised than I am about my charging off to my workouts every weekday morning before 5 AM, but I do it and I do it with enthusiasm. Possibly the pent up energy keeps me from finding reasons for not doing it and knowing that I will enjoy it.

I think part of the secret is my friendly coach’s attitude. She works hard and often carries a heavy load but no matter if she is under the weather or fatigued she still always exudes enthusiasm and it is catching. I don’t know about you but I have little time to face each day with dread, so I never focus on what could go wrong, I focus only on the part I am going to play as I make my day a good one.

Here is an edited version of what Catherine Pulsifer, author and motivator wrote about having enthusiasm. If you need to recharge your enthusiasm a good way to start is to follow her advice:

Having Enthusiasm

Having enthusiasm in performing any task gives you an abundance of energy. Harry Truman demonstrated his wisdom when he said, “I studied the lives of great men and famous women, and I found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and enthusiasm.”

Those who demonstrate enthusiasm are far more likely to succeed because of their attitude towards the task at hand. Someone who lacks enthusiasm rarely succeeds, and the reason is because of the attitude that they have. When they face a problem they are more likely to give up.

An enthusiastic person believes in what they are doing. They are excited and look forward to the day to achieve the task at hand. They have self-confidence in themselves and will find solutions to any challenges that come along. Walter Chrysler once said, “The real secret of success is enthusiasm. Yes, more than enthusiasm, I would say excitement. I like to see men get excited. When they get excited they make a success of their lives.” The wisdom of his words still applies today.

We all have a choice, we can decide to be enthusiastic or we can just put in the day. If you are working at a job that you are not enthusiastic about, then find work that excites you. If you need to improve your skills to get that job, then take courses and learn all you can. You will find your life is much happier if you are doing something that excites you rather than bores you. Having enthusiasm for what you are doing does not mean you won’t face challenges or difficulties, but you will be able to overcome these difficulties as long as you keep your attitude positive.

The level of enthusiasm is a hallmark of any project or task no matter where you are or work. Anyone who demonstrates a continued enthusiasm for work, helping, kindness, caring and loving has the ability to encourage others to do the same accepting that this type of characteristic is the norm. Enthusiasm does not just apply to your own sense and demonstration of work or helping but it is the vicarious effect it has on others that is the real lasting effect. The more people who surround you with this growing attribute, the more people they affect. It is much like a domino effect where one domino affects the next, and that one affects the next and so on.

Put lots of enthusiasm in all you do!

~~~

“Enthusiasm is contagious. Be a carrier.”

Susan Rabin

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THINGS THAT HALLMARK CARDS DON’T SAY

My tire was thumping.

I thought it was flat

When I looked at the tire…

I noticed your cat.

Sorry!

~~~

She said: While I was visiting my sister one evening, I took out a candy dispenser that was shaped like a miniature person. “How does that thing work?” she asked.

As I turned the figurine’s arm to pop candy out, my sister laughed.  “I see it’s a lot like my husband,” she said.  “You have to twist his arm to get anything out of him.”

~~~

Middle-aged wife to husband at computer: “Yes, honey, I think you can safely assume that a romantic e-mail from Pamela Lee Anderson is a prank.”

~~~

Nathan is talking to his lawyer. “Here’s the deal, Abe. If you’re absolutely sure I’ll win the case, I’ll give you the business.”

“OK,” replies Abe, “but before I can give you my opinion, I obviously need to know the facts.”

So Nathan goes into great detail about his failed partnership and ends up saying, “So now you’ve heard everything, do you think I can sue my partner and get my money back?”

“Well,” replies Abe, “from what I’ve just heard, it’s clear to me that you will win. It’s rare to have such an open-and-shut case.”

Nathan goes very white when he hears this.

“What’s the matter?” asks Abe.

“I told you my partner’s side of the case,” replies Nathan.

~~~

“Whatever you’re ready for is ready for you.”

Mark Victor Hansen

~~~

He said: The computer company my wife works for distributed a corporate clothing catalogue that included a pair of cuff links. One was inscribed Ctrl (control) and the other Esc (escape), just as they look on a computer keyboard. “They would make a good present for any man,” my wife commented to a colleague, “if only to remind him of the two things he can never have.”

~~~

“If you’re being chased by a police dog, try not to go through a tunnel, then on to a little seesaw, then jump through a hoop of fire. They’re trained for that.”

Milton Jones

~~~

When you have three boys, it’s hard to know whom to blame if something goes wrong in the house.

One father explained to a friend how he solved the problem:  “I send all three to bed without letting them watch television.  In the morning I go after the one with the black eye!”

~~~

Treat each day as your last, one day you will be right.

~~~

At the urging of his doctor, John moved to Arizona.

After settling in, he met a neighbor who was also an older man.

“Say, is this really a healthy place?”

“It sure is,” the man replied.

“When I first arrived here I couldn’t say one word. I had hardly any hair on my head. I didn’t have the strength to walk across a room and I had to be lifted out of bed.”

“That’s wonderful!” said John. “How long have you been here?”

“I was born here.”

~~~

“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.”

Aldous Huxley

~~~

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.

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