Ray's Daily

Thank you Lewis

“No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.”

Barbara De Angelis

I lost a friend a month or so ago that I had not seen for probably fifteen years or more. You see we had only shared a cruise together having been table mates at dinner as we sailed northern waters. He and his wife and our other tablemates had as much fun as you possibly could have during our week together, not just at meals but all day long both at sea and on shore. We had not seen each other since but kept in touch via e-mail as the years went by and while we were not together he in my mind remained a favored friend. For some reason I thought about my friend Lewis this morning and the years of pleasure he gave to me so I went back in my files and retrieved something he sent me last year.  In his note he asked me to read it slowly since it meant so much to him and he hoped it would for me as well. Here is what he sent.

• 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.
• 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!
• 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.
• 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?
• Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you.
• Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?  Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night?  Do you run through each day on the fly?  When you ask ‘How are you?’  Do you hear the reply?
• When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?  Ever told your child, ‘We’ll do it tomorrow.’ And in your haste, not see his sorrow? 
• Ever lost touch?  Let a good friendship die?  Just call to say ‘Hi’?
• When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift….Thrown away…. Life is not a race. Take it slower.  Hear the music before the song is over.
• Show your friends how much you care.  Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND including me if you consider me a friend.                  If it comes back to you, then you’ll know you have a circle of friends.

To those I have sent this to … I cherish our friendship and appreciate  you. ‘Life may not be the party we hoped for…  but while we are here we might as well dance!’  

My old friend Lewis may no longer be walking this earth but in my mind he is immortal living on in my memory.

~~~

“Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don’t put off being happy until some future date.”

Dale Carnegie

~~~

In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery:

Here lies an Atheist

All dressed up

And no place to go.

~~~

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”

~~~

I’ll believe psychics when one phones me, just in the nick of time, yelling, “Duck!”

~~~

Two old guys were sitting in the park, talking, when the subject turned to getting older. The first guy said “Women have all the luck when it comes to getting older.”

“What do you mean?” asked the second guy.

“Well,” replied the first. “I can barely remember the last time I got aroused in bed, but my wife is healthier than ever!”

“Healthier?  How is that?” his buddy wondered.

“Years ago, when we were younger, almost every night before bed she’d get these terrible headaches.” he answered. “Now that we’re older, she hasn’t had a headache in years.”

~~~

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.

~~~

“Not what you have, but what you see; Not what you see, but what you choose; Not what seems fair, but what is true; Not what you dream, but what you do; Not what you take, but what you give; Not as you pray, but as you live. These are the things that mar or bless. The sum of human happiness.”

Author Unknown

~~~

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.

Thanks, I have enough

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Lao Tzu

Yesterday a friend and I met with a representative of a philanthropic trust that invests huge amounts of money in programs that benefit people who have very little. Later I thought about how so many of us are dissatisfied because we don’t have more while at the same time compared to most of the folks in the world we have so much more than they do. Thankfully I have learned that I really don’t need more and while I may not have the latest automobile or costly trinkets I have a collection of friends and memories that are more than I could ever have hoped for. I am so happy that my days are filled with goodhearted nice people and with so many opportunities to enjoy the life I have.

I have come to believe that all of us have within us the key that can open the door to our own happiness. That key is our ability to appreciate what we have while not wasting too much time trying to acquire what we don’t really need. In truth if we had more would it really provide us true happiness or would the time spent searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow prevent us really enjoying the life we already have.

In truth I really do have enough and for that I am grateful. I like the following story for it tells us about a family that does understand.

I wish you enough!

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter’s departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said: “I love you and I wish you enough.”

The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.” They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?”

“Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?”

“I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral,” she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, “I wish you enough.” May I ask what that means?”

She began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. “When we said ‘I wish you enough’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them”. Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to sob and walked away. My friends, I wish you enough!

Author: Bob Perks

~~~

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

Oprah Winfrey

~~~

A woman arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for Saint Peter to greet her, she peeked through the gates. She saw a beautiful banquet table. Sitting all around were her parents and all the other people she had loved and who had died before her. They saw her and began calling greetings to her:

Hello – How are you!” “We’ve been waiting for you!” “Good to see you.”

When Saint Peter came by, the woman said to him, “This is such a wonderful place! How do I get in?”

“You have to spell a word,” Saint Peter told her.”

“Which word?” the woman asked.”

“Love.”

The woman correctly spelled “Love” and Saint Peter welcomed her into Heaven. About a year later, Saint Peter came to the woman and asked her to watch the Gates of Heaven for him that day. While the woman was guarding the Gates of Heaven, her husband arrived.

“I’m surprised to see you,” the woman said. “How have you been?” “Oh, I’ve been doing pretty well since you died,” her husband told her. “I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won the multi-state lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a huge mansion. And my wife and I traveled all around the world. We were on vacation in Cancun and I went water skiing  today. I fell and hit my head, and here I am. What a bummer! How do I get in?”

“You have to spell a word,” the woman told him.

“Which word?” her husband asked.

“Czechoslovakia.”

Moral of the story: Never make a woman angry…. there’ll be Hell to pay later.

~~~

Poverty is not the absence of goods, but rather the overabundance of desire.

Plato

~~~

Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery:

Here lies the body

of Jonathan Blake

Stepped on the gas

Instead of the brake.

~~~

Steven Spielberg was filming his latest movie in the heart of the Amazon rain forest. The costs involved in transporting tons of movie making equipment into the heart of the jungle were enormous. He literally had a cast of thousands to feed and clothe. It was his most expensive production yet and he sank his entire personal fortune into the project. The biggest expense was building a faithful replica of an Ancient city in the middle of the jungle. No expense was spared to make the city authentic. The climax of the movie was to be the complete destruction of the city in a dramatic fire. As Spielberg planned to actually burn the city to the ground there was only one chance to film it.

He set up four cameras:

“Ok, camera one, I want you up in the helicopter to get an overhead shot of the whole scene.”

“Ok boss”

“Camera two, I’d like you at the edge of the clearing for a medium range shot.

“OK boss”

“Camera three, we’ve built a special fireproof hut in the center of the city. You can poke the camera through a hole in the side and get a close up view from the heart of the fire”

“Ok boss”

“Camera four, I need you at the top of that hill over there to get a long range shot”

“Ok boss”

Once the cameras and actors were all in place, Spielberg himself lit the match to start the fire.

It was an amazing sight, the fire raged and roared for over an hour as the entire multi-million dollar set was completely destroyed and reduced to a smoking pile of ash. Spielberg radioed the helicopter, “Camera one, how did it go?”

“Sorry boss but the smoke was so thick I couldn’t see a thing. Then the smoke got into the engine of the chopper and we were forced to land. I didn’t get anything.”

“Damn!” thought Spielberg, “well I guess I can just use the footage from the other three cameras.”

“Camera two, how did it go?”

“Sorry boss but the down draft from the chopper blades fanned the flames and started the bush all around us on fire. We had to run for safety and the camera was burned to a crisp.”

“Crap!, I guess I’ll have to make two with two cameras”

“Camera three, please tell me you got the shot”

“Sorry boss, the fireproof hut worked fine, but the lens of the camera couldn’t take the heat and it melted. I got nothing”

“I can’t believe this!” cried Spielberg. “Thank god I sent that last camera up on the hill. The smoke didn’t blow that way, there was no brush fire or heat to worry about.” He walks towards the hill, cups his hands to his mouth and yells… “CAMERA FOUR!!”

And the cameraman yells back…

“READY WHEN YOU ARE!”

~~~

“Nothing is sufficient for the person who finds sufficiency too little”

Epicurus

~~~

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 am glad I know her

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Winston Churchill

I had breakfast yesterday with one of my favorite people. My friend has been the transitional leader of our states top leadership organization that is now transitioning itself to a new model that will result in it making even greater contributions to our citizen’s wellbeing. I think one of the greatest tests of ones skills is the ability to provide the framework where people can enthusiastically change long established institutions that have been bound by tradition and habit to the past.

What I like about my friend is her ability to see what might be without letting the fear of breaking with tradition keep her from helping members understand the value of building a more effective organization. My friend and I have not known each other very long and I feel fortunate that she has given me the gift of her friendship; it has been a joy to watch her work. Here are some of the things that make her special.

• For her just good enough is not good enough
• She does whatever she does with enthusiasm
• She views change as a necessary positive while not letting fear of change anchor her to the past.
• She gives credit to others for their contribution to a better future
• She does not require accolades from others, she takes quiet pride in the outcomes she makes possible
• And for me, best of all, − she cares

I think too many of us let the opportunity to make a difference pass us by either because we lack confidence or we view an opportunity as being too difficult to act upon. It does not have to be that way; read what Ralph Marston wrote below and you will see what I mean.

The opportunity of your life

You have opportunity right now, on this very day that you’ll never have again. Are you going to let it pass you by, or are you going to make full and valuable use of it?

The moments that make up this day are moments you can use to solve problems, to develop more effective ways of doing things, and to create value. The moments that make up this day are moments you can be using right now to move your life forward.

Look around you. See and appreciate what a magnificent world you live in and what a tremendous opportunity you have to make a difference. Within you are dreams that long to be brought to life. Within you is real, substantive, unique value that deserves to be fully expressed and experienced.

With joy in your heart and enthusiasm in your actions, get up right now and get busy living the best of those dreams. There are dozens of creative, productive, life-enhancing things you can do, so focus on the first one and get busy.

The opportunity of your life is here. Live it with all you have.

~~~

Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is not an opportunity to satisfy personal greed.

Mwai Kibaki

~~~

Sol and Ben are opening a new fish store, and they are sitting down to sketch out the sign. Ben draws “FRESH FISH SOLD HERE TODAY”. The guy in the sign shop tells them he charges $30 a letter, and the two entrepreneurs go home to talk it over.

Sol says, “We don’t need TODAY — of course they’re for sale today.” Ben agrees and says, “HERE? Where else would we be selling fish?” and they agree to delete that word, too. Sol thinks a minute and says. “SOLD we don’t need. It’s a store, they come in they’ll see a cash register, they’ll know,” and Ben strikes that word out, too.

The sign now says FRESH FISH. Ben shakes his head. “Of course FRESH. Would we be selling stale fish?” and they cross that word out. The sign now says FISH, and Sol crumples up the paper. “We’ll leave the door open, they’ll smell and they’ll know we have fish,” he says as Ben nods. “Already, before we open, we’ve saved over $600.”

~~~

When an agnostic dies, does he go to the “great perhaps”?

~~~

Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.”

The second boy says, “That’s nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.”

Little Johnny says, “I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!”

~~~

A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

~~~

Grandma’s on the net again, the kitchen’s not her home,

She used to make us cherry pies, and call us on the phone.

She would talk to us for hours; now she leaves us all alone.

We miss her homemade biscuits, and I’ll make this little bet,

If you want to contact Grandma, you’ll have to surf the net.

Grandma’s surfing on the net, you bet.

She is surfing on the net.

We’ve been calling her all morning, and we haven’t got her yet.

She’s on the E-mail network, with her electronic friends.

If you want to talk to grandma, you’ll have to surf the net.

She’s never surfed at Malibu, or caught a wave at Waikiki,

She’s never seen a surfboard: hang ten doesn’t mean a thing.

She’s never met a beach-bum–Noon Doggie is just a pup.

But when she heads for her computer, you know the surf is up.

Grandma’s getting older and her eyes are getting dim,

Her random access memory, is half of what its been.

When Saint Peter comes to call someday, she’ll say I can’t go yet.

He’ll have to wait for Grandma, cause she’s surfing on the net.

~~~

“We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”

Anonymous

~~~

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.

Simple is better

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

Marcus Aurelius

I have been involved with a number of organizations lately that are dependent on the support of outsiders to make their good works possible. The difficulty that they often face is their inability to communicate the value of what they do to others in such a way that motivates them to offer their support. In my view the problem is often one of focusing in on what they do rather than how they benefit the people and the broader community. But equally important is working so hard on the reason they deserve support that they end up either producing a sterile and stilted response or use up so much time that submission deadlines are missed. Sometimes we focus so much on the technical requirements for a grant request that we dilute the main message of why we are good at what we do and how we successfully change people’s lives for the better.

I know I have talked before about the danger of too much commitment to perfection, in fact I find that achieving perceived perfection can be a turn-off. I told an executive friend years ago that her absolutely perfect, never even a hair out of place, image scared people away and a broken heel once in while would let people know she was just like the rest of us. So I guess what I am saying is learn how to share your heart and your goodwill never hiding it behind platitudes and flowery phrases.

I read an article recently by Swedish author Henrik Edberg where he shared his views on the dangers of perfectionism, here is what he wrote:

Aiming for perfection.

Does life has to be perfect before you are happy? Do you have to behave in a perfect way and get perfect results to be happy?

Then happiness will not be easy to find. Setting the bar for your performance at an inhuman level usually leads to low self-esteem and feeling like you are not good enough even though you may have had a lot of good or excellent results. You and what you do is never enough good enough except maybe once in a while when feels like something goes just perfect.

How to overcome this habit:

Three things that helped me to kick the perfectionism habit and become more relaxed:

Go for good enough. Aiming for perfection usually winds up in a project or something else never being finished. So go for good enough instead. Don’t use it as an excuse to slack off. But simply realize that there is something called good enough and when you are there then you are finished with whatever you are doing.

Have a deadline. I set deadlines every time that start with a new premium guide. Because about a year ago, when I was working on my second e-book, I realized that just working on it and releasing it when it was done would not work. Because I could always find stuff to add to it. So I had to set a deadline. Setting a deadline gave me a kick in the butt and it is generally good way to help you to let go of a need to polish things a bit too much.

Realize what it costs you when you buy into myths of perfection. This was a very powerful reason for me to let go of perfectionism and one I tell myself still if I find thoughts of perfection pop up in my mind. By watching too many movies, listening to too many songs and just taking in what the world is telling you it is very easy to be lulled into dreams of perfection. It sounds so good and wonderful and you want it. But in real life it clashes with reality and tends to cause much suffering and stress within you and in the people around you. It can harm or possibly lead you to end relationships, jobs, projects etc. just because your expectations are out of this world. I find it very helpful to remind myself of this simple fact.

Besides all that the result is usually simpler and more understandable and thus better than the so called perfect document that in reality is less perfect if it does not accomplish the desired result.

~~~

Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.

Peter Drucker

~~~

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!”

~~~

All the Best things in Life

Are not Things at all

~~~

“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?”

~~~

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?”

~~~

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!”

~~~

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction.

E.F. Schumacher

~~~

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’ll be fine

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.

Corrie Ten Boom

I am sure I told you before that I have found that not worrying until it was too late to worry has kept my life relatively peaceful over the years. I can’t remember if it has always been that way or if it is because I have had so much experience leaning how things usually turn out for the best. I know it sometimes drives my wife crazy that I just expect everything will be OK; unfortunately I think too often she worries for both of us.

I know frequntly nurses have been surprised that before a significant surgery I have been so relaxed that I have fallen asleep while waiting to get started. It may be somewhat irrational in the eyes of many but it sure works for me. If something does go wrong I would much rather deal with it then than having to make things wore by worrying in advance.

The late Zig Ziglar wrote an article about the futility of worrying about results. As always he is worth listening to, here are some of his thoughts on the futility of worry.

Worrying Makes Problems Worse – Worrying about the results will not change them. I certainly recognize that a certain amount of worry is just part of being human. People have concerns about many things. There are legitimate concerns about money and financial security. There are legitimate concerns about health issues, and there are concerns about our personal and professional relationships. People want all of these things to go well in their lives, and a certain amount of worry and concern is normal. But there is another kind of worry that is not only dangerous to your health; it is dangerous to your success. The kind of worry I’m talking about is “imagined worry.” Imagined worry is when you spend a lot of time thinking about the future and what might happen in your life that could be terrible. My late friend Mary Crowley said, “Worry is a misuse of the imagination,” and she hit the nail on the head with that remark.

Worry is the most significant factor that relates to the root of negative thinking. As a matter of fact, worry just might be the engine that starts negative thinking, and if you are involved in negative thinking, you will not expect to win. If you spend an excessive amount of time imagining all the bad things that can happen in your life, you will become a person who is problem-conscious, not solution-conscious.

Stop Worrying…Start Expecting – Worry is the result of thinking and imagining what might happen in the future. I want to stress the word “imagine.” The only reality people have is what is going on in their lives today. It is in the events of the day that life transpires, and anything based on tomorrow is pure speculation. I’ve learned that if you have planned and prepared, you can have reasonable expectations about the future. If you take care of your health through a good diet coupled with exercise, you can reasonably expect good health in the future. If you save and invest your financial resources, you can reasonably expect to have financial security in the future. If you live by principles of love and service to others, you can reasonably expect to have good personal relationships in the future. Good action today will produce good living tomorrow. Reasonably good expectations for tomorrow are based on positive thinking and prudent action today.

I Don’t Worry – Worrying is something I quit doing many years ago, and today I can honestly tell you that I don’t worry about anything–period! In fact, when the terrorist attack happened on 9/11 and I had to find a way to travel back home, I did not worry about the possibility of another attack. I believe if it is not my time, there’s not a terrorist on the earth who can change the will of God about what my lifespan should be. I never worry because I know who I am and I know Whose I am. I know that the principles I live by are true and correct. I also know that I always try to do the right thing, and when you do the right things in life, you don’t have to worry about results. As a matter of fact, if I’ve done the right thing every day I’m not even responsible for results. I just get the benefit of what I do, and the benefits are usually better than I could have hoped for.

~~~

Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment.

Dale Carnegie

~~~

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.

~~~

Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo wings taste like chicken?

~~~

A couple had been married for 45 years and had raised a brood of 11 children and were blessed with 22 grandchildren. When asked the secret for staying together all that time, the wife replies, “Many years ago we made a promise to each other: the first one to pack up and leave has to take all the kids….”

other eyelid!”

~~~

Speak when you’re angry, and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.

Lawrence J. Peter

~~~

He said:

The restaurant where I took my two sons for a meal was crowded with fans watching a sporting event on television. The harried waitress took our order, but more than half an hour passed with no sign of her return.

I was trying to keep my kids from becoming restless when suddenly shouts of victory came from the bar.

“Hey,” commented my 11-year-old, “it sounds as if someone just got his food.”

~~~

“Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.”

Robert Orben

~~~

After reading an ad offering split, dry firewood for $60 a cord, including delivery, Ernie phoned in an order. During the drop-off, though, Ernie became upset. “That’s not a full cord of wood,” he objected.

“That’s what I call a cord,” the man answered firmly.

Grudgingly, Ernie fished around in his pocket and thrust some bills into the man’s hands.

“Hey, wait a minute,” the woodsman complained after counting the money.

“You only gave me $30.”

With a shrug of the shoulders, Ernie replied, “That’s what I call $60.”

~~~

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.

Leo Buscaglia

~~~

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

Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.

Cherokee Indian Proverb

Sometimes I don’t get up early enough to do all I need to do and this is one of those days. I attended one of my favorite theatre company’s preview of their next season last night so I needed a little extra sleep today. Now I am off to back to back meetings that will load up my morning so please forgive me and hopefully enjoy this Daily from the past.

Rays 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 as they 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.”

~~~

The shortest distance between two points is usually under construction.

~~~

Miriam had just finished her fish dinner. She was, however, not at all happy with it, so she called over the waiter.

“I’ve tasted fresher fish,” said Miriam.

“Not in here,” replied the waiter.

~~~

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.

M. 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.

Good morning

The time just before dawn contains the most energy of all hours of the day. This has helped me become an early riser and an early doer…. When I wake to see that it’s light out already, I feel the world has started without me.

Terri Guillemets

Good morning one and all. If you are like I am you find that getting up and about early in the morning allows you to have a pleasant and productive beginning each day. Mine starts very early local time, I like to tell people I am living on London time but still most think I am a little crazy. I get up well before the sunrise, check my e-mail and then send out that days edition of Ray’s Daily. Once the in-house stuff is done I shower, shave and put on workout clothes for my 4:40 AM trip to the gym. I am usually out of the gym by six and home to change, still ahead of most folks. If I have an early meeting, and I have many, I like to arrive at least a half hour early so I can catch up on the day’s news on my Kindle.

Of course since I am living somewhat on London time I do go to bed earlier than most and please don’t tell anyone, I sneak a nap or two in during the day. I have been an early riser most of my life and it has worked well for me. I find the unencumbered time to be often the best part of the day. Sure I know many think I am a little crazy, but I already was so it has nothing to do with my sleeping habits. Even just 15 minutes more found at the beginning of the day can be great.

Recently author Lorene Collier offered suggestions on how you too can benefit by becoming an early bird, here is what she wrote:

Many people benefit from rising early and following a set routine every morning. While this won’t benefit everyone, it might be just what you need to feel more in control of your daily life! Consider these ideas when developing a morning routine:

1. Avoid making any drastic changes. Begin this process slowly. Start by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than you normally would. Allow yourself to get used to this over a few days to a week before waking even earlier. Continue this gradually until your goal wake-up time is met.

2. Allow yourself to go to sleep earlier. Staying up too late when you’re trying to get up earlier will have negative consequences. Early rising will allow you to go to sleep more easily earlier in the evening so you can work on getting up earlier.

3. Keep your alarm clock away from your bed. If you keep your alarm clock close to your bed, you’ll hit the snooze button and destroy your chances of improving your morning routine. Keep your alarm clock at a distance so you must get out of bed to deal with it and resolve not to climb back under the covers.

4. Leave the bedroom as soon as your alarm wakes you. Avoid rationalizing going back to bed. Make yourself leave the room. Create a habit, such as to use the restroom as soon as you get up, so you don’t convince yourself to go back to sleep.  By the time you’ve used the restroom or otherwise distracted yourself, you’ll no longer be thinking about going back to bed, so you can proceed with your daily routine.

5. Have your routine mapped out ahead of time. Plan something important to do first thing in the morning. If you have a specific task at hand early in the morning, then this will motivate you to wake up and get out of bed. It’s important to have a good reason to wake up in the morning. If you have a plan for your morning, you can slip out of bed and right into your routine.

6. Follow the same basic routine daily. If you practice the same basic steps every day, you’ll be able to automate many of your early morning tasks to make them easier.

7. Take advantage of your extra time. Don’t wake up earlier than usual just so you can lounge around and read Facebook updates. Avoid wasting the extra time that you’ve created in your schedule. Instead, get a jump on your day, doing tasks that are best done in the early morning, such as reading, writing, and planning for the day.

~~~

The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours.  No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen.

Monica Baldwin

~~~

“I’m so upset,” said Hershberg to his Rabbi. “I took my son-in-law into my clothing business and yesterday I caught him kissing one of the models!”

“Have a little patience!” advised the Rabbi. “After all, guys will be guys. So he kissed one of the models, it’s not so terrible.”

“But you don’t understand,” said Hershberg. “I make men’s clothes!”

~~~

“The worst thing about him is that, when he is not drunk, he’s sober.”

W. B. Yeats

~~~

The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when Little Johnny interrupted. “My Mummy looked back once while she was DRIVING,” he announced triumphantly, “and she turned into a telephone pole!”

~~~

Psychiatrist to male patient: “Did this feeling of being an insignificant pipsqueak come on suddenly, or did it develop normally with marriage and parenthood?”

~~~

I got the strangest recording when I called the phone company the other day. It said, “You have been connected to the correct department on the first try. This is against company policy. Please hang up and redial.”

~~~

“Never judge a book by its movie”

J.W. Eagan

~~~

Jack has died. His lawyer is standing before the family and reads out Jack’s Last Will and Testament.

“To my dear wife Esther, I leave the house, 50 acres of land, and 1 million dollars.

To my son Barry, I leave my Big Lexus and the Jaguar.

To my daughter Suzy, I leave my yacht and $250,000.

And to my brother-in-law Jeff, who always insisted that health is better than wealth, I leave my sun lamp.”

~~~

Good character…is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece–by thought, choice, courage, and determination.

John Luther

~~~

A fellow got up one Saturday morning with the odd feeling that something about this day was to be different. Something unusual was about to happen.  He glanced out the window at the thermometer: 33 degrees.  He went downstairs – the clock had stopped at 3 o’clock.  He picked up the newspaper and read the date: the 3rd of the month.

Threes – that was it!  He grabbed the paper and flipped it open to the racing section.  Sure enough in the 3rd race, there was a horse named Trio!  The fellow hurried to the bank, drew out his life savings and bet it all on the horse to win.

The horse ran third.

~~~

It is in the early morning hour that the unseen is seen, and that the far-off beauty and glory, vanquishing all their vagueness, move down upon us till they stand clear as crystal close over against the soul.

Sarah Smiley

~~~

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.

Thank you for being a friend

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust

I was with a discussion group the other day where folks exchanged how they were dealing with the changes that come with the aging process. It was great to see these exciting older folks sharing how much they were doing and how enjoyable they have made their lives.

I shared with them something I have shared with you more than once over the years and that is that my principle hobby is collecting friends. This morning I had breakfast with the leader of a great organization and with a state legislator where I was again rewarded with stimulating conversation as well insight into some of the issues of the day. Both of these good people were folks that I have met in the not too distant past who offered their friendship without conditions.

I have often wondered how many people I might have become friends with over the years if I only would of stopped and got to know them a little better. They say you can’t tell a book by its cover and I have learned that neither can you tell a potential friend by surface impressions. I think I am the luckiest person I know because so many have given me so much through their friendship. I have learned that I can now easily answer the question often asked, “what’s in it for me,’ it is the infectious benefit of being with so many caring people who have yet to lose their sense of purpose or their sense of humor.

So take a little longer to know someone you just met for they may be harboring a latent great friendship just waiting for you to acquire. Here is a little story that I have edited slightly that I hope you enjoy and heed.

Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure.

He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he just threw it away.

It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.

Author Unknown

~~~

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.

Henri Nouwen

~~~

When we moved into our new home, the first one we owned rather than rented, two of my husband’s friends gave him a bottle of champagne. In the hustle and bustle of getting settled, the gift was tucked away and temporarily forgotten.

Three months later we held a Christening party for our third child. Champagne flowed in celebration until, running short, we remembered our housewarming gift. In front of our guests, I opened the attached card and read it aloud, “Donald, take good care of this one, it’s yours!”

~~~

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Groucho Marx

~~~

Morris has a business appointment, and he arrives a little early. The receptionist points to a comfortable easy chair, and asks him to be seated for a short while. Morris settles down, picks up a glossy magazine from the glass-topped table, opens it, and tries to read. However, he finds that he cannot concentrate because he is distracted due to a rumpus coming from behind one of the doors leading off the reception area. Morris goes over to the receptionist and asks: “What’s going on in there?”

She replies: “It’s a partners’ meeting.”

“But why are they shouting at each other?” Morris asks.

“It’s a battle of wits,” she replies.

Morris asks: “Who is in there?”, and she answers: “Horowits, Lebowits, Rabinowits and Abramowits.”

~~~

“

She said “I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic.”

~~~

A well respected surgeon was relaxing on his sofa one evening just after arriving home from work.  As he was tuning into the evening news, the phone rang.  The doctor calmly answered it and heard the familiar voice of a colleague on the other end of the line.

“We need a fourth for poker,” said the friend.

“I’ll be right over,” whispered the doctor.

As he was putting on his coat, his wife asked, “Is it serious?”

“Oh yes, quite serious,” said the doctor gravely. “In fact, three doctors are there already!”

~~~

“We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like?”

Jean Cocteau

~~~

She said:

At the company where I work, the other operators and I share a coffeepot. One morning I took it into the ladies room to fill it with water. Then I began preening in the mirror, brushing my hair and reapplying some makeup. I didn’t realize how long I’d been until someone slid a note under the door.

“You win,” it read. Any ransom demand will be met. Just release the coffeepot.”

~~~

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy.

Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.

Charles R. Swindoll

~~~

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.

Let’s move on

The past is exactly that the past. You can’t change it so why sit there and dwell on it like you can? You gotta move on. Work on the future you….

Ashley Rosales

I often wonder how many folks miss much of the great things in life because they get bogged down in what to then is a never changing presence. For them the world changes, they change but they are so locked into their routine that they are pretty much destined to a boring and often boring life. I would hate to think what my life would have been if all I did when I first retired was to walk away living only in memories of the past. I discovered I could do things I never thought I ever could or would.

Not too long ago Marc Hack wrote an article where he outlined reasons for moving on. Here are some of what he wrote:

It happens to you slowly as you grow.  You discover more about who you are and what you want, and then you realize that there are changes you need to make.  The lifestyle you’ve been living no longer fits.  The people you’ve known forever no longer see things the way you do.  So you cherish all the great memories, but find yourself moving on. Here are some reasons it’s time…

You can learn from your history, but you can’t live in it. – You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.  Sometimes we avoid experiencing where we are because we have developed a belief, based on past experiences, that it is not where we should be or want to be.  But the truth is, where you are now is exactly where you need to be to get to where you want to go tomorrow.

Some things aren’t meant to be. – Everything from your past does not belong in your present.  To hold onto relationships and circumstances that have already moved on without you is to stay stuck in a place and time that no longer exists.

Life is shorter than is often seems. – While you are complaining about all the little problems in your life, somebody is desperately fighting for their right to live.  You own every minute that you pass through, and that it is up to you to make the best use of each one of them.  Because someday, suddenly, there will be no more minutes.

Holding on to pain is self abuse. – Your past has given you the strength and wisdom you have today, so celebrate it.  Don’t let it haunt you.  Replaying a painful memory over and over in your head is a form of self abuse.  Make peace with yourself and your past. 

Some things are out of your control. – No matter what happens, no matter the outcome, you’re going to be just fine.  Let the things you can’t control, happen.  Allow the universe to bless you in surprising and joyful ways.  What if, instead of pushing so hard to make life happen, you decided to let go a little and allow life to happen to you?  What if, instead of trying to always be in control, you sometimes surrendered control to something bigger than yourself?  What if, instead of working so hard to figure out every last answer, you allowed yourself to be guided to the solution in perfect timing?

Moving on creates positive change. – You may blame everyone else and think, “Poor me!  Why do all these crappy things keep happening to me?”  But the only thing those scenarios all have in common is YOU.  And this is good news, because it means YOU alone have the power to change things, or change the way you think about things.  There is something very powerful and liberating about surrendering to change and embracing it – this is where personal growth and evolution reside.

New opportunities are out there waiting for you. – Enter new relationships and new situations, knowing that you are venturing into unfamiliar territory.  Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to experience something or meet someone that just might change your life forever.

The world needs you to let your light shine. – The powers above added one more day in your life today, not necessarily because you need it, but because the world still needs you to let your light shine.

~~~

Maybe letting go is the first step to moving on. It maybe be hard but it’ll fix your heart.

Kayla Hawk

~~~

John went to the doctor because he had bulging eyes and a persistent ringing in his ears. The doctor looked him over and suggested removing his tonsils. The tonsillectomy resulted in no improvement, so John consulted a dentist who suggested that removing his teeth might eliminate the problem. All of John’s teeth were extracted but still his eyes bulged out and the annoying ringing in his ears continued.

A third doctor told him bluntly, “You have six months to live.”

Feeling doomed and gloomy, John decided to treat himself right while he still had time, so he bought a flashy car, hired a chauffeur and a gardener, and got himself measured by a tailor for some new suits. To go along with the new suits, he decided that even his shirts would be made to order.

“Okay,” said the shirt maker, “let’s get your measurements. Hmm, thirty-four sleeve, sixteen collar.”

“No, I wear a fifteen collar” John told him.

“Sixteen collar,” the shirt maker repeated, measuring again.

“But I’ve always worn a fifteen collar,” said John.

“Listen,” said the shirt maker, “I’m telling you right now—if you keep on wearing a tight fifteen collar, your eyes will bulge out and you’ll have ringing in your ears.”

~~~

“If love is the answer, could you please rephrase the question?”

Lily Tomlin

~~~

An honest seven-year-old admitted calmly to her parents that Billy Brown had kissed her after class.

“How did that happen?,” gasped her mother.

“It wasn’t easy,” admitted the young lady, “but 3 girls helped me catch him.”

~~~

Q. What’s a Jewish girl’s idea of natural childbirth? A. Absolutely no make up.

~~~

The top toothbrush salesman at the company was asked by his boss how he managed to sell so many brushes.

He replied, “It’s easy!” and he pulled out his card table, setting his display of brushes on top.

He told his boss, “I lay the brushes out like this, and then I put out some potato chips and dip to draw in the customers.” He laid out his chips and dip.

“That’s a very innovative approach,” his boss said, as he took one of the chips, dipped it, and stuck it in his mouth. “Yuck, this tastes terrible!”

The salesman replied “IT IS? Want to buy a toothbrush?”

~~~

Don’t use a big word where a diminutive one will suffice.

~~~

One day, a young girl is walking through a park when she hears a faint “Help me, help me”.

She looks around and follows the quiet voice to a bush near the path. Looking under the bush she spies a little green frog trapped under a log. The girl moves the log and picks up the frog. “Oh, thank you, thank you” says the frog, “Take me home and put me on your pillow and in the morning I’ll be a handsome Prince.”

So the girl takes the frog home and puts him on the pillow and there in the morning is a handsome prince.

You don’t believe that?

Neither did her mother!

~~~

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.

Walter Anderson

~~~

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 what you want

“It’s your life. Live it with people who are alive. It tends to be contagious.”

Peter McWilliams

Yesterday I met with a group of really nice people my age. The meeting gave us a chance to talk about how we maintained some level of sanity by staying mentally young. When one is up on years there are a multitude of people who tell you how you should live but these folks don’t fall into that trap, they live their lives the way they want to. Well-meaning children, friends and relatives don’t hesitate to tell us what we should do to be happy, unfortunately they often assume we can’t do much on our own or they think that we should behave like the stereotypical old folk that are so often based on cultural myths.

This group, many well into their 80’s are not old, some might be moving slower than they use to but they continue to live their lives well and in a way that is right for them. I will someday appreciate people offering ways to ease my burdens when I start to have difficulty functioning, but until then I like the fact that they don’t try to stop me from enjoying my youthful journey through life pretending to be an old guy. No matter how old you are you owe it to yourself to live your own life.

Here is a piece I saved from the ever wise Ralph Marston that I think is right on target, I hope you do too.

Live your own life

You are special, so act like it. You are unique, so make the most of that uniqueness.

There’s something you can contribute to this moment that no one else has to offer. There is a perspective from which you can experience this day that is unlike any other.

Don’t settle for merely doing the same thing as anyone else, or mimicking the opinions, desires and dreams of others. Live your own life, and explore the unique beauty of your very own dreams, thoughts, opinions and interests.

Your greatest value comes from being who you truly are. Let your beautiful, unique, fascinating and authentic self come fully to life.

Instead of spinning your wheels and striving to be someone you’re not, enjoy the sweet fulfillment of being who you really want to be. Instead of trying in vain to please others with who you think they think you should be, impress them with who you really are.

Know the true joy of being your true self. Honor and appreciate all of life by fully and authentically living the one very special life that is yours.

~~~

“I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It’s all a question of how I view my life.”

Paulo Coelho

~~~

Asked by his third-grade teacher to spell “straight.” The boy did so correctly.

“Now,” said the teacher, “what does it mean?”

“Without water.”

~~~

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Samuel Beckett

~~~

Rabbi Bloom caught two of his rabbinical students gambling and drinking on Sabbath. Next day, Rabbi Bloom called them into his office and asked them what was going on. They immediately confessed to having given in to weakness and agreed that they deserved some form of punishment for their sin. Rabbi Bloom thought a lot about this and then came up with the answer. He bought two bags of dried peas from the delicatessen and told them,

“Put these in your shoes and walk on them for a week to remind yourselves how hard life can be when you turn away from God.”

A few days later, the two students met each other in the street.  One had a pronounced limp and had dark circles under his eyes.  He looked very tired and weary.  On the other hand, the other was the same as he had been before.

“Hey,” said the first.  “How is it that you are walking so easily? Didn’t you do as the Rabbi asked and put the peas in your shoes?”

“I did,” said the other.

“But I boiled mine first.”

~~~

Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself – your strengths and your limitations – in contrast to depending on confirmation from others.

Judith M. Bardwick

~~~

MARRIAGE “MIRANDA” RIGHTS for men…

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted AND MISUNDERSTOOD AND then used AND HELD against you FOREVER.

~~~

There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Christopher Morley

~~~

Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a fear that someone is under my bed at night. So, I went to a shrink and told him, ‘I’ve got problems. Every time I go to bed, I’m scared. I think I’m going crazy.’

‘Just put yourself in my hands for one year,’ said the shrink. ‘Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears.’

‘How much do you charge?’ ‘Eighty dollars per visit,’ replied the doctor. ‘I’ll sleep on it,’ I said.

Six months later the doctor met me on the street. ‘Why didn’t you come to see me about those fears you were having?’ he asked.

‘Well, eighty bucks a visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot of money! A bartender cured me for $10. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought me a new pickup!’

‘Is that so!’ With a bit of an attitude he said, ‘And how, may I ask, did the bartender cure you?’

‘He told me to cut the legs off the bed! – Ain’t nobody under there now!!!’

~~~

Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.

~~~

A recently divorced woman was walking along the beach contemplating how badly treated she had been over the settlement, when she saw a magic lamp washing up onshore. She rubbed the lamp, and out popped a genie!

The genie sensed her anger and allowed her to vent her troubles to him. As a consolation, the genie informed her that he would give her three wishes. But he cautioned her that because he does not believe in divorce, he would give her ex-husband ten times the amount of whatever she wishes.

The woman is steaming mad, thinking that this is hardly fair, but she makes her first wish. The first wish was for a billion dollars. The genie granted her wish and she found herself sitting on a pile of one billion one-dollar bills.

The genie then reminded her that her husband was now the surprised recipient of ten billion dollars. The woman could barely contain her anger when she made her second wish. The second wish was for a beautiful mansion on the shore of her own private beach. In an instant it was granted, exactly as she had imagined her dream home, in every tiny detail. But the genie reminded her again that her ex-husband now owned ten of what she had wished for, and pointed out across the bay to a small development of ten such mansions.

Upon seeing this, the woman took her time to consider her final wish. Just as the genie was about to give up on her, the woman said she had made up her mind. But, before she could say anything, the genie again warned her that her ex-husband would get ten times whatever she wished for. “No problem,” said the woman, smiling at last. “For my final wish, I’d like to give birth to twins.”

~~~

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake…”

Francis Bacon

~~~

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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