Ray’s Daily
November 7, 2017
When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
The people I have admired most over the years are those who others were sure would fail. They are the folks who have used adversity as stepping stones, the ones that kept going when so many others did not.
I regret that too many have listened to the critics and given up because they were told they had no chance. I hope that we never become the voices of failure but rather cheer on the underdog. Greatness comes not just from our natural ability but also from our persistence.
We need to offer tips to the builder on how to improve the model rather than providing reasons to tear it down. Here is a story of an artist that perservered rather than giving up.
Unpolished Diamond
Author Unknown
How a person reacts to criticism often means the difference between success and failure. Take the case of Ole Bull, the famous Norwegian violinist of the past century.
His practical father, a chemist, sent him to the University of Christiania to study for the ministry and forbade him to play his beloved violin. He promptly flunked out and, defying his father, devoted all his time and energy to the violin. Unfortunately, though he had great ability, his teachers were relatively unskilled, so that by the time he was ready to start his concert tour he wasn’t prepared.
In Italy a Milan newspaper critic wrote: “He is an untrained musician. If he be a diamond, he is certainly in the rough and unpolished.”
There were two ways Ole Bull could have reacted to that criticism. He could have let it make him angry, or he could learn from it. Fortunately he chose the latter. He went to the newspaper office and asked to see the critic. The astounded editor introduced him. Ole spent the evening with the 70-year-old critic, asked about his faults, and sought the older man’s advice on how to correct them.
Then he canceled the rest of his tour, returned home, and spent the next six months studying under really able teachers. He practiced hours upon hours to overcome his faults. Finally, he returned to his concerts and, when only 26, became the sensation of Europe.
~~~
Sometimes you feel like giving up, but then you look at other people who have given up, and the results aren’t that good.
Robert Brault
~~~
Grandma Levy, always a regular synagogue member had finally talked her cousin, a woman who had lived a riotous, free life, into joining the Temple. “Tell me Rabbi,” the old lady asked, “Do you feel that my cousin will have her sins forgiven after all those years?”
“Yes I do. I’m positive of it. You must remember that the greater the number of sins, the greater the glory.”
“Really Rabbi?” the old lady replied thoughtfully. “I sure do wish I’d known that fifty years ago.”
~~~
He said: At pilots training back in the Air Corps they taught us, “Always try to keep the number of landings you make equal to the number of take offs you make.”
~~~
There was a major sale at Victoria’s Secret and the guy wanted to get his girl some really sexy lingerie. The store was packed with women for this big sale and before he knew it, he was pushed and shoved by frantic women all trying to get at the merchandise. He remained calm for as long as he could, then bowed his head and pushed hard and effectively and plowed through the crowd of women.
“Hey you!” an angry female voice yelled out at him, “Try acting like a gentleman!”
“That’s what I have been doing,” He retorted, “But since that isn’t working out for me, I’m gonna now act like you ladies!”
~~~
My wife and I had words, but I didn’t get to use mine.
~~~
Beware of Companies With These Hiring Slogans:
“JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY”: We have no time to train you.
“CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE”: We don’t pay enough to expect that you’ll dress up.
“MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED”: You’ll be six months behind on your first day.
“SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED”: Some each night and some each weekend.
“DUTIES WILL VARY”: Anyone in the office can boss you around.
“MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL”: We have no quality control
~~~
For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously.
George Robert Gissing
~~~
A minister told his congregation, “Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17.”
The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, “Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”
~~~
The difference between gossip and news is whether you hear it or tell it.
~~~
I couldn’t help overhearing a man at a nearby pay phone.
“I know it’s something you want,” he said earnestly, “but I don’t think tattoos are a good idea. And the same goes for body piercing. As long as you’re living in my house, I think you should respect my wishes.”
I was secretly cheering him on for his fatherly firmness.
Then came the ‘coup de grace’: “Besides, Mom, you’re 75 years old! You don’t NEED a tattoo!”
~~~
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Thomas Edison
~~~
Things to say to telemarketers
- The police photographer is still here, and the county medical examiner hasn’t released the body to the coroner yet. Can you call back a little later?
- I’m gonna have to put you on hold. The baby is due any minute now. Quick someone, get some hot water. Lots of it. Sorry, gotta hurry now, don’t go away.
- Oh, it’s you again. I was hoping you’d call back. The better business people said I need more positive identification to file my complaint. Now first let me have your name and telephone number…
~~~
Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
Earl Nightingale
~~~
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than fifteen years to 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 http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are more than 2000 readers from around the world.
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