Ray’s Daily
February 8, 2018
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools do.
Benjamin Franklin
I can’t stay long this morning as I have to help my wife straighten up the house before the cleaning people show up to clean and straighten up the house. After spending almost all my time resting in the recliner waiting for my ribs to heal it is now time to try to do more.
One nice thing about the distraction that the cleaners will provide is that I will not be listening to all the complaining that we hear too much of these days. I do understand that there are challenges that will not be solved by bombastic rhetoric and useless activity that goes nowhere but there is still a lot to be thankful for.
My hibernation has kept me from the folks who brighten my days, those who are generally positive. I enjoy people who like what they do and have little time to focus on what is wrong as they are too busy enjoying what is right in their lives.
How about you? If I asked you how things were going, what would you say? Some folks like to complain while others like to share the good news. I have learned that the secret to feeling good is to recognize what is good around us. Don’t be like this Monk.
Complain! Complain! Complain!
It takes a disciplined spirit to endure the monastery on Mount Serat in Spain. One of the fundamental requirements of this religious order is that the young men must maintain silence. Opportunities to speak are scheduled once every two years, at which time they are allowed to speak only two words.
One young initiate in this religious order, who had completed his first two years of training, was invited by his superior to make his first two-word presentation. “Food terrible,” he said.
Two years later the invitation was once again extended. The young man used this forum to exclaim, “Bed lumpy.”
Arriving at his superior’s office two years later he proclaimed, “I quit.” The superior looked at this young monk and said, “You know, it doesn’t surprise me a bit. All you’ve done since you arrived is complain, complain, complain.
Exaggerated? Maybe. What if you were asked to share two words that describe your Life? Would your focus be the lumps, bumps, and unfairness, or are you committed to dwell on those things that are good, right, and lovely?
~~~
We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.
William Arthur Ward
~~~
“Here at First National, you’re not just a number – you’re two numbers, a dash, three more numbers, another dash, and another number.”
~~~
Some of us remember when:
Being sent to the drugstore to test vacuum tubes for the TV.
When Kool-Aid was the only drink for kids, other than milk and sodas.
When it took five minutes for the TV to warm up.
When nearly everyone’s mom was at home when the kids got there.
When a quarter was a decent allowance, and another quarter a huge bonus.
When your mom wore nylons that came in two pieces.
When all of your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done, everyday.
When you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking,….. for free, every time and you didn’t pay for air. And you got trading stamps to boot!
When laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box.
When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents.
When they threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed…and did!
~~~
Billing’s Law: Live within your income, even if you have to borrow to do so.
Josh Billings
~~~
Pat was dying. His wife, Kristi, was maintaining a candlelight vigil by his side. She held his fragile hand, tears running down her face. Her praying roused him from his slumber. He looked up and his lips began to move slightly.
“My darling Kristi,” he whispered.
“Hush, my love,” she said. “Rest. Shhh, don’t talk.”
He was insistent. “Kristi,” he said in his tired voice. “I…I have something I must confess to you.”
“There’s nothing to confess,” replied the weeping Kristi. “Everything’s all right, go to sleep.”
“No, no. I must die in peace, Kristi. I…I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!”
“I knew,” Kristi whispered softly. “That’s why I poisoned you.”
~~~
“I put my air conditioner in backwards. It got cold outside. The weatherman on TV was confused. ‘It was supposed to be hot today, I don’t understand!'”
Steven Wright
~~~
A teacher asked one of her pupils, “What’s the nation’s capital?”
The reply was, “Washington DC.”
After the teacher asked the pupil what ‘DC’ stood for, the student added, “Dot com!”
~~~
“Did you know that it is a medically proven fact that people with the most birthdays live the longest?”
~~~
“Mom, I’ve decided I’m going to be a minister when I grow up.
“That’s okay with us,” the mother said, “But what made you decide to be a minister?”
“Well,” the boy replied, “I’ll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and listen.
~~~
“Let’s face it, traveling just isn’t as much fun when all the historical sites are younger than you are.”
~~~
To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. When you speak out, you are in your power. So change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.
Eckhart Tolle
~~~
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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