Ray’s Daily
February 20, 2019
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
Meister Eckhart
I was at a feedback meeting the other day where some positive suggestions were made on how we can make our residence an even better place to live. We had a nice representation of community members and staff. The outcome was plans for some good things to come.
Unfortunately for me there were a number of complaints from a few nay-sayers. Some of their points were valid but their complaint list was endless and were not the views of most of the rest of us. As I thought about these folks I wondered if they allow any time to be grateful for the good things we share. I find that there is no one I appreciate more than my friends who practice gratitude, they are also the happiest people I know.
I share the views of Leo Babauta who wrote the following.
Why Living a Life of Gratitude Can Make You Happy
Many days, I try to humble myself and hold a 2-minute gratitude session. I simply sit or kneel, with no distractions, close my eyes, and think about what I’m grateful for and who I’m grateful for.
I don’t do it every day, but let me tell you, on the days I do it, it makes me very happy. Why should that be? Why should the simple act of thinking about who and what I’m grateful for make such a big difference in my life?
Just a few reasons:
- Because it reminds you of the positive things in your life. It makes you happy about the people in your life, whether they’re loved ones or just a stranger you met who was kind to you in some ways.
- Because it turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful you have work. Be grateful you have challenges, and that life isn’t boring. Be grateful that you can learn from these challenges. Be thankful they make you a stronger person.
- Because it reminds you of what’s important. It’s hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your children are alive and healthy. It’s hard to get stressed out over paying bills when you are grateful there is a roof over your head.
- Because it reminds you to thank others. I’ll talk about this more below, but the simple act of saying “thank you” to someone can make a big difference in that person’s life. Calling them, emailing them, stopping by to say thank you … just taking that minute out of your life to tell them why you are grateful toward them is important to them. People like being appreciated for who they are and what they do. It costs you little, but makes someone else happy. And making someone else happy will make you happy.
~~~
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
Gilbert K. Chesterton
~~~
My last years in grammar school were spent on a farm school for boys outside a small town in Illinois, we could walk to town on Wednesday and Saturdays during the summer, and if the weather permitted, we could go on Saturday in the winter. The town was so small that…
in order to paint traffic lines, the road had to be widened
the clinic was called Joe’s Hospital and Grill
instead of hoses, the Fire Department used water pistols
you had to make a reservation to use the parking place
during snowstorms, salt was spread using a pea shooter
the Mayor was also the Sheriff, Town Council & street sweeper
before you visited, you could look out a window & see who was home
But all kidding aside, the Saturday night movie shown outside on the school house wall and the volunteer fire departments barrel fights on the Fourth of July were really special. Don’t know about barrel fights? Two different fire companies would shoot water from their hoses on a beer keg from opposite sides; the goal was to get the barrel to the other side and win. As you can see life was simpler then, even our twenty-five cent weekly allowance went a long way.
~~~
What a pity human beings can’t exchange problems. Everyone knows exactly how to solve the other fellow’s.
~~~
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.
Everlasting life— What a Catholic will need to understand all the changes since Vatican II.
~~~
“I’m growing old by myself. My wife hasn’t had a birthday in years.”
Milton Berle
~~~
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.
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 too 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.”
~~~
Eschew obfuscation.
~~~
“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”
Zig Ziglar
~~~
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
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