Ray's Daily

Don’t Wait

Ray’s Daily

March 29, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life.”

William Londen

Years ago I asked friends to develop a program entitled, “What to do when there is nothing left to do on your Things To Do List”. Many of us find after we retire that a time comes when we find ourselves with little to do and we stand the chance of stagnating,

Mental and physical good health depends on our staying active. So we search for something to do. The other day Angel Chernoff published a list of options that I liked and I want to share some of her choices with you today.

Little Things You Should Start Making Time for Again

• It’s time to start taking better care of yourself again. –It’s your duty, and yours alone, to keep your inner light shining bright.  So learn to love yourself first, instead of loving the idea of other people loving you. 
• It’s time to start indulging in your passions and hobbies again. – Do fall in love, not always with a person, but with an aim, an ambition, a passion.  Even if you can only dedicated 20 minutes a day to something you love, DO IT.  No excuses, no regrets.
• It’s time to start spreading joy again. – BE the change you want to see.  Love fearlessly and without limits.  Smile, and help others smile too.  If you don’t have the power or strength to write someone’s happiness, then try to help them remove their sadness instead.
• It’s time to start up quality conversations with loved ones again. –Relationships flourish when two people are able to share their innermost feelings and thoughts about themselves and each other.
• It’s time to start listening to others (without judgment) again. –Keep in mind that wisdom is not just knowing when to stand up and speak, but when to sit down quietly and listen.
• It’s time to start enjoying peaceful downtime again. – You deserve quiet moments away from the daily hustle, in which no problems are confronted, no solutions are explored, and no demands are being made of your time.
• It’s time to start reading good books again. – Books are truly the perfect entertainment: no advertisements, no batteries, hours of delight and education, and no cost with a library card.
• It’s time to start celebrating the small victories of each day again. – Sure, not every day will be good, but there will be something good about every day.  Notice these things and celebrate them.

~~~

“If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have the wealthDon’t you need, even if it is not all you want.”

Elbert Hubbard

~~~

To make it possible for everyone to attend church on Sunday, we are proposing to have a special ‘No Excuse Sunday.’

1. Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say, ‘Sunday is my only day to sleep in.’
2. They will have steel helmets for those who say, ‘The roof will cave in if I ever came to church.’
3. Blankets will be furnished for those who say it is too cold and fans for those who say it is too hot.

4.There will be hearing aids for those who say, ‘The pastor speaks too softly,’ and cotton for those who say, ‘He preaches too loudly.’

5 Scorecards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.

6. Some relatives will be in attendance for those who like to go visiting on Sunday.
7. There will be TV dinners for those who can’t go to church and cook dinner too.
8. Golf clubs will be available for practice swings for those who like to golf on Sunday.

~~~

Daddy, what does “Formatting Non-removable Disk” mean?

~~~

An Irishman, a Mexican and a blond guy were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building.

They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, “Corned beef and cabbage. If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch  I’m going to jump off this building.”

The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, “Burritos again!  If I get burritos one more time I’m going to jump off, too.”

The blond opened his lunch and said, “Bologna again. If I get a bologna sandwich one more time, I’m jumping too.”

The next day the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage and jumped to his death.

The Mexican opened his lunch, saw a burrito and jumped too.

The blond guy opened his lunch, saw the bologna and jumped to his death as well.

At the funeral the Irishman’s wife was weeping.  She said, “If I’d known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!”

The Mexican’s wife also wept and said, “I could have given him tacos or enchiladas!  I didn’t realize he hated burritos so much.”

Everyone turned and stared at the blond’s wife. “Hey, don’t look at me,” she said, “He made his own lunch.”

~~~

JACK AND JILL Went up the hill to have a little fun.

Stupid Jill forgot the pill

And now they have a son.

~~~

The Catholic Church’s air conditioning broke down, so they had to hire a man to crawl around in the ducts and figure out what was wrong. As the man peeked down through one of the vents in the sanctuary, he saw little old Mrs. Murphy kneeling by the altar, apparently saying her rosary. Since the man was a fundamental Baptist, he thought it’d be funny to try and mess with the lady’s mind. In his best authoritative voice, he said, “This is Jesus. Your prayers will be answered.”

The little old lady didn’t even blink, just kept on saying her prayers. The man decided maybe she didn’t hear him, and tried again. “This is Jesus, the Son of God! Your prayers will be answered!” Again, she didn’t react at all. Mustering up a big breath of air, the man decided to try again. “THIS IS JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD! YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED!” The lady looks up and says, “SHUT UP! I’M TALKING TO YOUR MOTHER!”

~~~

“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”

B.K.S. Iyengar

~~~

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.

Did I hear you right?

Ray’s Daily

March 28, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

Robert McCloskey

Today I would like to share with you a Daily I wrote 12 years ago, I think many of us don’t stop to listen or clarify what has been said which results in misunderstanding and even conflict.

Ray’s Daily first published on March 28, 2007

Misunderstanding seems like too mild a word for what I often see around me. More often than not deep hurt or anger comes from misunderstood communications. Each of us hears through years of conditioning and our own attitudes and prejudices resulting in disconnects because someone else has a whole different set of filters. It sometimes seems as if we need a translator to have our words mean the same to someone else as they do to ourselves. It is sad how often turmoil is created because we walked away with a different understanding.

When I hear someone heatedly say “Oh, I understand alright”, it means they probably don’t, but at least they are letting you know there is a problem. It is worse when we quietly walk away with our own idea of what was said and it is different than what someone meant. Some of us hear instructions from someone, think we understand what they want and walk away without verifying that there truly are mutual expectations. I’ll tell you the only thing dumber than asking for clarification or verification is not doing so. I think the secret to better personal and professional cooperation and understanding is the question “If I heard you correctly you said…….,”, yep, just the simple stopping and feeding back to someone else your understanding of what was said can make a world of difference.

Sure sometimes it takes patience and work to assure total understanding but just remember the alternative is often chaos and anger. Here is what motivator, Ralph Marston has to say about the value of the patience that is often needed in order to achieve understanding:

 Here’s something to keep in mind as you go through this hectic day. The person who benefits most from your patience is you. Yes, you’ll come across many people who are rude, annoying and self-centered. But does it really serve any positive purpose for you to sink to their depths of negativity?

Instead, take the opportunity to rise to a higher level of peacefulness and understanding. Take the opportunity to practice and strengthen your patience. Patience and understanding will take you to places where anger, frustration, confusion and anxiety can never reach. Patience and understanding put you in a position of real power and effectiveness.

Practice patience, and you will build real strength. Live with patience and understanding, and a whole new world of valuable opportunities will open up to you. There’s nothing to be gained by reacting to rudeness and anxiety with more rudeness and anxiety of your own making. Respond instead with patience and understanding, and you’ll make your world a much better place.

~~~

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.

Dale Carnegie

~~~

Funny Kids’ Opinions

On science: “We keep track of the humidity in the air so we won’t drown when we breathe.”

–Travis, age 11

On beauty: “If you want to be loved by someone who isn’t already in your family, it doesn’t hurt to be beautiful.”

–Anita, age 8

On beauty: “It isn’t always how you look. Look at me. I’m handsome like anything, and I haven’t got anybody to marry me yet.”

–Brian, age 7

On marriage: “Married people usually look happy to talk to other people.”

–Eddie, age 6

On marriage: “Twenty-three is the best age, because you know the person forever by then.”

–Cameron, age 10

On relationships: “Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.”

–Lynnette, age 8

On relationships: “Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash.”

–Erin, age 8

On science: “One horsepower is the amount of energy it takes to drag a horse 500 feet in 1 second.”

–Harold, age 11

~~~

Don’t think of it as getting hot flashes. Think of it as your inner child playing with matches.

~~~

A minister, a priest and a rabbi went for a hike one day. It was very hot. They were sweating and exhausted when they came upon a small lake. Since it was fairly secluded, they took off all their clothes and jumped in the water.

Feeling refreshed, the trio decided to pick a few berries while enjoying their “freedom.” As they were crossing an open area, who should come along but a group of ladies from town.

Unable to get to their clothes in time, the minister and the priest covered their privates and the rabbi covered his face while they ran for cover.

After the ladies had left, and the men got their clothes back on, the minister and the priest asked the rabbi why he covered his face rather than his privates.

The rabbi replied, “I don’t know about you, but in MY congregation, it’s my face they would recognize.”

~~~

Happiness: The result of being too busy to be miserable.

~~~

In a small town, farmers of the community had gotten together to discuss some important issues. About midway through the meeting, a wife of one of the farmers stood up and spoke her piece.

One of the old farmers stood up and said, “What does she know about anything? I would like to ask her if she knows how many toes a pig has?”

Quick as a flash, the woman replied, “Take off your boots sir, and count them yourself!”

~~~

Schizophrenia beats being alone.

~~~

There are three religious truths:

1. a) Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
2. b) Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of The Christian faith.
3. c) Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters.

~~~

Gracie Allen’s Classic Recipe for Roast Beef

1 large Roast of beef

1 small Roast of beef

Take the two roasts and put them in the oven. When the little one burns, the big one is done.

~~~

“Who is more busy than he who hath least to do?”

John Clarke

~~~

A state trooper stopped Jill for going 15 miles over the speed limit.

After he handed her a ticket, Jill asked, “Don’t you give out warnings?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied.  They’re all up and down the road.  They say, ‘Speed limit 65.'”

~~~

Kindness is a language which the dumb can speak, the deaf can understand.

C.N. Bovee

~~~

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.

Friends

Ray’s Daily

March 27, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“There’s not a word yet for old friends who’ve just met.”

Jim Henson

I really enjoy many of my new friends. Some have seemed to be needing more social interaction, just like we all do.

It is not always easy for folks to open up to others but doing so is well worth it. If you are like I am your memories are filled with good times shared with friends. As our life moves on many friends are no longer with us and it is important that we don’t let their loss isolate us.

It is the people in our lifes that make the difference between happiness and the sadness that often comes as the result of lonesomeness. The good news is that there lots of folks just like us who welcome new friends.

Here are a few tips I got from the Best Life Blog that we can use as we expand our friendships.

Lead with a smile. – One of the easiest ways to make yourself seem kinder and more approachable is to simply put a smile on your face.

Reach out to friends you’ve lost touch with. – On top of trying to build new friendships from scratch, do your best to reconnect with members of your social circle with whom you’ve fallen out of touch—with people you were once close with, you can more or less pick up where you left off.

Conquer your fears. – One of the biggest reasons people have a hard time making friends after 40 is the stigma attached to putting yourself out there, especially when you’re over a certain age. However, instead of indulging those thoughts telling you that trying to meet new people makes you seem lonely or sad, remind yourself that millions, if not billions of people are looking for the same thing.

Invite your neighbors over. – The nice thing about neighbors is that it’s almost like having built-in friends right next door. If Make friends with people who you see in non-social contexts.

Say hi to strangers. – Want a quick and easy way to make friends after 40? Start by saying hi to people when you pass them by. Once you’ve gotten comfortable making those initial introductions, you’ll have an easier time meeting new people you’re eager to socialize with, too.

Say yes to friends when they invite you out. – For shy people, saying no to a casual invitation is often a reflexive response. When your friends, acquaintances, or family members suggest that you get together on a whim, make it a habit of saying yes as much as possible

Be consistent – Like any relationship, friendships take work to maintain. If you want to both make and keep new friends, it’s essential that you do your best to make an effort. Schedule regular game nights, invite people over for drinks once a week, or just check in via text with some frequency—the more you nurture your new relationships, the more they’ll flourish.

~~~

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

~~~

The Rosenthals had an outstandingly happy and successful marriage, and Mr. Rosenthal was once asked to what he attributed this remarkable situation. “It’s simple,” he said. “Division of labor. My wife makes all the small, routine decisions. She decides what house we buy, where we go on vacation, whether the kids go to private schools, if I should change my job, and so on.”

“And you?”

“I make the big, fundamental decisions. I decide if the United States should declare war on China, if Congress should appropriate money for a manned expedition to Mars, and so on.”

~~~

Boss: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

~~~

My next-door neighbor and I frequently borrow things from each other.  Not long ago, when I requested his ladder, he told me he had lent it to his son.  Recalling a saying my grandmother used to repeat, I recited, “You should never lend anything to your kids, because you will never get it back.”

With that, my neighbor said, “Well, it’s not even my ladder. It’s my dad’s.”

~~~

If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

~~~

A hospital posted a notice in the nurses’ lounge saying:

“Remember, the first five minutes of a human being’s life are the most dangerous.”

Underneath, a nurse had written:

“The last five are pretty risky, too.”

~~~

Do not make an obscene gesture at anyone driving a pickup truck with a gun rack.

~~~

The judge was instructing the jury that a witness was not necessarily to be regarded as untruthful because he changed his statement from one which he had previously made to the police. For example, he said, when I entered my chambers today, I was sure I had my gold watch in my pocket. But then I remembered that I left in on my nightstand in my bedroom.

When the judge returned home, his wife asked him, Why so much urgency for your watch? Isnt sending three men to get it a bit extreme?

What? said the judge, I didn’t send anyone for my watch, let alone three people; what did you do?

I gave it to the first one, said the wife. He knew exactly where it was.

~~~

Monotony is the awful reward of the careful.

1. G. Buckham

~~~

While recently riding on the bus standing up, a friend of mine grabbed onto the pole nearest her to keep herself steady while the bus traveled down the road. She soon noticed a young man, who was also hanging on to the same pole, staring at her. Although this was somewhat annoying, she decided to just look the other way. Soon the bus came to a stop. Clearing his throat, the young man said, “Excuse me. This is my stop.”

Since she wasn’t blocking his way, my friend was slightly confused. “Well,” she said, “go ahead.”

“And this is my pole,” the young man said.

My friend was completely perplexed until the young man added, “I just bought it at the hardware store to hold up my shower curtain.”

~~~

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

– Albert Schweitzer

~~~

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.

Speak Up

Ray’s Daily

March 26, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will.

– Venus Williams

In my community it is not easy to make friends if you don’t speak up. Some of my neighbors are very shy and are not easy to know. Folks our age benefit from the friends we make, they are the antidote for feelings of loneliness as well as helpers when we need them.

I know it is not easy for some to break out of their shell but the rewards make the effort worthwhile. Most folks are better then they think they are and can benefit from a confidence boost, I like what the gal in the following story did and I hope some of the shy folks will follow her lead and spek up.

Choosing Confidence

One of the greatest problems many people experience is lack of confidence. Some don’t believe in their ability to speak in public, others are afraid to try something they’ve never done before, and still others do not have the confidence to overcome their shyness.

Do you know that you can become more confident? One effective technique is to learn to do what you’re afraid to do.

I led a seminar a few years ago where I asked for three volunteers to speak to the group the next day. One young woman named Judy was the first to raise her hand. She explained to me later why she did so: ‘When you asked for three volunteers,’ Judy said, ‘I felt a knot of fear in my stomach. I’ve never done anything like this before and I’ve never really believed I could. But the fear was telling me something,’ she continued. ‘So because I felt so anxious, I decided that this was something I had to do. But I must to tell you, I’m terrified!’

She made up her mind to do that which she was afraid to do. And the following day, Judy’s five-minute talk was superb! She was honest and genuine, speaking right from her heart. Now she is more confident about her ability to speak in public.

People who are confident have choices. People who are fearful too often avoid much of life because they are afraid to venture into unknown territory.

Jim Loehr said, ‘With confidence, you can reach truly amazing heights; without confidence, even the simplest accomplishments are beyond your grasp.’

When you make what you’re afraid to do what you choose to do, you will soon have the confidence to do whatever you choose!

Written by Steve Goodier

~~~

Shyness is nice, but shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life that you’d like to.

Steven Morrissey

~~~

“Excerpts From The Dog’s Daily Diary”

8:00 am – Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

9:30 am – Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!

9:40 am – Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!

10:30 am – Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!

11:30 am – Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

12:00 noon – Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!

1:00 pm – Oh Boy! The yard! My favorite!

4:00 pm – Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!

5:00 pm – Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

5:30 pm – Oh Boy! Mom! My favorite!

6:00 pm – Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!

6:30 pm – Oh Boy! Sleeping in master’s bed! My favorite!

~~~

A good wife always forgives her husband when she’s wrong.

~~~

To get acquainted with his new Parish, the Priest decided to call on some daily. One he selected was a young widow, her husband, according to the index card, had died two years ago. After knocking at the door, he was greeted by a young lady with a baby in her arms.

He said, “I’m sorry, I must have the wrong address, I was looking for the widow Laffitte.”

“You’ve found her, Father.” smiled the lady.

“Well, according to the card here, it says your husband died over two years ago.” he said glancing at the baby in her arms.

“That’s correct, Father. He surely did …but I didn’t!”

~~~

“I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers.”

Joseph Blosephina

~~~

Top Ten Signs You’re Being Stalked by Martha Stewart

10. You get a threatening note made up of letters cut out of a magazine with pinking shears, and they’re all the same size, the same font, and precisely lined up in razor-sharp rows.
11. You find a lemon slice in the dog’s water bowl.
12. On her TV show she makes a gingerbread house that looks exactly like your split-level, right down to the fallen licorice downspout and the half-open graham cracker garage door.
13. You find your pet bunny on the stove in an exquisite tarragon,rose

petal & saffron demi-glace’, with pecan-crusted hearts of palm and adelicate mint-fennel sauce.

6. The unmistakable aroma of potpourri follows you even after you leave the bathroom.
7. You discover that every napkin in the entire house has been folded into a swan.
8. No matter “where” you eat, your place setting always includes an oyster fork.
9. Twice this week you’ve been the victim of a drive-by doilying.
10. You wake up in the hospital with a concussion and endive stuffing in every orifice.

AND THE NUMBER 1 Sign You’re Being Stalked by Martha Stewart…

1. You awaken one morning with a glue gun pointed squarely at your temple.

~~~

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.”

Oscar Wilde

~~~

My friend’s mother is a proper Southern lady and a passionate gardener who spends hours outside with her plants. In her neighborhood, where she has lived most of her life, no one has fences and every yard is open to the next.

Recently one of her longtime neighbors, an elderly man, moved away. “Are you going to miss him?” my friend asked.

“Actually I’m relieved,” her mother replied. “Now I can bend over.”

~~~

The way you overcome shyness is to become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.

Lady Bird Johnson

~~~

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.

Kindness Matters

Ray’s Daily

March 25, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”

AESOP

I have found that the happiest people I know are also the kindest. They seem to do what they can for others whenever they can. They truly brighten the world around them with their good deeds.

Conversely the unhappiest people I know are the chronic falt finders they are so busy complaining that they have little time to do much caring for others, These are the folks that seem to treat food servers, clerks and others as their personal servants instead of valuing what the service workers do for us.

I have found it is useless to debate with the naysayers as they seldom listen to others. I just listen and move on as they tend to be the friendless. My favorite time is the time I spend with the caring kind people, people like you.

Here are a couple of things done for others with no expectation of reward.

Showing Kindness in Your Community

I was driving home from college in a heavy rain one dark spring night in the pre-cellphone era.  Suddenly, I had a flat tire about three miles from the small town where my parents lived.  Sadly, I hadn’t paid attention during the tire-changing demonstration in drivers education class, so I was essentially helpless.  However, just as I parked on the shoulder of the county road, I saw headlights behind me.  It was a young man, accompanied by his wife.  He got out and asked if I needed help, which was an understatement.  He got plenty muddy and soaking wet over the next fifteen minutes as he put on my spare, while I stood there twiddling my thumbs.  Then the young husband quietly returned to their car and waited until I drove off.

I was losing my hearing and was struggling to do my job as a teacher/trainer.  I began to withdraw due to my loss of hearing.  So I made an appointment with company that would allow me to borrow a pair of hearing aids. They made such a difference and I wanted to purchase them, but they were very expensive. Unbelievably, two friends told me they would cover the total cost.  My life has been radically changed due to this gift of hearing via hearing aids.

~~~

KINDNESS CAN MAKE A BAD DAY GOOD, AND A GOOD DAY BETTER.”

R A Ktivist

~~~

The Smiths were dining out when his wife noticed her ex-husband at the bar.

“Honey,” she said as she pointed the guy out, “that guy at the bar has been drinking like that since I left him seven years ago.”

Her husband said, “That’s silly, no one celebrates that much.”

~~~

The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else does.

~~~

Perks of Being Over 60

1. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
2. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.
3. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
4. People call at 9 PM and ask, “Did I wake you?”
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won’t wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 P.M.
9. You can live without sex but not without glasses.
10. You enjoy hearing about other peoples operations.
11. You get into heated arguments about pension plans and politicians.
12. You have a party and the neighbors don’t even realize it.
13. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
14. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
15. You sing along with the music piped into the Mall.
16. Your eyes won’t get much worse.
17. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
18. Your ankles swell and you can’t feel them either.
19. You have lost your sense of smell.
20. Your taste buds only sense the alcohol in medicines. and worst of all…… You can’t remember who sent you this darn list.

~~~

Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?

~~~

The new Librarian decided that instead of checking out children’s books by writing the names of borrowers on the book cards herself, she would have the youngsters sign their own names.   She would then tell them they were signing a “Contract” for returning the books on time.

Her first customer was a second grader, who looked surprised to see a new Librarian. He brought four books to the desk and shoved them across to the Librarian, giving her his name as he did so.

The Librarian pushed the books back and told him to sign them out.  The boy laboriously printed his name on each book card and then handed them to her with a look of utter disgust.

Before the Librarian could even start her speech he said, scornfully, “That other Librarian we had could write.”

~~~

Ever notice that you have to get to church pretty early to find a seat in the back row?

~~~

A young man was walking past an old woman on a street corner, when she said, “Son, if it is not too much trouble, can you see me across the street.”

The young man said, “Just a minute.”  Then he walked across the street, looked back and yelled, “Yes, I can see you!”

~~~

“KINDNESS CAN TRANSFORM SOMEONE’S DARK MOMENT WITH A BLAZE OF LIGHT. YOU’LL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR CARING MATTERS. MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ANOTHER TODAY.”

Amy Leigh Mercree

~~~

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.

No buts please

Ray’s Daily

March 22, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”

James Allen

Rather than write a new Daily I want to revisit one I wrote nine years ago.

Those of you who have been reading the Daily for a while know that I am not comfortable with people who are constant complainers. These are the folks who wake up in the morning sure they are going to have a bad day and then spend the rest of day proving that they were right. I think of them as “but” folks, you know those who always say yes, but. It seems like they go out of their way to find fault or a flaw in almost everything they encounter.

As an example, Jack just got back from a cruise and I ask “Jack, how was your cruise?” and Jack replies, “It was fine but it rained most days, the food was very good but the dining room was noisy, my cabin was very nice but the bathroom was small, all in all I liked the cruise but it wore me out.” Since most of us hear the exceptions while taking for granted the good things in our day to day lives we tend to focus in on what is said after the but. In Jacks case what he said to the right of the but was that it rained most days during the cruise, the dining room was noisy, the bathroom too small and it wore him out. If he just would have stayed to the left of the but I would have heard that the cruise was fine, the food was very good, that he had a nice cabin and that he liked the cruise. If he needed to add anything he could have done so in a way that did not distract from what he reported, for example he could have said “I really liked the cruise, we had so much fun that I did not get enough sleep and it took me a day to rest back up.”

The sad part is that there are those who are compulsive “buters,” people that just need to find fault. Pretty soon all they say is what is on the right side of the but and they become chronic complainers. I really feel sorry for them as they miss the good life that those of us who try to stop before the but live every day. If you think about it the great majority of our time is pretty good and while we may stub our toe once in awhile that is the exception not the norm. So my friends let us make a pact — whenever we are about to say but we’ll stop ourselves and stay focused on what we really feel and what we are trying to say.

~~~

“If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”

Maya Angelou

~~~

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant’s foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen-aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, and then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter couldn’t help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage; climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn’t the same elephant.

~~~

I have never had premonitions, but one day I think I will.

Lawrence Brotherton

~~~

Jolene had wanted new kitchen cabinets for a long time, but her husband insisted they were an extravagance. Then she went to visit her mother for two weeks and when she returned, she was overjoyed to find that her husband had surprised her by installing beautiful new cabinets.

A few days later, a neighbor came over to visit and after admiring the new cabinets, the neighbor added, “All of us were so glad the fire your husband had while you were gone was confined to the kitchen.”

~~~

She said: God Made Us Sisters; Prozac Made Us Friends

~~~

My parents had not been out together in quite some time. One Saturday, as Mom was finishing the dinner dishes, my father stepped up behind her. “Would you like to go out, girl?” he asked.

Not even turning around, my mother quickly replied, “Oh, yes, I’d love to!”

They had a wonderful evening and it wasn’t until much later that Dad finally confessed that his question had actually been directed to the family dog, laying near Mom’s feet on the kitchen floor.

~~~

You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

~~~

A guy moved to Arizona at the urging of his doctor. After settling in, he met a neighbor who was also an older man. “My doctor recommended I move here for my health. Is this really a good place to live?”

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

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

“I was born here.”

~~~

If you’re not using your smile, you’re like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no checkbook.

Les Giblin

~~~

Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement, not even her parents’ nasty divorce. Her mother had found the perfect dress to wear and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever! A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother. Jennifer asked the new wife to exchange it, but she refused.

“Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress and I’m wearing it,” she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, “Never mind sweetheart. I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.”

A few days later, they went shopping and found another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, “Aren’t you going to return the other dress?” “You really don’t have another occasion where you could wear it.”

Her mother just smiled and replied, “Of course I do, dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding!”

~~~

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.

Charlotte Bronte

~~~

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.

We need each other

Ray’s Daily

March 21, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

Charles Dickens

The other day I attended a meeting of my fellow residents who live in our Senior Living facility. It was attended by about 40 of my neighbors.

The meeting showed us ways we could make our community even better than it already is while giving us an alternative to hibernating in our apartments. I was impressed with how volunteers operated the convenience store where we purchase necessities and more. A member told how our library was staffed by fellow residents. Others reported on what they do to welcome new residents.

We were invited to participate by helping those with memory issues, meeting with prospective and new residents and much more. I liked the idea that we had things we could do while helping our residents. It is great to have the opportunity to do something worthwhile rather than just rest and eat.

I am glad I am here and I did sign up to get more involved. There is not much more rewarding than helping others. When I read the following story it reminded me of what some of my neighbors would do.

The Man at the Market

When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, I was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags, when another shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him. “Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.”

Leslie Wagner

~~~

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

John Holmes

~~~

He said that with the divorce rate so high in America, a new organization has been formed called, “Marriage Anonymous.” Whenever a man feels like getting married, they send over a woman wearing a torn housecoat, with curlers in her hair and cream on her face, and she tries to nag him out of it.

~~~

She said if you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.

~~~

At the construction site of a new church, the contractor stopped to chat with one of his workmen.

“Paddy,” he asked casually, “didn’t you once tell me that you had a brother who was a bishop?”

“That I did, sir.”

“And you are a bricklayer!  It sure is a funny world.  Things in life aren’t divided equally, are they?”

“No, that they ain’t sir,” agreed Paddy, as he proudly slapped the mortar along the line of bricks.  “Me poor brother couldn’t do this to save his life!”

~~~

If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.

Sue Grafton-

~~~

Several women were visiting elderly Mrs. Diamond who was very ill. After a while, they rose to leave and told her, “Esther, we will keep you in our prayers.”

“Just wash the dishes in the kitchen,” the ailing woman said, “I can do my own praying.”

~~~

People tell me I’m childish but I think they’re just being poopyheads.

~~~

Over a round of golf, two doctors were talking shop.

“I operated on Mr. Lee the other day,” said the surgeon.

“What for?” asked his colleague.

“About $17,000.”

“What did he have?”

“Oh… About $17,000.”

~~~

“Camping is nature’s way of promoting the motel business.”

Dave Barry.

~~~

A professor was giving a big test one day to his students. He handed out all of the tests and went back to his desk to wait.  Once the test was over the students all handed the tests back in. The professor noticed that one of the students had attached a $100 bill to his test with a note saying A dollar per point.” The next class the professor handed the tests back out.

This student got back his test and $64 change.

~~~

A baby-sitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like teenagers.

~~~

During a service at an old synagogue in Eastern Europe, when the prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and half remained sitting. The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand up.

The rabbi, learned as he was in the Law and commentaries, didn’t know what to do. His congregation suggested that he consult a homebound 98-year old man, who was one of the original founders of their temple.  The rabbi hoped the elderly man would be able to tell him what the actual temple tradition was.

So he went to the nursing home with a representative of each faction of the congregation.

The one whose followers stood during prayer said to the old man, “Is the tradition to stand during this prayer?”

The old man answered, “No, that is not the tradition.”

The one whose followers sat asked, “Is the tradition to sit during prayer?”

The old man answered, “No, that is not the tradition.”

Then the rabbi said to the old man, “The congregants fight all the time, yelling at each other about whether they should sit or stand!”

The old man interrupted, exclaiming, “THAT is our tradition!”

~~~

The fellow who never makes a mistake takes his orders from one who does.

Herbert V. Prochnow

~~~

Laws Of Slow People

1. Slow people always walk side by side, even if they don’t know each other.
2. They drive side by side, too. If they can’t find another slow driver to pair up with, they drive in the fast lane.
3. Slow walkers never look back. When they drive, they never look in their rearview mirrors, either.
4. Slow people drift sideways so they’ll block the path of anyone trying to pass them. If two people or vehicles are trying to get around them at the same time, they drift into the path of the one that is moving at the highest speed.
5. Follow behind a slow person in the grocery store and you’ll wind up with soggy ice cream every time.

~~~

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

Booker T. Washington

~~~

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.

Happy?

Ray’s Daily

March 20, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

If only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.

Edith Wharton

Even at my age I meet people who wish they were happier. If you ask them what would make them happy many don’t have an answer, others have unreachable fantasies that leave them little chance of finding an answer.

Most of the people I live with in our community have learned that the key to happiness is to appreciate what we already have. They have found that accumulating more stuff does not bring happiness nor does constant searching for new experiences.

I find that my happiness comes from people like you, friends, family and the people I meet everyday. I also relish the comfort that our new home provides.

Here is a story that reminds us to not search for happiness over the hill but rather recognize it where we are.

Stop chasing happiness

“An old man lived in the village. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood. The longer he lived, the viler he became and more poisonous were his words. People did their best to avoid him because his misfortune was contagious. He created the feeling of unhappiness in others.

But one day, when he turned eighty, an incredible thing happened. Instantly everyone started hearing the rumor: ‘The old man is happy today, he doesn’t complain about anything, smiles, and even his face is freshened up.’

The whole village gathered around the man and asked him, “What happened to you?”

The old man replied, ‘Nothing special. Eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness and it was useless. And then I decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now.’”

~~~

I don’t think you can feel a sense of entitlement and still be happy. Happiness always comes from feeling that you’ve been blessed.

Robert Brault,

~~~

A young Jewish man falls in love with a Native American woman and they decide to get married. When his mother hears the news, however, she is extremely distressed because she wanted him to marry a nice Jewish girl. When she hears that not only is he marrying this Native American girl but has decided to live with her on the reservation, the mother becomes so upset that she refuses to even speak to the boy, practically disowning him.

After a year, the son telephones the mother to tell her that he and his wife are expecting a child. The mother is happy for him, but there is still quite a bit of tension in the air.

Nine months later, the son calls the mother again. “Mom,” he says, “I just wanted you to know that last night my wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy. I also wanted to tell you that we’ve talked it over and we have decided to give the boy a Jewish name.”

Upon hearing this, the mother is overjoyed. “Oh, son, this is wonderful,” she gushes. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life. You have made me the happiest woman in the world.”

“That’s great, Mom,” replies the son.

“And what,” asks the mother, “is the baby’s name?”

The son proudly replies, “Smoked Whitefish!”

~~~

Believing in our hearts that who we are is enough is the key to a more satisfying and balanced life.

Ellen Sue Stern

~~~

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter. When returning to her car she found that she had locked her keys in the car. She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter. She didn’t know what to do, so she called her home and told the babysitter what had happened and that she did not know what to do. The baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse.

She said, “You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.”

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, “I don’t know how to use this.” So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.

The woman thought, “This is what you sent to help me?” But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, “Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?”

He said, “Sure”. He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the car was opened.

She hugged the man and through her tears she said, “Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man.”

The man replied, “Lady, I am not a nice man I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour.”

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, “Oh, Thank you, thank you, God! You even sent me a Professional.”

~~~

Many a man’s tongue broke his nose.

Seumas MacManus

~~~

There is the story of a person who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation:

“I have good news and bad news.

“The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program.

“The bad news is, it’s still out there in your pockets.”

~~~

I began my education at a very early age. In fact, right after I left college.

Winston Churchill

~~~

A very nervous man, accompanied by his nagging wife, was examined by a doctor. After checking the chart, he nodded and wrote the man a prescription for a powerful tranquilizer.

The man asked, “How often do I take these.”

“Let’s start off with once every six hours. But they’re not for you.” replied the doctor. “They’re for your wife.”

~~~

We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

Frederick Keonig

~~~

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.

Think First

Ray’s Daily

March 19, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

As you think, so you become…..Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren’t there.

Epictetus

I worry sometimes that too many of us don’t stop to think before we jump to erroneous conclusions. It reminds me of the times I have returned excess change I received to a cashier only to find they reacted before I could explain that they did not short change me.

Have our lives become so fast paced that we don’t take time to deliberate before we judge? I hope not.

The following edited piece I got from Angel Chernoff triggered my thoughts today.

A 90-Second Reminder that Will Change Your Attitude (and Spare Some Pain)

Many of the biggest misunderstandings in life could be avoided if we simply took the time to ask, “What else could this mean?”

Here’s how it works: The story I’m telling myself can be applied to any difficult life situation or circumstance in which a troubling thought is getting the best of you. For example, perhaps someone you love (husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.) didn’t call you on their lunch break when they said they would, and now an hour has passed and you’re feeling upset because you’re obviously not a high enough priority to them. When you catch yourself feeling this way, use the phrase: The story I’m telling myself is that they didn’t call me because I’m not a high enough priority to them.

Then ask yourself these questions:

• Can I be absolutely certain this story is true?
• How do I feel and behave when I tell myself this story?
• What’s one other possibility that might also make the ending to this story true?

Give yourself the space to think it all through carefully.

Challenge yourself to THINK BETTER—to challenge the stories you subconsciously tell yourself and do a reality check with a more objective mindset.

~~~

If you’re going to be a good and faithful judge, you have to resign yourself to the fact that you’re not always going to like the conclusions you reach. If you like them all the time, you’re probably doing something wrong.

Antonin Scalia

~~~

A new doctor had arrived in town. He could cure anything and anybody. Everyone was amazed with what he could do – everyone except for Mr. Thompson, the town skeptic.

Grumpy old Mr. Thompson went to visit this ‘miracle doctor’ to prove that he wasn’t anybody special. When it was time for his appointment he told the doctor, “Hey, doc, I’ve lost my sense of taste. I can’t taste nothin’, so what are ya goin’ to do?”

The doctor scratched his head and mumbled to himself a little, then told Mr. Thompson, “What you need is jar number 47.”

So the doctor brought the jar out, opened it, and told Mr. Thompson to taste it. He tasted it and immediately spit it out, “This is gross!” he yelled. “Looks like I just restored your sense of taste Mr. Thompson,” said the doctor. So Mr. Thompson went home…. very mad.

One month later, Mr. Thompson decides to go back to the doctor and try once again to expose him as a fake, by complaining of a new problem. “Doc,” he started, “I can’t remember anything!” Thinking he had the doctor stumped now, he waited as the doctor scratched his head, mumbled to himself a little, and told Mr. Thompson, “What you need is jar number 47, it’s……” But before the doctor could finish his sentence, Mr. Thompson was cured and fled the room!

~~~

Am I getting older or is the supermarket playing great music?

~~~

You might be from Las Vegas If…..

* – You no longer associate bridges with water.

* – You can say 110 degrees without fainting.

* – You can make instant sun tea.

* – You learn that a seat belt makes a good branding iron.

* – The temperature drops below 85, and you feel a bit chilled.

* – You discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.

* – You discover you can get a sunburn through your car window.

* – You notice the best parking place is determined by shade, not distance.

* – It’s noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is on the streets.

* – Hot water comes out of both taps.

* – You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

* – No one would dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car or not having air conditioning.

* – You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

~~~

The self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates.

Thomas Szasz

~~~

“Can you tell me how old the dinosaur bones are?” a tourist asked the museum guard.

“They are three million, four years and six months old.”

“That’s an awfully exact number. How do you know their age so precisely?”

“Well, the dinosaur bones were three million years old when I started working here and that was four and a half years ago.”

~~~

Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable are the kind who do nothing.

William Feather

~~~

Mensa is an organization whose members have an IQ of 140 or higher. A few years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco, and several members lunched at a local cafe.

While dining, they discovered that their saltshaker contained pepper and their pepper shaker was full of salt. How could they swap the contents of the bottles without spilling, and using only the implements at hand? Clearly this was a job for Mensa!

The group debated and presented ideas, and finally came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer. They called the waitress over to dazzle her with their solution.

“Ma’am,” they said, “we couldn’t help but notice that the pepper shaker contains salt and the salt shaker…”

“Oh,” the waitress interrupted. “Sorry about that.” She unscrewed the caps of both bottles and switched them.

~~~

As human beings, we suffer from an innate tendency to jump to conclusions, to judge people too quickly, and to pronounce them failures or heroes without due consideration.

Prince Charles

~~~

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.

Who do you appreciate?

Ray’s Daily

March 18, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

Willie Nelson

I attended a special luncheon last week prepared by our restaurant staff. I sent the food director a thank you for the great meal. He responded in part with:

The lost art of thanks giving will die with your generation. It is always such a treat to receive thank you cards from our residents as well as emails and verbal “thanks givings”. This is not something that any generation after yours does very well.

Often times we are so busy or so entitled or so jaded that we can’t see past our noses. Love and appreciation are all around us, the blessings of others and the smiles too; If we could just see past ourselves.

Is he right, have we become so materialistic and self-centered that we don’t appreciate those who do so much for us? Do we thank friends, family, servers, druggists, grocery clerks and others enough? I find that many of you do appreciate those who make your life a little happier, thank you for caring.

How to Be More Appreciative

• Start saying thank you for everything, time, gifts, service rendered, assistance, kind words, everything.
• Make a list of things and people you appreciate and make a conscious effort to regularly show your appreciation for them. Add something new to this list everyday.
• Volunteer. Just do something that is for anyone but yourself on a regular basis.
• Understand that you regularly go out to eat, buy convenience foods, treats, even bread, or if you have help around the house, spend one week learning and doing it all for yourself. I guarantee the next time a waiter brings you a basket of bread that you had to wait a couple extra minutes for, you will feel more grateful and appreciate the work it took to get it to you.
• Realize that if you find yourself being overly critical of people around you, make a mental list of their good qualities and the things they do that you appreciate.

~~~

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

Marcel Proust

~~~

A guy walks into a bookstore, not looking for anything in particular. On his way to the back of the store, he spots something of interest. A book with a very interesting title, “Dating for the New Millennium. What Women Want.” So, he picks it up and opens it to a random page.

“Chapter 1: The First Date.”

He glances the chapter over for a few minutes and then rushes out of the bookstore to call a girl he’s wanted to ask out for quite awhile. When he gets home, he picks up the phone and calls her. She answers, “Hello?”

He says, “Hi, Jessica. Listen, I was wondering if you would want to go see a movie with me tonight?”

She says, “Sure, I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

He gets excited. He thought she’d say no way, but she didn’t. So, he decided to take it one step further. He asks, “Great, well how about dinner before the movie?”

She replies, “Sure, that would be great too!”

“Fine, I’ll pick you up about nine. You should be finished eating by then.”

~~~

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~~~

A man decides to join the circus. He shows up to demonstrate his skills to the impresario.

“I have the most unusual act,” he announces. “I’m sure it will amaze you.”

He proceeds to climb a tall tower and jumps off. He flaps his arms wildly and finally, his fall slows. He soars forward, swoops upward, turns and swoops back again. Finally, he stops in mid-air and gently lowers himself to the ground.

The impresario stares blankly at him for a long time. Finally, he says, “Is that all you’ve got? Bird imitations?”

~~~

Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.

~~~

Pauly and Maury were in the neighborhood bar… Again…And Maury remarked that Old Jim had just told him that He was now an octogenarian.

“What’s an octogenarian?” asked Pauly.

“I dunno,” said Maury, “but they must be pretty healthy People. Every one of ’em I’ve ever heard of is eighty Years old or more.

~~~

Why is it that we travel hundreds of miles to get away from everyone at home and then send them postcards that say, “Wish you were here”?

~~~

My town takes jury selection very seriously. So much so that when it sends questionnaires to perspective jurors, every question is expected to be answered in full–plain and simple, no ifs, ands or buts.

This was evidenced by the juror’s questionnaire I was sent. It asked, Do you speak, read and understand English? If no, explain.”

~~~

As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might.

Marian Anderson

~~~

Mary was having a tough day and had stretched herself out on the couch to do a bit of what she thought to be well-deserved complaining and self-pitying. She moaned to her Mom and brother, “Nobody loves me. The whole world hates me!”

Her brother, busily occupied playing a game, hardly looked up at her and passed on this encouraging word: “That’s not true, Mary. Lots of people don’t even know you.”

~~~

Doing nothing is tiring because you can’t stop to rest.

~~~

While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft. Spotting and old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted, “Are there any gators around here?!” “Naw,” the man hollered back, “they ain’t been around for years!”

“Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore. About halfway there he asked the guy, “How’d you get rid of the gators?” “We didn’t do nothin’,” the beachcomber said. “The sharks got ’em.”

~~~

“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.”

Northrup Christiane

~~~

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

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