Ray’s Daily
March 13, 2019
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
I think I have learned one of the secrets of a long life, it is having a positive attitude. My new friends in my retirement community are a mixed lot. Many face physical difficulties that would be daunting to you and I. Yet these folks retain their intelligence, humor and empathy for others.
I think they have learned that there is little use in agonizing over what they cannot change or what is but a temporary setback. My fellow residents inspire all of us not to give into our woes.
Today I have extracted the highlights of an article that offers tips on how we too can ride out the difficulties we encounter.
Ways to Lift Your Mood When You’re Feeling Down in the Dumps
Dennis R. Tesdell
- Socialize & Think Positively! – When a person is feeling blue or *depressed,* often the LAST thing they want to do is be around others or socialize. The fact is, however, when we are feeling blue or down, if we choose to isolate ourselves and hold up in our room or home, we will tend to focus on the same mental *tapes* that are causing us to feel down in the first place! If you will force yourself to call a friend and meet for coffee, a movie, a walk, a talk–anything to get out and change your atmosphere, the chances are good that will have a good effect on changing your mood for the better.
- Do Something Just For YOURSELF! – Be totally selfish here. Think of something you want to do for yourself…a short trip, a manicure, a haircut, buying yourself the coat or scarf you have been wanting. It does not have to be extravagant nor costly. The point is you are being GOOD to yourself.
- Give Something To Another Person. – One of the best ways we can get beyond our own physical and emotional Self is to find something *bigger* than our own familiar problems upon which to concentrate! Think about your friends, relatives, the poor people in your church, or the local charities. Pick a person or cause that appeals to you and decide to give to that person or that cause.
- Rent Or Go See A Happy/Funny Movie.- Laughter has long been a quick and effective panacea for ills of all kinds.
- Volunteer Your Time.- One of the best ways we can help pull ourself out of feeling sorry for ourselves, or feeling blue, or concentrating on our own aches and pains, is by helping other people who have problems of their own
- Get Out Of The Past & Into The Present! – Most bad moods and mental attitudes are a result of what has happened to us in the PAST. This can be the recent past, or long ago. It is vital to your body and energy and Life as a whole that you stay in the PRESENT with your thoughts and feelings.
- Walk Or *Mall Walk* To Cheer Up. – Walking is prescribed by many doctors to help depression. REALIZE that EVERY person you see has their own problems, and has days when THEY are blue or down. Some may feel much worse, and even be clinically depressed. *To do* is to take action. You are NOT alone. Life will go on…things can get better, You must make the choice to help MAKE them better however.
- Call Someone You Like Who Is A “Positive” Person And Chat. – This option is alright as long as you do not *dump* on your friend, and as long as you do not abuse it. The idea here is to get OUT of yourself, and have some interaction, and hear about someone else’s life, and take your mind off your own *stuff* for awhile.
~~~
“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
~~~
While leading a tour of kindergarten students through our hospital, I overheard a conversation between one little girl and an x-ray technician.
“Have you ever broken a bone?” he asked.
“Yes,” the girl replied.
“Did it hurt?”
“No.”
“Really? Which bone did you break?”
“My sister’s arm.”
~~~
I’ve learned that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
Andy Rooney
~~~
Two mathematicians were having dinner in a restaurant, arguing about the average mathematical knowledge of the American public. One mathematician claimed that this average was woefully inadequate, the other maintained that it was surprisingly high. “I’ll tell you what,” said the cynic, “ask that waitress a simple math question. If she gets it right, I’ll pick up dinner. If not, you do.” He then excused himself to visit the men’s room, and the other called the waitress over.
“When my friend comes back,” he told her, “I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to respond `one third x cubed.’ There’s twenty bucks in it for you.” She agreed.
The cynic returned from the bathroom and called the waitress over. “The food was wonderful, thank you,” the mathematician started. “Incidentally, do you know what the integral of x squared is?”
The waitress looked pensive; almost pained. She looked around the room, at her feet, made gurgling noises, and finally said, “Um, one third x cubed?”
So the cynic paid the check. The waitress wheeled around, walked a few paces away, looked back at the two men, and muttered: “…plus a constant.”
~~~
The clearest indication of the complexity of modern relationships is the greeting cards that are blank on the inside. It’s like the card company says, “We give up, you think of something. For seventy-five cents it’s not worth us getting involved.
Jerry Seinfeld
~~~
“I spent my young adult years postponing many of the small things that I knew would make me happy…I was fortunate enough to realize that I would never have the time unless I made the time. And then the rest of my life began.”
Chris Peterson
~~~
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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