Ray’s Daily
March 20, 2019
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.
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