Ray's Daily

The people I really like

Ray’s Daily

May 31, 2019

“Be honest, be kind, and share the love.”

Suzi Quatro

I think the virtue I appreciate the most is Kindness. It seems like there is more animosity and anger in today’s world than is good for us. I know that most of the people I meet where I now live are good folks who look out for each other.

If someone is feeling ill or down in the dumps a fellow resident will notice and take action. If they can’t do something to help they get a staff member who can. The people here are quick to offer there help if it is needed and their friendship when all is well.

You know what? The kindest folks are also the happiest. I am glad I live among them. Here is an edited article written by Karyn Hall Ph.D. published in Psychology Today that I want to share with you.

The Importance of Kindness

Being kind can strengthen your relationships and sense of satisfaction in life. Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Affection, gentleness, warmth, concern, and care are words that are associated with kindness. Kindness is an interpersonal skill.

Science has now shown that devoting resources to others, rather than having more and more for yourself, brings about lasting well-being.

There are different ways to practice kindness. One way to be kind is to open your eyes and be active when you see people in need. Do you notice when people could use a helping hand? A sense of community is created when people are kind to those who need help. A kind word, a smile, opening a door, or helping carry a heavy load can all be acts of kindness.

Kindness is a willingness to full-heartedly celebrate someone else’s successes. Kindness is to be openly happy for the other person.

Kindness includes being kind to yourself. Do you treat yourself kindly? Do you speak gently and kindly to yourself and take good care of yourself?

There are many ways to be kind and many opportunities to practice. Perhaps kindness is a value that could add more satisfaction to and strengthen your relationships.

~~~

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~~~

Tired of having to balance his wife Cindy’s checkbook, Mike made a deal with her; he would look at it, but only after she had spent a few hours trying to wrestle it into shape. The following night, after spending hours poring over stubs and figures, Cindy said proudly, “I’ve done it! I made it balance!”

Impressed, Mike came over to take a look. “Let’s see… mortgage 550.00, electricity 70.50, phone 35.00.” His brow wrinkled as he read the last entry. “It says here ESP, $615. What the heck is that?”

“Oh,” she said, “That means, Error Some Place!”

~~~

Living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.

~~~

A young man who worked for my husband at his contracting business came in one day, devastated because he and his girlfriend had broken up.

“Isn’t this the fourth or fifth time you two have split up?” my husband asked.

“Yeah,” replied the young man.  “But this is only the second time for good.”

~~~

College  — The four year period when parents are permitted access to the telephone.

~~~

When Joe’s wife ran away, he got so depressed that his doctor sent him to see a psychiatrist. Joe told the psychiatrist his troubles and said, “Life isn’t worth living.”

“Don’t be stupid, Joe,” said the psychiatrist. “Let work be your salvation. I want you to totally submerge yourself in your work. Now, what do you do for a living?”

“I clean out septic tanks,” Joe replied.

~~~

To err is human, to forgive – highly unlikely.

~~~

How to tell the weather:

Go to your back door and look for the dog.

If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it’s probably raining. But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it is probably raining really hard. If the dog’s fur looks like it’s been rubbed the wrong way, it’s probably windy. If the dog has snow on his back, it’s probably snowing. Of course, to be able to tell the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather.

Sincerely, The CAT

~~~

All of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness.

Mark Kennedy

~~~

Alice and Frank are bungee-jumping one day. Alice says to Frank, “You know, we could make a lot of money running our own bungee-jumping service in Mexico.” Frank thinks this is a great idea, so they pool their money and buy everything they’ll need; a tower, an elastic cord, insurance, etc.

They travel to Mexico and begin to set up on the square. As they are constructing the tower, a crowd begins to assemble. Slowly, more and more people gather to watch them at work. When they had finished, there was such a crowd they thought it would be a good idea to give a demonstration.

So, Alice jumps. She bounces at the end of the cord, but when she comes back up, Frank notices that she has a few cuts and scratches.

Unfortunately, Frank isn’t able to catch her and she falls again, bounces and comes back up again. This time, she is bruised and bleeding.

Again, Frank misses her. Alice falls again and bounces back up. This time she comes back pretty messed up — she’s got a couple of broken bones and is almost unconscious. Luckily, Frank finally catches her this time and says, “What happened? Was the cord too long?”

Barely able to speak, Alice gasps, “No, the bungee cord was fine…It was the crowd. What the hell is a piñata?”

~~~

“One who is kind is sympathetic and gentle with others. He is considerate of others’ feelings and courteous in his behavior. He has a helpful nature. Kindness pardons others’ weaknesses and faults. Kindness is extended to all — to the aged and the young, to animals, to those low of station as well as the high.”

Ezra Taft Benson

~~~

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.

 

Where did it go?

Ray’s Daily

May 30, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.

Art Buchwald

One of the things that has surprised me in what I thought would be a more leisurely phase of my life is how busy my life really is. I have caregiver duties and meal schedules that keep a major part of my day busy. The preparation of Ray’s Daily takes an hour and sometimes more. Not only that my residence provides numerous entertainment, education and physical fitness opportunities.

So I still have a long list of books to read, saved movies to watch and more. They say when you get to be my age you do everything possible to avoid stagnation, I don’t know how that can happen I sure don’t have the time for it.

A Very Special Bank Account

Imagine you had a bank account that deposited $86,400 each morning. The account carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every dollar each day!

We all have such a bank. Its name is Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever time you have failed to use wisely. It carries over no balance from day to day. It allows no overdraft so you can’t borrow against yourself or use more time than you have. Each day, the account starts fresh. Each night, it destroys an unused time. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, it’s your loss and you can’t appeal to get it back.

There is never any borrowing time. You can’t take a loan out on your time or against someone else’s. The time you have is the time you have and that is that. Time management is yours to decide how you spend the time, just as with money you decide how you spend the money. It is never the case of us not having enough time to do things, but the case of whether we want to do them and where they fall in our priorities.

~~~

It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.

Seneca

~~~

A husband and wife were at a party chatting with some friends when the subject of marriage counseling came up. “Oh, we’ll never need that. My husband and I have a great relationship,” the wife explained. “He was a communications major in college and I majored in theater arts. He communicates real well and I just act like I’m listening.”

~~~

“There is only one pretty child in the world, And every mother has it.”

Traditional Proverb

~~~

A vacationer e-mailed a seaside hotel to ask its location. “It’s only a stone’s throw away from the beach,” he was told.

“But how will I recognize it?” asked the man. The reply was, “It’s the one with all the broken windows.”

~~~

Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?

~~~

During training exercises, the lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the wheel. “Your jeep stuck, sir?” asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside

“Nope,” replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, “Yours is.”

~~~

I want to have children, but my friends scare me. One of my friends told me she was in labour for 36 hours. I don’t even want to do anything that feels good for 36 hours.

Rita Rudner-

~~~

“Each evening bird lover Tom stood in his backyard, hooting like an owl – and one night, an owl called back to him.  For a year, the man and his feathered friend hooted back and forth.  He even kept a log of the “conversation.”  Just as he thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in interspecies communication, his wife had a chat with her next door neighbor.

“My husband spends his nights … calling out to owls,” she said.

“That’s odd,” the neighbor replied.  “So does my husband.” Then it dawned on them.

~~~

”

“When people ask me if I have any spare change, I tell them I have it at home in my spare wallet.”

Nick Arnette

~~~

Mrs. Applebee, the 6th grade teacher, posed the following problem to one of her classes:

“A wealthy man dies and leaves ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his butler, and the rest to charity. Now, what does each get?”

After a very long silence in the classroom, Little Johnny raised his hand.

The teacher called on Little Johnny for his answer.

With complete sincerity in his voice, Little Johnny answered, “A lawyer!”

~~~

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Then when they’re gone, I can catch up on my nap.”

Tom Sims

~~~

While proudly showing off his new apartment to friends, a college student led the way into the den.

“What is the big brass gong and hammer for?” one of his friends asked.

“That is the talking clock”, the man replied.

“How’s it work?” the friend asked.

“Watch”, the man said, then proceeded to give the gong an ear shattering pound with the hammer.

Suddenly someone screamed from the other side of the wall, “KNOCK IT OFF, YOU JERK! It’s two AM!”

~~~

Confusion not only reigns, it pours.

~~~

A man entered a stationery store and asked the clerk for a birthday/anniversary card.

The clerk replied, “We have birthday cards and we have anniversary cards. Why not take one of each?”

The man said, “You don’t understand. I need a card that covers BOTH events! You see, we’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of my wife’s thirty-fourth birthday…”

~~~

Do we need more time? Or do we need to be more disciplined with the time we have?

Kerry 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.

 

The Gratitude Antidote

Ray’s Daily

May 29, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

If you’re always grateful for the little things, it’s hard to avoid happiness. It’s a lack of gratitude that often keeps us feeling down.

Marc Chernoff offered his thoughts on using gratitude to offset the anxiety so many of us feel when things don’t go as well as we like. I know that when I remember all the good things in my life, I find they more than counterbalance the occasional bad stuff. Here in part are his thoughts.

How to Be Grateful and Strong When Things Go Wrong

How often do you let go of what you think your life is supposed to look like, and sincerely appreciate it for everything it is? If you’re anything like the rest of us, it’s probably not often enough.

Here’s an excerpt from 1,000 Little Things with some proven ways to find sincere gratitude when everything seems to be going wrong.

Be grateful around difficult people. – We expect people to treat us kindly, fairly, and respectfully. But the reality is some people won’t. They will lose their tempers or act foolishly, regardless of how we treat them. This must be accepted.

Don’t lower your standards, but do remind yourself that removing your expectations of others—especially those who are being difficult—is the best way to avoid being disappointed by them. At the very least, you can be grateful for them because they serve as a great reminder of how not to be.

Be grateful when you catch yourself starting to complain. – Many of us have developed a subtle habit of complaining when things don’t go quite our way. Gratitude is the antidote. Each time you notice yourself feeling bitter, or complaining, notice the story in your mind about “how life should be.” Instead of letting this story dominate you, find a small way to be grateful instead. What could you feel grateful for right now?

Be grateful when you begin to feel overwhelmed. – Have you ever noticed how the more familiar you become with an amazing situation or relationship in your life, the more you seem to take it for granted—and even feel annoyed or overwhelmed in busy and stressful times? Challenge yourself to flip your perspective in these moments, using a simple reframing tool we call “. . . and I love it!” Add this phrase to any overwhelming thought: I need to go grocery shopping, and pay the bills, and pick the kids up from school in an hour . . . and I love it!

Life’s disappointments and struggles are not easy to find gratitude for, but they can become incredible paths of growth if we find the lessons in them—if we start to see everything as our teacher. Truly, the best time to focus on being grateful is when you don’t feel like it. Because that’s when doing so can make the biggest difference.

~~~

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

Robert Brault

~~~

Be careful, many of these laws are still on the books

• When visiting Louisiana, remember that it is illegal to gargle in public…you can do just about anything else in public, but NO gargling!
• If you’re going to be driving through Utah, be alert because the birds have the right of way on the state highways.
• And walking down the streets of Maine with your shoes strings untied is also illegal.
• In California, its against the law to peel an orange in your hotel room….I guess its ok to peel it in the hallway & then go into your room.
• Whistling under water will result in more than getting water in your nose, it will also get you put in jail if you do it in Vermont.
• And while you and your beloved spouse are enjoying the Florida sun, don’t throw dishes if you happen to have a little disagreement with each other. If you break more than 3 a day, you could spend the rest of your vacation eating off of metal trays in the county jail.
• We’re not the only ones with the wacky laws. If you’re planning a trip out of the country be aware that….

~~~

“Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.”

Jules Renard

~~~

She said: I’m writing you to let you know that I have recently been diagnosed with a serious condition and there’s little hope of getting over it. The scientific world is frantically searching for a cure. This is an ailment others also suffer from and may be undiagnosed. It’s called “Butfirst Syndrome.” It’s like when I decide to do the laundry – I start down the hall and notice the newspaper on the table. Okay, I’m going to do the laundry – Butfirst I’m going to read the newspaper. After that, I notice the mail on the table. Okay, I’ll just put the newspaper in the recycle stack, – Butfirst, I’ll look through that pile of mail and see if there are any bills to be paid. Now where’s the checkbook? Oops!

There’s the empty glass from yesterday on the coffee table. I’m going to look for that checkbook, – Butfirst I need to put the glass in the sink.

I head for the kitchen, look out the window, notice my poor flowers need a drink of water. I put the glass in the sink, and darn it, there’s the remote for the TV on the kitchen counter. What’s it doing here? I’ll just put it away, – Butfirst I need to water those plants. Head for door and Ack! Stepped on the dog, who needs to be fed. Okay, I’ll put that remote away and water the plants. – Butfirst I need to feed the dog. At the end of day; Laundry is not done, newspapers are still on the floor, glass is still in the sink, bills are unpaid, checkbook is still missing, and the dog ate the remote control. AND, when I try to figure out how come nothing got done all day, I’m baffled, because I KNOW I was BUSY ALL DAY! I realize this condition is serious…and I should get help. Butfirst I think I’ll read all my email!

~~~

“The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass.”

Martin Mull

~~~

A New York family bought a ranch out west where they intended to raise cattle. Friends came to visit and asked if the ranch had a name.

“Well,” said the would-be-cattleman. I wanted to call it the Bar-J, my wife favored the Suzy-Q, one son liked the Flying-W, and the other son wanted the Lazy-Y. So, we’re calling it the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y.”

“But, where are all your cattle?”

“So far, none have survived the branding.”

~~~

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Melody Beattie

~~~

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.

 

It All Counts

Ray’s Daily

May 28, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

Joshua J. Marine

At my age I find myself living day to day. What I do not do is let one day define my week or certainly not my life. Maturity helps us understand that bad days will pass and good days are to be appreciated.

It is the aggregate of all our days that not only define us but is also the foundation on which we build our future. While i do miss global travel and the opportunity to work with some of the amazing people who are no longer with us I now live with some really special folks I enjoy.

So my friends don’t let one day define you or take you down. You have earned the right to appreciate your life. It is this story that trigged today’s thoughts.

So, How Was Your Life?

He was a most remarkable man.  A man of years clearly mapped out upon his face. Clean, well kept but not pretentious in his style or dress.  I shook his hand and felt a mix of gentle wear and hardened, callus, leather-like skin.  I would guess he labored most of his life, perhaps forced to stop long enough now to heal somewhat.

His egg white eyes with movie star blue pupils slips you into a momentary trance, transfixed as they seem to cut into your heart.  He wouldn’t notice you staring at him for he is considered legally blind.  But he will sense the hesitation in your voice if you do not respond immediately to his first question.  “So, how was your life?”

 That question alone would halt you in your tracks.  It bears repeating.  “You asked, How was my life?” “Yes,” he said in return.

“I would be better prepared to answer how was my day,” I suggested.

“That’s too easy,” he said.  “I think we need to keep up on our life as a whole.”

I thought for a moment and simply asked, “Why?”

“We tend to nit pic.  We can so easily take one day and dissect it.  It is easy to say you are having a bad day.  Or simply write it off as “One of those days!”  But when we broaden the view, we take much more into consideration.  Life in general will at least be “good”, Okay” or “It could be better,” he explained.

“So, you cut right to it and ask for an over all rating,” I said.

“If I can get someone to see the big picture and realize there is more good in their life than one bad day, I might even change their outlook on this very day,’ he said.

 “So, how was your life?” I asked of him.  “Wonderful so far, thanks for asking.”  Then he said one more thing that really stayed with me.  “I’m on the shady side of sunset.”

 How powerful!  It seems to me that we often see life as beginnings and endings.  Sun rises depict a new dawn, an exciting adventure ahead.  Sunsets make us think of endings.  Like “riding off into the sunset.” This man knew his life, his time, was coming to a close.  “I do hope the sun sets slower for you.  You have so many more people to ask the big question.”

 Before I left I promised him I’d help.  Let me begin by asking you.  “So, how was your life?”

Bob Perks

~~~

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”

Lucille Ball

~~~

She told me:

10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE “ESTROGEN ISSUES”

1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You’re adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You’re using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: “How’s my driving-call 1-800-***-.”
6. Everyone’s head looks like an invitation to batting-practice.
7. You’re convinced there’s a God and he’s male.
8. You can’t believe they don’t make a tampon bigger than Super Plus.
9. You’re sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

~~~

“If you think it’s hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball.”

Jack Lemmon

~~~

A lady leaves Montreal on route 20 heading toward Quebec city, when she decided to stop at a comfort station. The first toilet stall was occupied, so she went into the second one. She was no sooner seated than she heard a voice from the next stall:

“Hi, how are you doing?”

Well, she wasn’t the type to chat with strangers in highway comfort stations, and she really don’t know quite what possessed her, but anyway, she answered, a little embarrassed: “Not bad.”

The stranger said: “And, what are you up to?”

Talk about your dumb questions! She was really beginning to think this was too weird! So she said: “Well, just like you I am driving east?”

About then she heard the stranger, all upset, say: “Look, I’ll call ya right back, there’s some idiot in the next stall answering all the questions I’m asking you. Bye!”

~~~

“The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with.”

Marty Feldman

~~~

Coming out of church, Mrs. Peterson asked her husband, “Do you think that Johnson girl is tinting her hair?”

“I didn’t even see her,” admitted Mr. Peterson.

“And that dress Mrs. Hansen was wearing,” continued Mrs. Peterson, “Really, don’t tell me you think that’s the proper costume for a mother of two.”

“I’m afraid I didn’t notice that either,” said Mr. Peterson.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” snapped Mrs. Peterson.  “A lot of good it does you to go to church.”

~~~

I’ve been collecting compliments all my life. So far I have three.

~~~

Mr. Peterson, a tourist from Toronto arrived in Florida.

In an airport taxi cab, Peterson asked the driver…”Say, is this really a healthful place?”

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

“That’s wonderful!” said the tourist , “How long have you been here?”

“I was born here.”

~~~

“It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

K Rowling

~~~

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.

 

Stay Calm

Ray’s Daily

May 24, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.

Dan Millman

Monday is a National Holiday in the US so the next Daily will be on Tuesday

 A few folks have asked me why I stay so calm when there is so much turmoil these days. Some feel frustrated by how our government has abandoned so many of our basic principles. Others let the angry, sometimes nasty comments of others rile them up.

People can only make me angry if I let them. I just chose not to waste my energy on things I can’t control or overreacting to negative people. Don’t get me wrong I will continue to do all I can to make things better, but I will do it on my own terms.

Here are excerpts from an article that offers tips on how we stay calm and in control.

10 Tricks Successful People Use to Stay Calm in Stressful Situations

Steve Kux

1. They remain positive. – Having a negative attitude about the challenges you face is a great way to snowball into feeling overwhelmed. Look at obstacles as opportunities to learn and tough assignments as chances to show the world (what you are made of.
2. They avoid caffeine. – The last thing you need when you have a lot on your plate is too much caffeine in your system. Opt for water instead.
3. They make jokes. – If you ever find yourself on a deck of an aircraft carrier, you are likely to hear pilots ripping on each other and joking around about the imminent danger they face on a daily basis. It isn’t that they don’t feel fear; it is that they manage it through humor. Laughter releases hormones that calm you down and allow you to be in control.
4. They identify the stressor. – Zeroing in on what exactly is making you feel stressed out is the first step in overcoming those feelings. Being able to identify the enemy allows you to figure out what its weaknesses are and which of your strengths are most likely to be useful in any given situation.
5. They decompress. – Taking time to step back from a situation and relax can help you reorient your thoughts and view things more clearly. Take a walk, read a book, or watch a movie. Just do something to take your mind off the situation that is getting you worked up.
6. They reframe the situation. – Once you have taken the time to decompress, you may have a completely different perspective on a difficult situation. Embrace new ways of thinking and view problems from all sides. You may realize you were, in fact, trying to climb up the mountain’s sheer cliff face rather than the smoothly winding trail on the opposite side.
7. They make a plan. – Once you fully understand what you are up against, you can develop a step by step plan to get you to your goal. One tactic successful people use is back-casting, where they think about the final objective they are working towards and identify each step they need to reach on the way to achieving it. From there it is easy to determine when each step needs to be completed to stay on track. Nothing helps you stay calm like a clear plan of attack.
8. They get some sleep. – Just because you have deadlines to meet and people to impress doesn’t mean that you can sacrifice sleep to get there. Not only will losing sleep damage your health, it will make you generally less effective.
9. They ask for help. – Being afraid to ask for help is a sure-fire way to feel overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed is bad enough without making yourself feel alone as well. Take advantage of the people in your network who have skills and knowledge that you don’t.
10. They mentally prepare. – Before projects even begin, successful people train their brains to stay calm when the pressure is on. It comes naturally with experience, but you can consciously work at it too. Play games that encourage mental flexibility under a time limit. The Internet is full of puzzles and games that can help keep your brain in tip-top shape and ready for the next challenge.

~~~

Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along.

Paramahansa Yogananda

~~~

An octogenarian who was an avid golfer moved to a new town and joined the local Country Club. He went to the Club for the first time to play, but was told that there wasn’t anybody he could play with because they were already out on the course. He repeated several times that he really wanted to play today.

Finally, the assistant Pro said he would play with him and asked him how many strokes he wanted for a bet. The 80 year old said, “I really don’t need any strokes as I have been playing quite well. The only real problem I have, is getting out of sand traps.”

And he did play well. Coming to the par four 18th, they were all even.

The Pro had a nice drive and was able to get on the green and two-putt for a par. The old man had a nice drive, but his approach shot landed in a sand trap next to the green. Playing from the bunker he hit a high ball, which landed on the green and rolled into the cup. Birdie, match and all the money!

The Pro walked over to the sand trap where his opponent was still standing in the trap. He said: “nice shot, but I thought you said you have a problem getting out of sand traps?”

Replied the octogenarian “I do, would you please give me a hand.”

~~~

One of the most adventurous things left us is to go to bed. For no one can lay a hand on our dreams.

E.V. Lucas

~~~

She said, “I was playing tooth fairy when my daughter, Carrie, suddenly woke up.

Seeing the money in my hand, she cried out, “Aha! I caught you!”

I froze and tried to think of an explanation for why I, instead of the ‘tooth fairy’, was putting the money under her pillow, but her next words let me off the hook completely. .

“You put that money back!” she said indignantly.  “The tooth fairy left that for me!””

~~~

My wife told me I should be more affectionate.  So I got a girlfriend.

~~~

Here is a group of medical terms as defined by blondes, or was it brunettes:

Barium              What to do when treatment fails.

Cauterize          Make eye contact with her.

Colic                  Sheepdog.

Dilate                 To live long.

Enema               Not a friend.

Fester                Quicker.

Hangnail             Coat hook.

Labor pain          Hurt at work.

Tablet                 Small table.

Tumor                More than one.

Varicose             Nearby.

Vein                     Conceited.

~~~

Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.

Wayne W. Dyer

~~~

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.

 

Enjoy It!

Ray’s Daily

May 23, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.

William Feather

I need to send you another daily from the archives today.

Ray’s Daily first published on May 23, 2012

As many of you know I am actively involved in the Indianapolis senior community. And as the years have gone by I have been inspired by how folks who are well up in years have continued to stay vibrant by staying involved in so much of what goes on in my city. I think they would answer the question made famous by Satchel Paige, “How old would you be if you did not how old you are?” with a substantially younger age than their birth age.

Recently I was in discussion with a friend who provides opportunities for the golden age set to get involved in our town while having fun in the process. We talked about how there are so many things that we can do to replace the things we can no longer do that there is no reason to ever just drop out and stagnate. What is really great is that we often experience some of the best times of our lives. New friends, active theatre going, a multitude of volunteer opportunities, new learning experiences and more have all made much of my recent past some of the finest years of my life.

My coach/trainer said not too long ago that far too many people my age spend so much time finding reasons and excuses not to do things that they never take the time to discover the alternatives. What surprises me is that I am finding out even at my age that I can now do things that I could never do before. I am having fun, are you? If not then read what Ralph Marston has to say about getting more out of your life.

Go get more

You do not grow old simply by living a certain number of years. You grow old only when you stop filling those years with new substance and value.

Don’t spend all your time and energy merely confirming again and again what you already know. That will make you too old too soon.

Instead, put your effort and energy into learning, discovering and experiencing what you do not yet know. That will keep your life young, fresh and vibrant, even as the years continue to progress.

There are all kinds of new things you can learn today. There are all sorts of great ways to challenge your assumptions and increase your wisdom.

If you think you know it all, you’re cheating yourself out of the opportunity to continually build upon your knowledge.

If you refuse to challenge your beliefs, those beliefs will begin to imprison you rather than support you.

Treasure the knowledge you possess and all the rich experiences you’ve had. Then get up, get out there and get a whole lot more.

~~~

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.

Anonymous

~~~

Tips from the kids:

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff.  Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. — Alan, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.– Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.– Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don’t want any more kids.– Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

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 (isn’t she a treasure)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I’d run home and play dead.  The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.– Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they’re rich.– Pam, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.– Howard, age 8 (this one has very good morals)

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife.  I don’t want to be all grossed out.– Theodore, age 8

It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys.  Boys need someone to clean up after them.– Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?– Kelvin, age 8

~~~

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

James Matthew Barrie

~~~

The young rancher came running into the store and said to his buddy, “Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup from the parking lot!”

Bubba replied, “Did you see who it was? The young rancher answered, I couldn’t tell, but I got the license number.”

~~~

A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up.

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.

 

These are our best years

Ray’s Daily

May 22, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.

Winston Churchill

My wife and me have been married for sixty-six years and we have never been closer. It has not always been easy but my wife has been tolerant of my weaknesses and supportive of my complex careers. She has been a wonderful mother raising our three great children. I have a lot to be grateful for but most of all I am grateful for the life we have had together.

We have never needed each other more than we do now. Every day I am thankful for her companionship and her friendship. We struggle a little bit these days with our health issues but we do well together.

I do hope that your life can be as good as ours. Jon Gordon recently shared his thoughts on his marriage and I could not agree more with his comments. Here is a slightly edited copy of his article.

7 LESSONS LEARNED FROM 22 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

1. You Know You Are With The Right Person When They Give You Strength – Looking back on my life and marriage, there’s no way I could have done it without my wife.
2. Be Willing – Early in our marriage our relationship wasn’t very good. I was young, selfish and quite negative. One day she had enough. You have to change.” I looked at myself and my life and realized she was right. I was willing to change and it led me to do the work I do now. So, be willing to improve and grow. You’ll benefit your marriage and the world.
3. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate – Most relationships initially break down because of poor communication. It’s so important to keep the lines of communication open. My wife and I have had our share of disagreements over the years but we always communicated and this allowed us to grow strong together.
4. The More I Love My Wife the More I Love My Life – I’m not talking about the popular phrase happy wife, happy life. I’m talking about the fact that the more I focus on loving and serving my wife, the better I feel about myself and my marriage. It’s not about what she does for me. It’s not about keeping score. It’s about me deciding to be selfless and love her, serve her and be there for her.
5. Encourage Instead of Compete – To have a great marriage you have to be one team who supports and encourages each other. When you support and advocate for each other you grow as individuals and also strengthen your team.
6. Have a Shared Mission – My wife and I knew that we weren’t together just for ourselves. We felt our mission was and is to raise champions in life that will make a difference in the world. This mission and purpose influenced every decision we made and continues to influence us. We know we aren’t perfect parents and have made mistakes along the way, but our mission inspired us to give our very best.
7. Keep Working At It. Don’t Quit – As everyone knows, marriage isn’t easy. There’s an ebb and flow. Sometimes marriage is great and sometimes it isn’t. When you plant yourself in your marriage and nurture your relationship and invest your time and energy in your spouse, over time you grow into the person you are meant to be. You stay the course. Keep working at it.

~~~

The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It’s a choice you make – not just on your wedding day, but over and over again – and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife.

Barbara De Angelis

~~~

She said: After shopping at a busy store, another woman and I happened to leave at the same time, only to be faced with the daunting task of finding our cars in the crowded parking lot.  Just then my car horn beeped, and I was able to locate my vehicle easily.

Wow,” the woman said.  “I sure could use a gadget like that to help me find my car.”

“Actually,” I replied, “that’s my husband.”

~~~

I planted some birdseed. A bird came up. Now I don’t know what to feed it.

~~~

Your in trouble if:

Your accountants letter of resignation is postmarked Zurich.

You have to hitch hike to the bank to make your car payment.

The little league puts you on waivers.

Your suggestion box starts ticking.

Your secretary tells you the FBI is on line 1, the DA is on line 2, and CBS is on line 3.

You see your stockbroker hitchhiking out of town.

You see the captain running toward the railing wearing a life jacket.

They pay your wages out of petty cash.

~~~

Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza …

Dave Barry

~~~

Margaret was royally peeved! She was arguing with the druggist because her favorite cure-all could not be bought without a prescription. “Look, lady. You can’t have this without a prescription because it’s a habit-forming drug.”

“IT IS NOT!!!!” Screamed Margaret! “I ought to know: I’ve been taking it regularly for seventeen years!”

~~~

To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three men, two of whom are absent.

Robert Copeland

~~~

A customer called the airline’s reservation office to pay for his ticket with a credit card.  The reservation specialist asked him, “Would you please spell the name as it appears on the card, sir?” The customer carefully replied, “V-I-S-A.”

~~~

Mom, I’ll always love you, but I’ll never forgive you for cleaning my face with spit on a hanky.

~~~

At a pre-birth class for couples who had already had at least one child, the instructor raised the issue of breaking the news to the older child.

“Some parents tell the older child, ‘We love you so much that we decided to bring another child into this family.’ But think about that. Ladies, what would you say if your husband came home one day and said, ‘Honey, I love you so much, I decided to bring home another wife?'”

One of the women immediately responded, “Does she cook?”

~~~

Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife.

Franz Schubert

~~~

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.

 

Thanks Everybody

Ray’s Daily

May 21, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

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

Marcel Proust

As you know I place high value on friendships. Since there are limitations on my activities these days I find there are few things as pleasing or important as time spent with friends.

I really like it when old friends come and pick me up so we can spend time together over a meal. They keep me connected with the good times we have had and I truly appreciate their keeping our relationships alive.

Here in my community we share meals together in our restaurant. It not only provides us an opportunity to socialize it also provides the opportunity to meet new people and build new friendships. Often the meals we share are the highlight of our day.

I believe that cultivating relationships is one of the keys to graceful aging. And I appreciate those who are now part of my circle for they enrich my life.

Here is a list of why friends are so important just to remind us of why they are needed.

       Friends

Author Unknown

Friends love you tops when you are at the bottom.

Friends look up to you when the rest of the world is looking down.

Friends lets you step on their toes to help you get on your feet.

Friends show you the meaning of true friendship, not the meaningless of it.

Friends shoot straight with you, not at you.

Friends know most of your faults and care the least.

Friends tell you when you are wrong, and not everybody else.

Friends don’t complain when you neglect them, only when you neglect yourself.

Friends let you worry them more than their enemies.

Friends want to know about your achievements as well as your losses.

Friends are behind you when you’re taking bows and beside you when taking boos.

Friends don’t split with you, when you flop, but split what they have.

Friends are your best press agents and they do this for free.

Friends have no greater love than to lay down their lives for their Friends.

Thank you for being my Friend.

~~~

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

Dale Carnegie

~~~

With only two tellers working at the bank, the line I was standing in was moving very slowly.  As I waited, I began to fill in my withdrawal slip. Not sure of the date, I turned and asked the woman behind me. “It’s the fifth,” she replied. From the back of the line a man advised, “Don’t write it in yet!”

~~~

“I feel so miserable without you, it’s almost like having you here.”  –

Stephen Bishop

~~~

A congregant asked his Rabbi, “Rabbi, you’re a man of God. So why is it that you are always talking business when I, a businessman, am always talking about spiritual matters when I’m not at work?”

“You have discovered one of the principles of human nature,” the Rabbi replied.

“And what principle is that, Rabbi?”

“People like to discuss things they know nothing about.”

~~~

Discover wildlife!  Have kids!

~~~

A doctor was awakened at four in the morning by a caller who demanded to know how much he charged for a house call.

“Twenty-five dollars,” muttered the sleepy physician.

“How much is an office visit?” demanded the caller.

“Fifteen dollars.”

“Okay, Doc,” said the caller. “I’ll meet you in your office in fifteen minutes.”

~~~

Lord, if I can’t be skinny, let all my friends be fat.

~~~

My boss’ wife Sherry was exasperated with her younger sister, who bought an unreliable car and called for a ride every time it broke down. One day Sherry got yet another one of those calls. “What happened this time?” she asked. “My brakes went out,” her sister said. “Can you come to get me?” “Where are you?” Sherry asked. “I’m in the drugstore,” her sister responded. “And where’s the car?” “It’s in here with me.”

~~~

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”

Mae West

~~~

A DC-10 had an exceedingly long rollout after landing with his approach speed a little high. San Jose Tower: “American 751 heavy, turn right at the end of the runway, if able.  If not able, take the Guadalupe exit off Highway 101 and make a right at the light to return to the airport.”

~~~

A woman sees a beautiful tennis bracelet in a jewelry store window.  She goes in and asks the clerk if a small deposit will hold it until her husband does something unforgivable.

~~~

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

Oscar Wilde

~~~

“How long have you been driving without a tail light?” asked the policeman after pulling over a motorist.

The driver jumped out, ran to the rear of his car, and gave a long, painful groan.

He seemed so upset that the cop was moved to ease up on him a bit.

“Come on, now,” he said, “you don’t have to take it so hard.  It isn’t that serious.”

“It isn’t?” cried the motorist.  “Then you know what happened to my boat and trailer?”

~~~

“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.

 

Worry less, enjoy more

Ray’s Daily

May 20, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”

Aristotle

Our community, like most communities is made up of a diverse set of folks. The only thing we all have in common is we are all up in years. Some of us are generally happy and don’t let worry take us down. Others are burdened by worry and anxiety.

I learned long ago that worry about things I can’t control serves no useful purpose. The problems I have encountered in the past have almost always worked out to be Ok, so I now just expect that what tomorrow will bring will be OK too. I know one thing, worrying about tomorrow will steal happiness from today.

Recently Travis Bradberry published an article on how we can increase our happiness, here in part is what he wrote.

Gratitude creates happiness – The real neural antidepressant is gratitude. Gratitude boosts levels of serotonin and dopamine—the brain’s happy chemicals and the same chemicals targeted by antidepressant medications. The striking thing about gratitude is that it can work even when things aren’t going well for you. That’s because you don’t actually have to feel spontaneous gratitude in order to produce chemical changes in your brain; you just have to force yourself to think about something in your life that you appreciate. This train of thought activates your brain to make you feel happier.

Labeling negative feelings dilutes their power – There is an amazing amount of power in simply labeling your negative emotions. In one study, participants underwent fMRI scans of their brains while they labeled negative emotions. When they named these emotions, the brain’s prefrontal cortex took over and the amygdala (where emotions are generated) calmed down.

Making decisions feels good – Similar to naming emotions, making decisions engages the prefrontal cortex, which calms the amygdala and the rest of the limbic system. The key is to make a “good enough” decision. Trying to make the perfect decision causes stress. Making a “good enough” decision activates the dorsolateral prefrontal areas of the brain, calming emotions down and helping you feel more in control. Trying to make a perfect decision, on the other hand, ramps up ventromedial frontal activity—which basically means your emotions get overly involved in the decision-making process.

It helps you to lend a hand – Taking the time to help your colleagues not only makes them happy but also makes you happy. Helping other people gives you a surge of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, all of which create good feelings.

~~~

“Happiness consists more in conveniences of pleasure that occur everyday than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.”

Benjamin Franklin

~~~

Nadine and Jill got summer jobs as cashiers in a grocery store.

Nadine is ringing up an order on her line and comes to a small dairy carton that isn’t scanning and has no price on it.  She yells out to Jill, “How much is half-and-half?”

Without a moment’s hesitation Jill replied, “One.”

~~~

Seven out of 10 people say they are feeling the pinch of high gas prices. The other three have bought siphoning equipment.

Jim Barach

~~~

New Office Work Rules

1. SICKNESS: No excuses will be acceptable. We will no longer accept your doctor’s statement as proof of illness, as we believe that if you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.
2. LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR AN OPERATION: We are no longer allowing this practice. We wish to discourage any thoughts that you may not need all of whatever you have, and you should not consider having anything removed. We hired you as you are, and to have anything removed certainly makes you less than we bargained for.
3. DEATH, OTHER THAN YOUR OWN: This is no excuse. If you can arrange for funeral services to be held late in the afternoon, however, we can let you off an hour early, provided all your work is up to date.
4. DEATH, YOUR OWN: This will be accepted as an excuse, but we would like at least two weeks notice, as we feel it is your duty to teach someone else your job.
5. PERSONAL HYGIENE: Entirely too much time is being spent in the washrooms. In the future, you will follow the practice of going in alphabetical order, for instance, those with last names beginning with “A” will be allowed to go from 9:00-9:05, and so on. If you are unable to go at your appointed time, it will be necessary to wait until the next day when your time comes around again.
6. QUANTITY OF WORK: No matter how much you do, you’ll never do enough.
7. QUALITY OF WORK: The minimum acceptable level is perfection.
8. ADVICE FROM OWNER: Eat a live toad the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.
9. THE BOSS IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
10. WHEN THE BOSS IS WRONG, REFER TO RULE 9.

~~~

He had delusions of adequacy.”

Walter Kerr

~~~

After a long, dry sermon, the minister announced that he wished to meet with the church board following the close of the service.

The first man to arrive and greet the minister was a total stranger. “You misunderstood my announcement. This is a meeting of the board members,” explained the minister.

“I know,” said the man, “but if there is anyone here more bored than I am, then I’d like to meet him.”

~~~

Vuja De – The Feeling You’ve Never Been Here.

~~~

In an American history discussion group, the professor was trying to explain how societies ideal of beauty changes with time.

“For example, he said, “take the 1921 Miss America. She stood five feet one inch tall, weighed 108 pounds and had measurements of 30-25-32. How do you think she’d do in today’s version of the contest?”

The class fell silent for a moment. Then one student piped up, “Not very well.”

“Why is that?” Asked the professor.

“For one thing,” the student said, “She’d be way too old.”

~~~

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”

Dale Carnegie

~~~

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.

 

A good decision

Sorry it is a day late a storm knocked out my Internet connection for a day

Ray’s Daily

May 17, 2019

https://rays-daily.com/

“Retire from work, but not from life.”

M.K. Soni

I have been asked recently about my senior living life. As some of you know my wife and me moved to the Forum at the Crossings (https://www.fivestarseniorliving.com/communities/in/indianapolis/the-forum-at-the-crossing) here in Indianapolis late last year. It has turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made.

We, like many others were unsure what our life would be like when we were no longer comfortable with where we lived. Our home was a large two-story townhouse with a garage for our two cars. It was not that easy to climb the stairs and both of us were losing our drivers licenses so it was time to move. Our kids researched various options and we visited a couple of Senior Living facilities including the Forum that has become our new home.

The Forum has provided us more than we thought we would have. New friends, great dining, lots of amenities and a warm and caring staff. They even provide free transportation to our appointments, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies. Our prescriptions are delivered to us when needed as are our packages. There is live entertainment weekly and even a cocktail party on Fridays. We have a well-stocked library and an onsite convince store. There are comfortable living spaces, free cable and much more. They even provide exercise equipment and physical fitness programs.

We had no buy in requirement and only pay a reasonable monthly rent. If you or a loved one needs a senior living alternative, I think you will find the Forum at the Crossings is worth considering.

Here is an excerpt from a Forbes article that remind me of our current life.

What do you need for a happy retirement?

First off, you can’t buy love and you can’t buy health. Taking care of yourself and feeling good will make it easier to have an active social life. Friends, family and fun are some of the bedrocks of a happy retirement. Study after study has shown that a strong social connection and a good amount of physical activity are crucial for maintaining health as you age. I recommend that all of my clients think long and hard about how they will fill their days once they aren’t stuck slaving away in an office every day.

A big net worth alone won’t likely ensure a joyous retirement. On the other hand, loneliness and boredom will increase your chances of a depressing retirement. When I talk to some of the retirees I know, they wear me out. The social schedules they keep would wear out the most outgoing among us.

~~~

“Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money.”

Jonathan Clements

~~~

Recently, I was on a plane that had taken off and was approaching cruising altitude, when one of the flight attendants came on the public- address system.

She announced that she was sorry, but the plane’s restrooms were out of order.  The flight attendant went on to apologize to the passengers for any inconvenience. But then she finished cheerily with: “So, as compensation, free drinks will be served.”

~~~

The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.

Norman Vincent Peale

~~~

A poor vagabond, traveling a country road in England, tired and hungry, came to a roadside Inn with a sign reading: “GEORGE AND THE DRAGON”.

He knocked. The Innkeeper’s wife stuck her head out a window.

“Could ye spare some victuals?” he asked.

The woman glanced at his shabby clothes and obviously poor condition. “No!” she said rather sternly.

“Could I have a drink of water?”

“No!” she said again.

“Could I at least sleep in your stable then?”

“NO!”  By this time she was fairly shouting.

The vagabond still continued,  “Might I please…?”

“What *now*?” the woman interrupted impatiently.

“D’ye suppose,” he asked…”I might have a word with George?”

~~~

“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air, and you.”

Langston Hughes

~~~

From British Newspapers

* Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill, a spokesman for North West gas said, “We agree it was rather high for the time of year. It’s possible Mr. Purdey has been charged for the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house.” (The Daily Telegraph)

* Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description. It’s a Special Branch vehicle and they don’t want the public to know what it looks like. (The Guardian)

* A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coastguard spokesman commented, “This sort of thing is all too common”. (The Times)

* At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard on the spot and asked him to estimate the wind speed. He replied he was sorry, but he didn’t have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff. (Aberdeen Evening Express)

~~~

“If you can’t find the time to do it right the first time, when will you find the time to do it over?”

~~~

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.

“The front row, please,” she answered.

“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The pastor is really boring.”

“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired.

“No,” he said.

“I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

“No,” she said.

“Good,” he answered.

~~~

“Living each day as if it were your last doesn’t mean your last day of retirement on a remote island. It means to live fully, authentically and spontaneously with nothing being held back.”

Jack Canfield

~~~

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.