Ray’s Daily
December 9. 2019
“If you want understanding try giving some.”
Malcolm Forbes
Lately I have wondered how many good friends I might have made over the years if I would have spent more time getting to know the people I met. I know that as most of my days these days are spent with other old folks, who like me have the time to spend in leisurely conversation.
It is during the times I get to reminisce with so many of these good people that I learn just how special they are. One unassuming gal turned out to have sung with a big band, another spent much of the time serving others. The list goes on. But there are others who carry burdens that would get most of us down. Some have lost all of their loved ones and suffer from loneliness. Others have lost their sight and have become dependent on others more than we realize.
In all of these cases the folks have enriched my life by sharing their stories. They also have helped me appreciate just how fortunate I am, As often as not my first impressions have been wrong, I have learned again that I need to keep my mind open and not make snap judgements about the people I meet. Here is an old favorite story that has meaning for me.
Everyone Has a Story in Life
A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.”
Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you.
~~~
“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.”
Marvin J. Ashton
~~~
A couple phoned a neighbor to extend birthday greetings. They dialed the number and then sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
But when they finished their off-key rendition, they discovered that they had dialed the wrong number.
“Don’t let it bother you,” said a strange but amused voice. “You folks need all the practice you can get.”
~~~
“Of all things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.”
Epicurus
~~~
For their anniversary, a couple went out for a romantic dinner. Their teenage daughters said they would fix a dessert and leave it waiting. When the couple got home, they saw that the dining room table was beautifully set with china, crystal, and candles. There was also a note that read,
“Your dessert is in the refrigerator. We are staying with friends, so go ahead and do something we wouldn’t do!”
“I suppose,” the husband responded dryly, “we could clean the house.”
~~~
“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”
Winston Churchill
~~~
An Australian tour guide was showing a group of American tourists the Top End On their way to Kakadu he was describing the abilities of the Australian Aborigine to track man or beast over land, through the air or beneath the sea. The Americans were incredulous.
Then later in the day, the tour rounded a bend on the highway and discovered, lying in the middle of the road, an Aborigine. He had one ear pressed to the white line whilst his left leg was held high in the air. The tour stopped and the guide and the tourists gathered around the prostrate Aborigine.
“Jacky,” said the tour guide, “what are you tracking and what are you listening for?”
The aborigine replied, “Down the road about 25 miles is a 1971 Valiant Ute. It’s red. The left front tire is bald. The front end is out of whack and it has dents in every panel. There are 9 black fellas in the back, all drinking warm sherry. There are 3 kangaroos on the roof rack and 6 dogs on the front seat.”
The American tourists moved forward, astounded by this precise and detailed knowledge.
“Wow, man! How do you know all that?” asked one American.
The Aborigine replied, “I fell out of the thing about half an hour ago.”
~~~
I’m not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain.
~~~
A professor asked a student to remain for a few moments after class. Holding out the young man’s assignment, the professor said, “Ah, tell me something. This poem is very good. Did you write it all by yourself?
The student replies, “Every word of it, sir!’
The professor says, “Well, then, I’m glad to meet you, Mr. Poe. I thought you were long dead.”
~~~
Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.
Jackson Brown, Jr.
~~~
As Joan was getting to know Kyle and his family, she was very impressed by how much his parents loved each other. “They’re so thoughtful,” Joan said. “Why, your dad even brings your mom a cup of hot coffee in bed every morning.”
After a time, Joan and Kyle were engaged, and then married. On the way from the wedding to the reception, Joan again remarked on Kyle’s loving parents, and even the coffee in bed. “Tell me,” she said, “does it run in the family?”
“It sure does,” replied Kyle. “And I take after my mom.”
~~~
God made man before woman to give him time to think of an answer for her first question.
~~~
YOU MIGHT BE A SCHOOL TEACHER IF…
- You want to slug the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 8 to 3:20 and have summers free.”
- You believe “unbelievably annoying” should have its own box in the report card.
- You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says “Boy, the kids sure are mellow today.”
- When out in public you feel the urge to snap your fingers at children you do not know and correct their behavior.
- You reflect that marking all A’s on report cards would make your life SO much easier.
- You think people should be required to spend two years teaching middle school before being allowed to reproduce.
- You wonder how some parents ever MANAGED to reproduce.
- You encourage an obnoxious parent to check into home schooling.
- You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
- Meeting a child’s parent instantly answers the question, “Why is this kid like this?”
~~~
“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.”
Oscar Wilde
~~~
A little boy came home from the playground with a bloody nose, black eye, and torn clothing. It was obvious he’d been in a bad fight and lost. While his father was patching him up, he asked his son what happened.
“Well, Dad,” said the boy, “I challenged Larry to a duel. And, you know, I gave him his choice of weapons.”
“Uh-huh,” said the father, “that seems fair.”
“I know, but I never thought he’d choose his big sister!”
~~~
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
~~~
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
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