Ray’s Daily
January 13, 2020
“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.”
Roy T. Bennett
It is too easy these days to become part of the problem by giving up on our humanity. The anger and distrust displayed not only in the media but also in our communities can take us down if we let it. It is important that good folks don’t succumb to the cynical attitudes displayed by so many today.
I have found in my community that most people are good people and do care for each other. It is the unhappy cynic who loses out on what is available to all who maintain an open and positive attitude. I recently read an article on BITTERSWEET, an on line magazine that I liked. Here is what they had to say about cynicism.
Refuse Cynicism
Cynicism is sneaky and subtle. It creeps upon one’s hopes frame by frame, snatching hatchling hope with suspicions of corruption and incompetence, permitting our hearts to remain unaffected and unengaged—wholly ours and not each other’s. The needs, too big, and my little, not enough. This cynical worldview centers on issues, polarities, and the magnitude of it all to the degree that action seems futile and fatigue inevitable.
But it’s false and dissatisfying, precisely because cynicism is a way of not seeing. It requires no commitment, spreading and thickening without our conscious choice. It’s easy to settle in the defaults presented to us, accept the sweeping narratives of despair and confusion.
So how to turn toward that which is lovely and just, right and beautiful? What is the practice, the posture? This takes extraordinary commitment and intention. But unlike cynicism, it is not exhausting. This practice draws us in a deep way toward meaning, humility, gratitude, and respect. Toward fullness. Of heart and soul, of belief and hope. With this choice to reject cynicism and see beyond it, we are reacquainted with awe and wonder and the joy of mystery and life. We are freed to see people as infinitely dimensional and unconditionally worthy of respect and listening—not condemned and small, but expansive and perfectly made. Each of us given to each other. This way of seeing turns bleakest terrain treasure-filled, every plain rock a marvel gem.
~~~
“Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.”
Roy T. Bennett
~~~
At the airport for a business trip, I settled down to wait for the boarding announcement at Gate 35. Then I heard the voice on the public address system saying, “We apologize for the inconvenience, but Delta Flight 570 will board from Gate 41.” So my family picked up our luggage and carried it over to Gate 41.
Not ten minutes later the public address voice told us that Flight 570 would in fact be boarding from Gate 35. So again we gathered our carry-on luggage and returned to the original gate.
Just as we were settling down, the public address voice spoke again: “Thank you for participating in Delta’s physical fitness program.”
~~~
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
Maya Angelou
~~~
The passengers on a cruise ship were fascinated by the sight of a bedraggled, bearded man on a small island. The ship passed slowly by as he desperately shouted and waved his arms.
“Who is that person on the island?” one of the passengers asked a ship’s officer…
“I have no idea,” mused the officer “but every year when we pass that island he goes crazy.”
~~~
I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.
Caskie Stinnett
~~~
Cruise Directors STOLEN Jokes
If you’ve ever cruised, you’ll recognize these jokes, or if you just going, listen for them!
The first time you see your cabin, you say, “What could be smaller than this?” Then you open the bathroom door!
“The pool must be ocean water. Look at the size of the waves.”
“Will this elevator take me to the front of the ship?”
“Do these stairs go up or down?”
“How far are we above sea level?”
“Does the crew sleep on board?” (No, we tow them in the life boats.) ”
“Do the ship generate it’s own electricity?” (No, we pull an extension cord from Miami.)
To photographers: “If the photos aren’t marked, how do we know which ones are ours?”
“Is the water in the toilet fresh water or sea water?” (I don’t know, I haven’t tasted it.)
“What do you do with the ice carvings after they’ve melted?”
“Is there music in the Disco?”
“What time is the Midnight Buffet?”
~~~
We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.
Hilaire Belloc
~~~
If you have cruised you will relate to this. You’re KNOW you are on a cheap ship:
…when the Gala Buffet is a Big Mac.
…When the horse races use Monopoly tokens.
…When the tour bus is late because it’s hauling cattle.
…When the Bingo cards only have three letters.
…The Champagne bar features Ripple.
…The Captain speaks in Tongues.
…They take up a collection for the Bingo winner.
…The cruise lines was so cheap that the ship didn’t have stabilizers…Training wheels.
~~~
If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.
Cesare Pavese
~~~
A newlywed couple, after bringing their luggage into their cabin, stormed down to the desk. The bride was in tears, and the groom was red faced. When asked what the problem was, the groom started swearing at the desk clerk. “We booked a cabin with a view for our honeymoon, and all we get to see out the window is a parking lot!”
~~~
“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”
Steve Maraboli
~~~
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
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