Ray’s Daily
August 3, 2020
“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.
Audrey Hepburn
As life goes on we have many choices. It is important that we chose to make the most of what we have been given. Too many of us lock ourselves down and never take the steps that lead to happy life.
I am at the place where age has set some limits on what I can do but there is still much I can do. I choose to do my best and contribute where I can. I am glad that I can still share my thoughts with you, as an example.
Life is meant to be lived
Life is to be lived. No excuses. No reservations. No holding back.
An enchanting story about violinist Fritz Kreisler tells how he once came across a beautiful instrument he wanted to acquire. When he finally raised the money for the violin, he returned to buy it and learned that it had already been sold to a collector.
He went to the new owner’s home in order to try to persuade him to sell the violin. But the collector said it was one of his prized possessions and he could not let it go. The disappointed Kreisler turned to leave, but then asked a favour. ‘May I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?’
Permission was granted and the great musician began to play. The violin sang out a quality of music so beautiful that the collector himself could only listen in wonderment. ‘I have no right to keep that to myself,’ he said after the musician finished. ‘The violin is yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into world, and let people hear it.’
William Arthur Ward said, ‘If you believe in prayer, pray; if you believe in serving, serve; if you believe in giving, give. For you and I are exquisite violins – our music is meant to be heard.’
I want to live my life that way – to take it into the world and live it fully. I’d rather burn out than rust out. I’d rather be used up than die not having done whatever I could . . . wherever I would.
I’m not talking about wearing ourselves out on over-activity. Happiness is never found in excessive busyness. But it is found in investing our lives in others. Saying yes when asked for a hand. Volunteering some time for a worthwhile organization. Spending an hour with a lonely relative.
In the end, I know that my happiness will not have been about by my ability or my inability. It will have been about my availability. My life is meant to be lived.
Written by Steve Goodier
~~~
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
~~~
For many of you this will not mean much. For myself and any others that served in the Navy in the fifties this is exactly as it was.
How to Simulate The Life Of A Sailor. . .
Buy a steel dumpster, paint it gray inside & out, & live in it for 6 months.
Repaint your entire house every month.
Raise the thresholds & lower the headers of your front & back doors so that you either trip or bang your head every time you pass through them.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, turn your water heater temperature up to 200 degrees. On Tuesdays & Thursdays, turn the water heater off. On Saturdays & Sundays tell your family they use too much water during the week, so no bathing will be allowed.
Raise your bed to within 6 inches of the ceiling, so you can’t turn over without getting out & then getting back in.
Have your neighbor come over each day at 5 am, blow a whistle loudly, & shout “Reveille, reveille, all hands heave out & trice up.”
Empty all the garbage bins in your house & sweep the driveway three times a day, whether it needs it or not.
Post a menu on the kitchen door informing your family that they are having steak for dinner. Then make them wait in line for an hour. When they finally get to the kitchen, tell them you are out of steak, but they can have dried ham or hot dogs. Repeat daily until they ignore the menu & just ask for hot dogs.
Set your alarm clock to go off at random times during the night. At the alarm, jump up & dress as fast as you can, making sure to button your top shirt button & tuck your pants into your socks. Run out into the backyard & uncoil the garden hose.
Make coffee using eighteen scoops of budget-priced coffee grounds per pot, & allow the pot to simmer for 5 hours before drinking.
~~~
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
~~~
Down in the south, there are many churches known as “answer back” churches. When the preacher says something, the congregation naturally replies.
One Sunday, a preacher was speaking on what it would take for the church to become better.
He said “If this church is to become better, it must take up it’s bed, and walk.”
The congregation said “Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk.”
Encouraged by their response, he went further.
“If this church is going to become better, it will have to throw aside it’s hindrances and run!”
The congregation replied,
“Let it run, preacher, let it run!”
Now really into his message, he spoke stronger.
“If this church really wants to become great, it will have to take up it’s wings and fly!”
“Let it fly, Preacher, let it fly!” the congregation shouts.
The Preacher gets louder.
“If this church is going to fly, it will cost money!”
The congregation replied. “Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk.”
~~~
At times, it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people wonder if you’re a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
James G. Sinclair
~~~
There was a history professor and a psychology professor sitting on a deck at a nudist colony. The history professor asked the psychology professor, “Have you read Marx?”
The psychology professor replied, “Yes, I think they are from the wicker chairs.”
~~~
A mother may hope that her daughter will get a better husband that she did, but she knows her son will never get as good a wife as his father did.
~~~
Father O’Malley answers the phone:
“Hello, is this Father O’Malley?”
“It is.”
“This is the IRS. Can you help us?”
“I can.”
“Do you know a Ted Houlihan?”
“I do.”
“Is he a member of your congregation?”
“He is.”
“Did he donate $10,000 to the church?”
“He will.”
~~~
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Maya Angelou
~~~
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 twenty 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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