Ray’s Daily
December 1, 2020
There is no enjoying the possession of anything valuable unless one has someone to share it with.
Seneca
Here we are, the first of December during one of the most challenging years in our history, It is ironic that the stock market is at record highs when millions are unemployed, many with little food.
One of the things I will miss the most this year was my ability to participate in my Kiwanis Clubs sharing activities. My club has provided winter clothes to needy children for many years. We also have been one of the soponsors of the Salvation Army Christmas Radiothon as well as providing volunteer bell ringers manned red kettle locations.
It would be easy to stay so focused on our own woes that we fail to do what we can for others. Here is a story that reminds us of the value of sharing.
The Stone Soup Story
Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village.
The villagers, suffering a meagre harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders.
‘Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have – the secret of how to make soup from stones.’
Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town’s greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones.
‘Now this will be a fine soup’, said the second soldier; ‘but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!’
Up jumped a villager, crying ‘What luck! I’ve just remembered where some’s been left!’
Then off she ran, returning with an apron full of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends.
In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel of the village’s best breads and cheese. ‘You have given us the greatest of gifts – the secret of how to make soup from stones’, said an elder, ‘and we shall never forget.’
The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said: ‘There is no secret, but this is certain, it is only by sharing that we may make a feast’, then off the soldiers wandered, down the road.
Author Unknown
~~~
Sharing empathy is one of the most wonderful aspects of the human experience.
Christine Rose Elle
~~~
After spending 3-1/2 hours enduring the long lines, surly clerks and insane regulations at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for my son.
I brought my selection – a baseball bat – to the cash register.
“Cash or charge?” the clerk asked.
“Cash,” I snapped. Then apologizing for my rudeness, I explained, “I’ve spent the afternoon at the motor-vehicle bureau.”
“Shall I gift wrap the bat?” the clerk asked sweetly. “Or are you going back there?”
~~~
Elections: Things that are held to see if the polls were right.
Yasha
~~~
I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day, I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, “The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
He responded, “Is that Eastern or Pacific time”?
Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, “Uh, Pacific.”
~~~
“There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: Those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.”
Ray Goforth
~~~
You are no longer “cool” when …..
- You find yourself listening to talk radio.
- You daughter says she got pierced and you look at her ears.
- The pattern on your shorts and couch match.
- You fondly remember your powder blue leisure suit.
- Your wife buys a flannel nighty and you find that sexy.
- You turn down free tickets to a rock concert because you have to work the next day.
- When jogging is something you do to your memory.
- Rocking all night means dozing off in your rocking chair.
- Getting a little action means your prune juice is working.
- All the cars behind you flash their headlights.
- You bought your first car for the same price you paid for your son’s new running shoes.
- You actually ASK for your father’s advice.
- You don’t know how to operate a fax machine.
- When someone mentions SURFING you picture waves and a surf board.
~~~
Anger or hatred is like a fisherman’s hook.
It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.
Dalai Lama
~~~
Driving to a new restaurant, Margaret took several wrong turns. When she finally found the right road, she asked her husband, “Why didn’t you tell me I was lost?”
“I thought you knew where you were going,” he replied. “You always know where you’re going when I’m driving.”
~~~
Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
Henry David Thoreau
~~~
A SECRETARY’S RULES FOR WORK
1. Never give me work in the morning. Always wait until 4:00 and then bring it to me. The challenge of a deadline is refreshing.
2. If it’s really a rush job, run in and interrupt me every 10 minutes to inquire how it’s going. That helps. Or even better, hover behind me, advising me at every keystroke.
3. Always leave without telling anyone where you’re going. It gives me a chance to be creative when someone asks where you are.
4. If my arms are full of papers, boxes, books, or supplies, don’t open the door for me. I need to learn how to function as a paraplegic and opening doors with no arms is good training in case I should ever be injured and lose all use of my limbs.
5. If you give me more than one job to do, don’t tell me which is priority. I am psychic.
6. Do your best to keep me late. I adore this office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do. I have no life beyond work.
7. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. If that gets out, it could mean a promotion.
8. If you don’t like my work, tell everyone. I like my name to be popular in conversations. I was born to be whipped.
9. If you have special instructions for a job, don’t write them down. In fact, save them until the job is almost done. No use confusing me with useful information.
10. Never introduce me to the people you’re with. I have no right to know anything. In the corporate food chain, I am plankton. When you refer to them later, my shrewd deductions will identify them.
~~~
Life is filled with treasures, if you’re a lucky one. Be grateful and be humble, and share them with someone.
Julie Hebert
~~~
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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