Ray’s Daily
December 2, 2020
Two words will help you cope when you run low on hope: accept and trust.
Charles R. Swindoll
If you are like I am you are going to be glad for 2020 to end. These truly have been trying times and while we still will have many months before we see the end of Pandemic it appears the end is in sight.
In my case I have also have had to learn to live alone with my wife now permantly living in an extend care facilty. Right now I can only speak to her on the phone, which I do twice daily. I look forward to the time when things loosen up so I can again visit her daily.
The one thing we all have in common is our need to learn to live with todays reality. Here is an abridged copy of how one mother is dealing with todays challenges.
What can we do to help us manage in these trying and uncertain times? I’m afraid I don’t have answers to this very difficult question. I do, however, wish to offer some suggestions:
1. Let go of your expectations. – This is uncharted territory, in every imaginable way. Do what you can and be prepared to let some things go. Not for good, but for a time. Some things can wait. The sooner we understand and accept that, the better.
2. Simplify your needs – Attempting to have every food item and toiletry on hand for an indefinite period is futile. Yes, we must be prepared, but we need not be paranoid.
3. Be grateful – The moment I shifted my perspective from what I couldn’t control and focused on the opportunities that I suddenly had at hand, I began to feel peace. Yes, I am overwhelmed by the quick escalation of events and the uncertainty that continues to unfold, but I look around me and I see the chance to connect. The opportunity to spend the time that I once thought I didn’t have in ways that I once thought I never could. The space to slow down and to meditate on what truly matters; on what life is really about. And this gratitude must go beyond the present moment and carry over into our future perspectives.
4. Love, Love, Love – Some of us are being called upon to operate in extenuating circumstances. The stress, angst and general overwhelm that we feel can quickly be reflected in our responses. By realizing that we are all working through feelings of uncertainty and fear, we are better equipped to measure our response.. When this is all over, I want those closest to me to remember being loved fearlessly when fear abounded.
5. Have faith – In times of great fear, there must be even greater faith. Faith that we are loved beyond measure. Faith that we have a future and a hope. Faith brings peace that defies understanding. Faith brings perfect rest. While the race is on to find a vaccine for this current pandemic, we must recognize that there is another plague that will seek to persist long after this virus settles, the plague of fear. I have learned that faith is the antidote to fear.
Angelina Lee
~~~
When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.
Peter Marshall
~~~
Morty arrives home from work and as soon as he sets foot in the house, Sadie is on to him, telling him that their friend Marvin has finally quit smoking. “Imagine that, Morty,” she says, “someone who smoked 3 packs a day for 20 years has stopped smoking all of a sudden. Now that’s what I call will power – something that you definitely don’t have.” But Sadie hadn’t finished. “And that’s not all. I hear that Bernie, that drunken friend of yours, is finally giving up drinking – another example of the kind of will power that you don’t have.”
“OK, Sadie,” said Morty, “you want to see will power, do you? Well here’s will power. I am going to sleep in the spare room from now on. I am going to prove to you that I won’t be affected at all by not sleeping with a woman.”
Morty keeps to his word.
One night, when he had been sleeping alone for a week, there is a knock on his bedroom door.
Morty shouts out, “What do you want?”
Sadie replies, “Marvin has started smoking again.”
~~~
“You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
~~~
Senior Citizen Song
Are you lonesome tonight,
Does your tummy feel tight?
Did you bring your Malox and Tums?
Does your memory stray,
To that bright sunny day…
When you had all your teeth and your gums?
Is your hairline receding, are your eyes growing dim?
Hysterectomy for her, and its prostate for him.
Does your back give you pain…
Do your knees predict rain?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?
Is your blood pressure up,
Your cholesterol down?
Are you eating your low-fat cuisine?
All that oat bran and fruit,
Metamucil to boot,
Keeps you like a well-oiled machine.
If it’s football, or baseball…he sure knows the score.
Yes, he knows where it’s at…but forgets what it’s for.
So, your gall bladder’s gone, and his gout lingers on.
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?
When you’re hungry, he’s not.
When you’re! cold, then he’s hot.
Then you start that old thermostat war.
When you turn out the light, he goes left, you go right.
Then you get his great symphonic snore.
He was once so romantic, and witty and smart.
How’d he turn out to be such a cranky old fart?
So don’t take any bets, this is as good as it gets.
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight ???
~~~
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots.
~~~
Deep within a forest a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front legs and crashed to the ground. After recovering, he slowly climbed the tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground. The turtle tried again and again while a couple of birds sitting on a branch watched his sad efforts. Finally, the female bird turned to her mate. “Dear,” she chirped, “I think it’s time to tell him he’s adopted.”
~~~
Bill: I love to drive to the seaside and the mountains with my girlfriend. What about you?
Doug: I love to drive my mother-in-law to the airport.
~~~
During the jury-selection process, the judge asked a prospective juror some questions.
“Have you formed any opinion about the guilt or innocence of the man on trial, Mr. Ferguson?”
“None whatsoever,” Ferguson answered.
“Are you opposed to capital punishment?” the judge asked.
“Certainly not in this case.”
~~~
If women can have PMS, then men can have ESPN.
~~~
A fifth grader looked downcast, so her teacher asked, “What’s the problem, Carol? I hope it’s not homework again.”
“Well, uh, yes, it is.” replied Carol. “I was stupid and made my homework paper into a paper airplane.”
“Carol, you’re right, that wasn’t a very bright thing to do,” said the teacher, “but this once I’ll let you just unfold the paper and hand it in.”
“Oh, but that won’t work,” said Carol, looking even sadder. “You see, the plane was hijacked.”
~~~
Many a golfer prefers a golf cart to a caddy because it cannot count, criticize, or laugh.
~~~
It is what it is. Isn’t that how these things always go? They are what they are. We just get to cope.
Mira Grant
~~~
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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