Ray‘s Daily
December 4, 2020
If isolation tempers the strong, it is the stumbling-block of the uncertain.
Paul Cezanne
Because of my age, where I reside and the high level of Covid infections, I hav been somewhat locked down for weeks now’ I especially miss not being able to visit my wife in her long term care section of our senior facility.
During these trying times I work to stay focused on thengs I can do to stay positive. Besides thinking about what I might offer in the blog I publish most days, I do sommunicare with family and friends via phone and text. I also try to see fellow residents here when I can. I find it is important to find ways to stay involved during my extended lock down.
I recently abridged the following article that I think offers ways in which we can deal with today’s isolation.
5 Ways to Fix Your Focus During Lockdown
Tips for Life by Rana Alfalaki
Focus on the feeling – At the moment, it’s difficult to visualize abundance or a perfect career or perfect home when you can’t quite fathom how to create it. My suggestion is not to focus on the material aspects of things, but consider the feeling that that ‘thing’ would give you.
Engage in that feeling and carry it with you throughout the day. In reality, it’s the feeling we are truly seeking – be that freedom, fearlessness, fun, or anything else, so this technique will take you there even faster.
Focus on your wins – I challenge you to list three wins at the end of each day and see how they make you smile and drive you forward as the days go on. You may start with something small, like the win being 20 minutes of exercise, or getting a good night’s sleep, or having a constructive phone conversation. Dig deep – and once you get started, the successes will start to flow.
Focus on routine – Now, more than ever, when the world as you know it is in chaos, is the time for you to create order in your surroundings. Get up at the same time on weekdays. Go to bed at a reasonable time. Eat at the same time as you would have if you hadn’t been at home. It is all too easy to lose a routine and spend so much more time on unproductive behaviours, rather than productive ones that will leave us feeling good.
Focus on helping – We all have a purpose and we all have value and gifts to offer, even if it may be challenging to engage in them with the same passion right now. It may simply be acknowledging who you are, the responsible role you are playing by staying home and how this is helping so many. Whatever the specifics may be, focusing on how you can help and how you can serve will help you feel better.
Focus on gratitude – It is understandable if, at first glance, you think that there isn’t much to be grateful for right now. You may be experiencing loss in an aspect of your health, freedom, finances, relationships or professional life. Having said that, there is always something to be grateful for. It may be the time you now have to start a new project, the time you have with your partner or family, or the time you have to exercise. It may be the space you have to think about things or it may be the richness of connection with your loved ones. These are just a few possibilities to help your creative juices start flowing.
The feeling of gratitude is highly energetic. It allows us to focus our attention on the good that is around us. By doing this, we energetically resonate at a higher frequency which then attracts even more of what we want to us.
~~~
No one can live entirely on their own, nor can any country or society exist in isolation.
Daisaku Ikeda
~~~
Sitting at the kitchen table after dinner one night, my son-in-law was telling us that he’d finished his training for volunteer firefighting and was showing us his beeper. As he spoke, the beeper let out a shrill “there’s a fire” message. Bryan nearly jumped over the table getting to the door. We watched him as he raced for the car and sped up the block to the fire hall. “It’s wonderful to know our firemen are trained to respond instantly,” I said to my daughter. “I didn’t know Bryan could move so fast.” “I hate to burst your bubble, Mom,” she replied, “but the first guy there gets to drive the truck.”
~~~
Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty. It merely moves from their faces to their hearts.
Martin Buxbaum
~~~
My wife has a lead foot, so I was not surprised when a state trooper pulled us over as we were driving through Georgia. Hoping to get off with a warning, she tried to appear shocked when he walked up to the car.
“I have never been stopped like this before,” she said to the officer.
“What do they usually do, ma’am,” he asked, “shoot the tires out?”
~~~
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
Groucho Marx
~~~
** Defining Different Heights **
** Height of Isolation:
Two people sitting side by side using e-mails to communicate with each other.
** Height of Cowardice:
Two persons fighting through e-mails.
** Height of Helplessness:
Receiving no e-mails for a week.
** Height of Frustration:
The email server being down.
** Height of Carelessness:
Writing a love mail and doing a ‘Send All.’
** Height of Achievement:
A person sending email to a girl wanting to become friends and getting a reply.
** Height of Timepass:
A person sending email to himself.
~~~
The world is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers.
Everett Mámor
~~~
“This is Captain Sinclair speaking. On behalf of my crew I’d like to welcome you aboard United Airlines flight 602 from New York to Punta Cana. You are currently flying at a height of 35,000 feet going South over the Atlantic.
“If you look out of the windows on the starboard side of the aircraft, you will observe that both the starboard engines are on fire.
“If you look out of the windows on the port side, you will observe that the port wing has fallen off.
“If you look down towards the Atlantic ocean, you will see a little yellow life raft with three people in it waving at you.
“That’s me, your captain, the co-pilot and one of the stewardesses. This is a recorded message.”
~~~
Waste your money and you’re only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost part of your life.
Michael Leboeuf
~~~
** WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF **
Amnesia?…What did you just ask me?
Apathy?…I don’t care.
Bigotry?…I’m not going to tell someone like you.
Egotistical?…I’m the best person to answer that question.
Evasive?…Go do your homework.
Flatulent?…That question really stinks!
Ignorance?…I don’t know.
Indifference?…It doesn’t matter.
Influenza?…You’ve got to be sick to ask me that question.
Insomnia?…I stayed awake all last night thinking of the answer.
Irreverent?…I swear to God, you ask too many questions!
Narcissism?…Before I answer, tell me, don’t I look great?
Over-Protective?…I don’t know if you’re ready for the answer.
Paranoid?…You probably think I don’t know the answer, do you?
Procrastination?…I’ll tell you tomorrow.
Repetitive?…I already told you the answer once before.
Self-Centered?…Well, I know the answer, that’s all that matters.
Suspicious?…Why are you asking me all these questions?
~~~
Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on;
‘Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another’s tears,
‘Til in Heaven the deed appears –
Pass it on.
Henry Burton
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I am in no way different from anyone else, that my predicament, my sense of aloneness or isolation may be precisely what unites me with everyone.
Franz Wright
~~~
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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