Ray’s Daily
December 18, 2020
Say yes to more things.
Eric Schmidt
While or major holidays, Christmas and New Year’s are just ahead they are going to be different than in the past. In my case I will remain isolated, so no time with friends and family. It is going to be up to me how I deal what lays ahead. I can’t replicate the past celebrations but I can remember past happy days and make the best of todays realities.
Here is how one person suggests we deal with the bad days.
Be a Hell Yes to Life
By Leo Babauta
So often, we reject the experience in front of us. It’s usually out of habit, from not wanting this particular experience, not liking the discomfort or uncertainty … or really not liking the fact that we aren’t going to get what we want.
We reject the experience in front of us:
- Not liking the way other people are acting (totally justified, they’re idiots!)
- Getting mad at ourselves for messing up again (you dumbass, why are you always doing that??)
- Shutting ourselves off to the uncertainty of whatever is going on, by distracting ourselves (ugh, I just can’t)
- Complaining about other people, often just in our heads (I don’t know why they have to be that way!)
- Shutting down, wanting to exit, when things get hard (I can’t take this anymore, why does she always have to complain??)
- Avoiding the discomfort or fear of something difficult (umm, that’s too hard, I’m going to tackle email!)
This rejection of our experience is why we so often get frustrated with other people, down on ourselves, or avoid the hard things. It’s why we have such a hard time with good habits: meditation, exercise, healthy food, writing, reading, flossing. They’re not easy, so we say no to them, even when we know we should say yes.
It’s why we turn to alcohol, smoking, junk food, TV, social media, other distractions — to numb out, to say No to life. What if instead … we were a Hell Yes to life?
How to Be a Hell Yes to Life
Think about everything you complain about. Everything that makes you want to go, “Ugh.” Everything that makes you feel discomfort, want to avoid, want to exit. Everything ugly, angry, negative. Now imagine that you could be open to all of it.
You could be in a room of people you normally dislike, and be compassionate with them. See their beauty and power. Love them, just as they are.
Love every experience, every moment, just as it is.
What if you could be a Hell Yes to everything? What would that change for you?
That doesn’t mean that you don’t fight against injustice, or try to help those who are suffering. You don’t have to love injustice — but you can love the people who are suffering, even those whose suffering causes them to commit terrible injustices. You can be compassionate toward everyone, and love their hearts, even if you don’t agree with their actions or beliefs.
What if you could be a Hell Yes to all of the difficult things in life: your scariest project, the hardest tasks, the most boring moments?
The practice is to face everything, and to open up to it. To see the beauty in the moment, even in the parts you normally reject or dislike.
To love the parts of yourself that you usually want to change. To love everything.
Be a Hell Yes to life. In my experience, it becomes a Hell Yes to you in return.
~~~
Sometimes we receive the power to say yes to life. Then peace enters us and makes us whole.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
~~~
More wisdom from the kids.
Never tell your mom her diet’s not working. —Michael, Age 14
Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.—Joel, Age 12
When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she’s on the phone. —Alyesha, Age 13
Never try to baptize a cat.—Laura, Age 13
~~~
I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect.
~~~
A man showed his friend a ring with a giant diamond in it and explained that it was his wife’s Christmas gift. His friend said, “I thought she wanted a Mercedes.”
The man answered, “I know, but where can you get a fake one of those?”
~~~
Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.”
Edward Sandford Martin
~~~
The social studies teacher had just finished a unit on war and peace. “How many of you,” he asked, “would say you’re opposed to war?”
Not surprisingly, all hands went up. The teacher asked, “Who’ll give us the reason for being opposed to war?”
A large, bored-looking boy in the back of the room raised his hand.
“Johnny?” the teacher said.
“I hate war,” Johnny said, “because wars make history, and I hate History!”
~~~
Never moon a werewolf.
~~~
The Rabbi’s wife called a psychiatrist and said, “My husband thinks he’s the new Moses.” The doctor assured her that these delusions of grandeur were only a passing fancy.
“OK.” she responded. “But in the meantime, how do I keep him from parting the waters in the hot-tub?”
~~~
“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.”
Sonia Johnson
~~~
Applicants for jobs at the company where my friend Diana works are asked to fill out a questionnaire. Among the things candidates list is their high school and when they attended. One prospective employee dutifully wrote the name of his high school, followed by the dates attended: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
~~~
Oh yeah? What’s the speed of Dark?
~~~
Patient: My wife beats me, doctor.
Doctor: Oh dear. How often?
Patient: Every time we play Scrabble!
~~~
Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.
W.C. Fields
~~~
A young American tourist goes on a guided tour of a creepy old castle.
At the end of the tour, the guide asks her how she enjoyed it. She admits to being a bit worried about seeing a ghost in some of the dark cobwebby rooms and passages.
“Don’t worry,” says the guide. “I’ve never seen a ghost all the time I’ve been here.”
“How long is that”? asks the girl.
“About three hundred years.”
~~~
It takes courage to look life in the eye and say yes to the messy glory.
Deborah Wiles
~~~
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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