Ray’s Daily
August 27, 2021
“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real”
Thomas Merton
I have another early doctors appointment this morning so here is another reprint
Ray’s Daily first published on August 27, 2008
I had coffee with a media professional this morning where our conversation drifted to the pride we take in what we do. I shared with my friend that I felt that there are two kinds of pride, one is public the other is private. It is my feeling that far too many people fall into the trap of doing things only because it will provide them the ability to boast to others of their accomplishments. I am sure you know people who volunteer, join or do something just to get evidence that they can show to other people that demonstrates how special they are. I find many of them do what they do just for the notoriety and not because it is worth doing. I find this public display of pride to be overbearing and distasteful.
I relate more to those people who are driven by private pride. These are the folks that take pride in what they do and can at the end of each day feel good about their accomplishments. They don’t boast, they tend to be humble and in the process they gain the greatest gift we can give them, our respect.
I am sure I have been guilty of public pride, especially during my working years. My office walls were filled with plaques, awards, VIP photos, and the like. Fortunately not too many people saw what I had so I can rationalize that the display was for my personal reinforcement. In reality little of what I did then was as rewarding as what I have been able to do since. I think I have reached the point where I don’t think it is important that anyone else knows what I do as long as I do and that is more than enough for me.
It is in this spirit that I offer the following from Ralph Marston:
Anything you think to be “beneath” you will limit what you’re able to achieve. The people who are truly the most accomplished are those who do not consider themselves to be better than anyone else. Humility is critical to success. Why? Because lasting success in this world depends on the support of other people. And humility is a sincere expression of respect for those around you.
If others are constantly subjected to your pride and arrogance, then any success you manage to accomplish will be short-lived. Meaningful achievement comes from raising people up, not from putting them down. Those who are consumed with being better than everyone else, never give themselves the opportunity to be the best they can be.
Self importance and arrogant behavior reflect underlying weakness, while true strength, confidence and effectiveness are evidenced by quiet humility. Be a part of the world, not apart from the world, and your success will have a strong, solid foundation.
~~~
“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige.
It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”
William Arthur Ward
~~~
An older man strode in to his doctors office and said, “Doc, my druggist said to tell you to change my prescription and to check the prescription you’ve been giving to Mrs. Smith.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” the doctor shot back. “And since when does a druggist second guess a doctor’s orders?”
The old man says, “Since he found out I’ve been on birth control pills since December.”
~~~
“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.”
Pablo Casals
~~~
She said: I have changed my system for labeling homemade freezer meals. I used to carefully note in large clear letters, “Meatloaf” or “Pot Roast” or “Steak and Vegetables or “Chicken and Dumplings” or “Beef Pot Pie.”
However, I used to get very frustrated when I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner because he never asked for any of those things. So, I decided to stock the freezer with what he really likes.
If you look in my freezer now you’ll see a whole new set of labels. You’ll find dinners with neat, legible tags that say: “Whatever,” “Anything,” “I Don’t Know,” “I Don’t Care,” “Something Good,” or “Food.” My frustration is reduced because no matter what my husband replies when I ask him what he wants for dinner, I know that it will be there waiting.
~~~
The best cure for insomnia is plenty of sleep.
W.C. Fields
~~~
Two Jews, one old and one young, travel in a train in old Europe. The young Jew asks the Old Jew: -What time is it?
The old Jew does not answer.
After asking him 25 times, the young Jew seem to give up and asks the old Jew: – Tell me, why don’t you want to tell me what time it is?
The old Jew answers: – Because then you are going to ask me where I am going to and I will have to answer that I am going to Zlabodka to visit my beautiful daughter Lea and you will certainly ask if she is single and I will have to say that she is single and you will certainly ask to meet her for a Shiduch and the last thing I want in my life is my beautiful Lea to marry someone who does not have money even to by himself a watch!
~~~
There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
~~~
The teacher asks her class to give her a sentence about a public servant.
A small boy raises his hand right away, so the teacher calls on him.
“The fireman came down the ladder pregnant,” the boy says.
The teacher immediately took the lad aside to correct him.
“Do you know what pregnant means?” she asks.
“Sure,” replies the boy confidently. “It means ‘carrying a child.’ “
~~~
Laugh alone and the world thinks you’re an idiot.
~~~
The story goes that four ministers had a series of theological arguments, and three were always in accord against the fourth. One day, the odd minister out, after the usual “3 to 1 majority rules” statement that signified that he had lost again, decided to appeal to a *higher* authority.
“Oh, Lord!” he cried. “I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong! Please give me a sign to prove it to them!” It was a beautiful, sunny day. As soon as the minister finished his prayer, a storm cloud moved across the sky above the four. It rumbled once and dissolved. “A sign from God! See, I’m right, I knew it!” But the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds form on hot days.
So the minister prayed again: “Oh, God, I need a bigger sign to show that I am right and they are wrong. So please, Lord, a bigger sign!” This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning slammed into a tree on a nearby hill.
“I told you I was right!” cried the minister, but his friends insisted that nothing had happened that could not be explained by natural causes.
The minister was getting ready to ask for a *very big* sign, but just as he said, “Oh God…,” the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice intoned, “HEEEEEEEE’S RIIIIIIIGHT!”
The minister put his hands on his hips, turned to the other three, and said, “Well?!”
“So,” shrugged one of the other ministers, “now it’s 3 to 2.”
~~~
Don’t judge those who try and fail, judge those who fail to try.
~~~
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
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