I hope you have one too

[Ray]

We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.

William Arthur Ward

Here we go again, another new week. I don’t know about you but mine will be loaded with a combination of obligations, opportunities for enjoyment and things yet to be discovered. This morning I will begin my day with a probable 5 am motivational lecture from my YMCA wellness coach who is returning from her vacation. I will be a little weak so she will have me at a disadvantage since I have been fasting since last night in preparation for some further medical tests this morning. I won’t bore you with the rest of the schedule just let me assure you it is fairly full.

I am sorry though that I will not be helping my Kiwanis Club raise money for our clothe-a-child program this year. My fellow members will operate a food booth for stable hands, riders and owners at one of America’s premier horse shows. They will be working all week starting at 5:30 AM each day. My problem is that it appears we will continue to experience torrid weather and since we work in an outdoor booth with a continuously operating large grill my docs are ordering me to avoid the heat. I am on the mend and doing pretty well so hopefully next year I’ll again be able to do my part.

I’ll tell you one thing though I’ll make sure I enjoy the week. I learned a long time ago that I can do it but I know you can too. In fact if you need some help here it is. I may have shared this with you before but if I did it is worth a re-read.

How to Enjoy Life

In this article, I want to challenge the common perception that it is only possible to enjoy your leisure time. In particular, this article is targeted at the professional stuck in the 9 to 5 grind who longs for the weekend and, in the process, has given up on trying to find pleasure in the ordinary experiences we have every day.

1. Appreciate Beauty. Each day we come across beauty in a number of shapes and forms. It’s a shame, then, that many people have become so accustomed to this beauty that it largely goes unappreciated. I suggest looking again at the people, plants, gadgets, and buildings (to name but a few examples) around you and taking a moment to appreciate what makes them so special.

2. Connect With Nature. Nature is an amazing healer for the stresses and strains of modern life. Eating lunch in the park, attending to a vegetable garden in your backyard, or watching the sunset are just a few simple ideas for how you can enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis.

3. Laugh. E. E. Cummings once said “the most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” How very true. Never be too busy to laugh, or too serious to smile. Instead, surround yourself with fun people and don’t get caught up in your own sense of importance.

4. Have Simple Pleasures. A good cup of coffee when I first wake. These may not seem terribly exciting, but they are some of the simple pleasures I enjoy in life. If you slow down for just a moment and take the time to appreciate these ordinary events, life becomes instantly more enjoyable.

5. Connect With People. In so many ways, it is our relationships with people that give us the most happiness in life. Perhaps, then, the best way to enjoy your work more is not to get a raise or a promotion, but rather to build rewarding relationships with your co-workers.

6. Learn. There is a strong link between learning and happiness. Given this, there is no excuse not to be stimulating your brain and learning something new each day. My favorite way to find time for learning is to make the most of the commute to and from work. Audiobooks and podcasts are great for this purpose.

7. Rethink Your Mornings and Evenings. Are the mornings a mad rush for you to get out the door? Do you switch off the TV at night and go straight to bed? I have personally experienced the profound benefits of establishing a routine in the morning and evening. For example, in the morning you may choose to wake an hour earlier and spend the time working on yourself, whether it be reading, writing or exercising. In the evening, consider spending some time just before bed reviewing your day or in meditation.

8. Celebrate Your Successes. During a normal day we are sure to have some minor successes. Perhaps you have successfully dealt with a difficult customer, made a sale, or received a nice compliment for your work. These aren’t events worth throwing a party for, but why not take a moment to celebrate your success? Share the experience with someone else, reward yourself with a nice lunch, or just give yourself a mental pat on the back.

The author, Peter Clemens writes about how to change your life at The Change Blog.

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You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can decide how you're going to live now.

Joan Baez

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The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did was to ask whether anything was troubling him.

"Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes," answered the patient. "You see, I seem to be getting forgetful. No, it's actually worse than that. I can never remember where I park my car, where I'm going, or what it is I'm going to do once I get there -- if I get there. So, I really need your help. What can I do?"

The doctor mused for a moment, then answered in his kindest tones, "Pay me in advance."

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Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?

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My 17-year-old niece asked me if she could use my name as a reference on her resume', which she planned to submit to a local fast-food restaurant.  I agreed.  A few days later she called and told me to meet her at the restaurant later that afternoon.  When I asked her why, she replied, "The manager wants me to come in for an interview, and she told me to bring my references."

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Scientists are working to develop something that will dissolve anything, but they don't know what they would put it in.

Herb Shriner

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A wife works hard to please her husband, but no matter what she does, she fails regularly. Most often it is at breakfast. If she scrambles the eggs, he wants them poached. If she poaches them, he wants them scrambled. One morning, she decides to poach one and scramble the other. She does so, then waits for his approval. Glancing at his plate, her husband shakes his head and snorts, "You scrambled the wrong egg."

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Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.

James Bryant Conant

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Finding one of her students making faces at the others on the playground, Mrs. Smith stopped quickly to reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the teacher said, "Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and it would stay like that."

Bobby looked up and replied, "Well, Mrs. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned."

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A political pollster knocked on the door and a sour-faced lady answered. "What party does your husband belong to?" he asked.

The lady responded curtly, "I sir, am the party he belongs to."

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My father always loved fast cars. Taking advantage of the empty roads one morning, he accelerated down a wide-open stretch. Unfortunately, a young police officer was waiting at the other end, and Dad was flagged down. He greeted the officer with a cheery "Good morning."

"And a good morning to you, Wing Commander," replied the officer... "Having trouble taking off??"

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“In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

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Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

 

Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.

 

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