A savvy country gentleman gave me a piece of advice that worked wonders for me. Early in my career I was in a breakfast restaurant sitting alone in a booth working on the second of my two breakfast tacos. The place was crowded and this big, gray haired guy comes up to my booth and says, “Mind if we share the booth?” I nodded. Ten minutes later we knew each other’s names and were talking. I should say I was doing most of the talking and he was doing most of the listening. I kept talking while he drank his coffee and ate. When I was talked out, he jabbed his fork at me and said, “Ray, I’ll give you two pieces of advice after all of your complaining. First, suck it up and stop complaining. Second, wish in one hand and poop (he didn’t use the word poop) in the other. See which one you get first.” I stared at him and then broke into a large grin. I said, “Sam, I needed that.” From that moment on I did a lot less complaining and lot more work. It was the prescription I needed.
insightful commentary
Today’s Thought: Let’s Hit the Brakes
Let’s hit the brakes and take time to smile and be kind to one another. We’re all traveling on the same planet. Who wants to go through life being angry with others who are different?. There’s so much joy to miss. If we smile more, greet others with an encouraging word, and make kindness a habit our world will be a brighter and happier place.
Today’s Thought: We Have a Choice
Why do some buy into hatred that projects our worst self on others instead of inspiring them? Why do some support people who ask us to hate instead of inspiring us to be better? Some politicians use our fears, insecurities, and anxiety about the future to tap into our negative emotions of anger and hatred. We don’t have to let politicians who preach hatred, disrespect, and pessimism tap into our minds. Our better self deserves a chance. It’s true, optimism, hope, and compassion provide a better way forward if we give it a chance. Think about it and act on November 5.
Today’s Thought: Living in the Digital Age
My go to market just began using Apple pay. I was happy. All I now need is my wallet and on my iPhone. I rarely use cash. We are living in the digital age. The era that preceded the digital was the information age. Prior to the information age was the industrial age. Some folks believe things were better in one of the previous ages. They fail to understand that every age has its set of challenges. No age is better or worse than any other. What matters is how we adapt to our changing circumstances and address the challenges unique to our age. Those who yearn for the “good old days” miss out on the wonders of the present day”
Today’s Thought: It’s Our Shared Home
We’re all different from each other. We think about things differently. Our experiences brought us to a similar place in that we are all alive at this moment and sharing the same planet as our home. Think about the home or apartment where you live. Would you throw a chair through a window because you didn’t like the view? Would you throw your remote at the TV because a power outage caused it to turn off? Or, would you get angry with the people who love you and berate them because they like different forms of music than you? No sane person would do these things. When we think globally and begin viewing the world as our shared home, we can grasp the need to work together and do things to take care and heal our shared home.
Today’s Thought: People of the Light
There’s enough darkness in the world. Let’s become painters, poets, and writers of light. We’ll take away the darknest nights and turn the cloudy days into sunshine. There are lots of vacancies. The only requirement is a happy countenance, loving smile, and a good heart.
Today’s Thought: Tonight’s Dinner
Are you making dinner tonight? Here’s something to think about. Most of us will buy our food at our local market. How did our food get to the market? We had nothing to do with it. It may have come from another country where someone planted and cared for it. Someone harvested it. Someone packed it and prepared it for transportation. Someone brought the food to our grocery. Someone put our food on the shelves or in bins. Someone worked at the counter to let us pay for the food. There were many other people involved in the meal we plan to make tonight. All we are doing is cooking and eating it. The hard work was done by many others. Be grateful for these people. Treat their work and the food with respect. Our meal tonight is due in large part to the hard work of hundred of people whom we will never meet. Thank you to all of them.
Today’s Thought: Panic Time, I’m Having a Bad Hair Day
Most of us have been there. We check our image in the mirror before we leave home. Everything is right and off we go. Opps, a warning light flashes. Then we notice it. A bad hair day is staring us in the face. Not enough time to shower and do a rewash. It’s time to leave. Maybe I’ll wear dark glasses. Emergency gel or paste or hairspray. Gel always works. A little here. A little more there. I check the mirror. Yikes, it’s worse. I feel like I belong on a mug shot. Perhaps I can fake it and if anyone says anything about my cowlick that won’t lie down or the section of my hair that decided to throw an all night party I’ll say, “Do you like it? I saw where it was the rage in Europe.” If I’m tilting over the edge I can stop by Tony’s barbershop and have my head shaved bald. That might work. When people ask why I had my head saved bald. I’ll tell them I’m protesting. If they ask me what I’m protesting I’ll tell them I haven’t decided. That will give them something to talk about.
Today’s Thought: Voting is an Important Right
I am early voting today. I expect the lines to be long. For me, voting is an important part of my participation in our democracy. I vote in every election whether they are local, state-wide, or national. I’ve studied the issues and my choices are clear. I won’t spend much time in my voting space. Where I vote, we use electronic voting machines. We’re given a pencil with an eraser. We use the eraser to mark our choices on the screen. When I’m finished voting I will have a chance to review my choices. Once I’ve reviewed them I mark submit ballot. A computerized completed ballot is printed. I take this ballot to the clerk and I submit the ballot into another electronic device where my vote is registered. I receive a copy of my ballot and I return the pencil. I’ll pick up an “I voted” sticker and proudly wear it throughout the day. Voting is a big deal. If you’re in the U.S. I hope you are registered to vote and vote. Each vote makes a difference.
