How Wonderful
Saigyo
How wonderful, that
Her heart
Should show me kindness;
And of all the numberless folk,
Grief should not touch me.
Kindness
Today’s Thought: Cut Some Slack Today
Sometimes the best kind act one can do is to cut another some slack. This is especially true with those close to us and those with whom we work. It’s difficult to cut someone some slack when we view ourselves as perfect. When we gain the humility to see our imperfections the imperfections in others considerably diminishes. There were many times in my life when I was cut some slack and it made all the difference. Thinking of the folks who cut me some slack is bringing back good memories. Let’s make today a Cut Someone Some Slack Day.
Today’s Poem: Friendship by Salomeja Neris
Friendship
Salomeja Neris
Let prophets curse, this world despising,
Until their bloodless lips turn blue!
My friendship – like the sun arising,
Like longing – I extend to you.
In pitch-dark night we often blunder
The clouded skies seem never bright.
And yet I cannot help but wonder:
Why is the earth so full of light?
It’s not the sun that we so cherish
That every morning brings us light.
It is the dawn of our great friendship
That fills us brimful of delight!
It keeps this world and us still going,
It keeps all songs alive and gay.
For friendship’s sake do streams go flowing
And forests sing their roundelay.
Today’s Thought: Can You do One Kind Act Today?
Take time today to produce one kind act. Maybe you’ll cheer your mom or dad up with a call. Perhaps you’ll surprise a neighbor with a loaf of fresh baked bread or a pastry from the bakery. Maybe you’ll surprise one of your children and take him/her out to dinner at a place of his/her choice. What surprise can you bring home to your partner tonight that will brighten his/her day? C’mon, it won’t take long. All it needs is you.
Today’s Thought: What’s Your Favorite Pizza?
When I get a pizza I like my pizza with fresh mozzarella and loaded with veggies. A friend of mine likes her pizza with pepperoni. Even though we like different pizzas we remain good friends. The same should apply if we had different ideas about football teams or politics. When we let what we want or like get in the way of our relationships with others, something is wrong. Friendship, kindness, and respect are better choices.
Today’s Thought:
I worked at a couple of places where I dreaded going to department meetings. Going to those meetings was like getting sucked down into a black hole. It was all doom and gloom. The meetings were a litany of grievances. The negative forces in the departments drained the energy out of you. Instead of running my usual three miles in the afternoon, I ran six to sweat out all the negative energy. What a difference when I was a member of departments where people really cared about each other and worked to help each other. Life is better when we care for each other and help each other out.
Today’s Quote: What Is Really Important
That best portion of a man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. ~ William Wordsworth
Today’s Thought: We Never Travel Solo
I recently traveled. I had a wonderful time and returned home filled with wonderful memories and stories. There were lots of people responsible for how well my trip turned out. There were the Lyft drivers, security check in folks at the airports, the pilots and crew on my flights. There were the Starbucks baristas who made my drinks at the airport. You get the idea. We may be traveling solo, but the success of our trip depends on many people, most we’ll never see again. Because they did their job, I had a great trip. Here’s to all who made it possible. CHEERS!
Today’s Poem: Love and Light by Henry Van Dyke
Love and Light
Henry Van Dyke
There are many kinds of love, as many kinds of light,
And every kind of love makes a glory in the night.
There is love that stirs the heart, and love that gives it rest,
But the love that leads life upward is the noblest and the best.
Today’s Quote: Reach Out, Someone Needs You
When one reaches out to help another he touches the face of God. ~ Walt Whitman
