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.
Kindness
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
Today’s Quote: Be A Lamp Full of Light
Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun of everlasting joy arise from the dawning-place of heart and soul, shining brightly. ~ Abdu’l-Bahá
Today’s Quote: Kindness Always Matters
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~ Aesop
From Gym Encounters to Deep Connections: A Journey Through Grief
Listen to my Podcast, Journey from Grief to Healing, Episode 113 on your favorite podcasting app or click here for Episode 113
In Episode 113 of “Journey from Grief to Healing,” we delve into a profound encounter at the gym that brings unexpected connections and shared experiences of grief. Host Ray recounts a chance meeting with Mark, an acquaintance from two years ago. Mark’s story of recent personal tragedies reveals the deep, unspoken bond formed through shared suffering. This episode explores the emotional weight of grief, the significance of empathy, and the universal truths found in John Donne’s poem “No Man is an Island.” Join us as we discuss the power of simple words, shared understanding, and the healing impact of kindness, inspired by the poetry of Edgar Guest. Listen and discover how our personal pain can become a gift to others, fostering connections and offering solace in times of need.
Today’s Thought: Reach Out
I stepped outside early this morning. My neighbor was washing a car. I said, “Good morning.” In the course of our brief conversation I learned she was washing her brother’s car and then she was going to take it to get the car’s state inspection. Her brother has cancer. What a doubly kind act on her part. She was a good example for me. When someone is hurting, it’s time to reach out a hand. Most often all it takes is a bit of our time. Reach out.
Today’s Quote: True Greatness
The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being. ~ Pope John Paul II
