I was talking to a friend at the gym today. My friend also lives in my neighborhood. I mentioned another neighbor who was doing some landscaping. My gym friend went off on her and told me why he didn’t like her. His take was much different than min. I viewed her as kind and compassionate. She was there for me during my two hip operations. Two different takes on the same person. When we overlook another’s faults, there’s a good chance they’ll overlook our faults. The world is always a bit better when we see the good in each other.
kindness
Feeling Good Tip ~ Do You Have the Gift?
Some people make you feel good each time you enter their sphere. My Uncle Joe was that kind of person. He was a truck driver and he worked on cars in a garage at the rear of his house. When I was young, I walked a mile and half down the tracks to his house. I’d walk into his garage and he’d stop working on a car and welcome me. He made me feel welcome. He’d talk to me while he worked and I felt like I belonged. He had a special gift. I looked up to him. When people are made to feel wanted, the sun breaks through the clouds and a rainbow appears.
Poem for Today ~ The Miracle
The Miracle
Fenton Johnson
Though I was dwelling in a prison house,
My soul was wandering by the carefree stream
Through fields of green with gold eyed daisies strewn,
And daffodils and sunflower cavaliers.
And near me played a little browneyed child,
A winsome creature God alone conceived,
“Oh, little friend,” I begged. “Give me a flower
That I might bear it to my lonely cell.”
He plucked a dandelion, an ugly bloom,
But tenderly he placed it in my hand,
And in his eyes I saw the sign of love.
‘Twas then the dandelion became a rose.
Feeling Good Tip ~ Doing Good Makes You Feel Good
Whenever I travel I see and meet so many wonderful people. On a recent flight, a tall man, lifted luggage out of the overhead bins for several older people. One passenger hollered, “Ma’am, you forgot your scarf. The woman was almost to the front of the plane. We all waited while the scarf was passed forward. A grateful woman took the scarf and said thank you. An elderly woman asked if someone could pass her luggage forward. It had been stored in overhead bin several rows behind her seat. Immediately, someone opened the bin, asked, “is this yours?” She said, “Yes.” The luggage was passed forward. There are many good people and they are the glue that holds it all together. I know you are one of the good people.
Poem for Today ~ A Song
A Song
Lucretia Maria Davidson
Life is but a troubled ocean,
Hope a meteor, love a flower
Which blossoms in the morning beam,
And whithers with the evening hour.
Ambition is a dizzy height,
And glory, but a lightning gleam;
Fame is a bubble, dazzling bright,
Which fairest shines in fortune’s beam.
When clouds and darkness veil the skies,
And sorrow’s blast blows loud and chill,
Friendship shall like a rainbow rise,
And softly whisper—peace, be still.
Feeling Good Tip
When You Don’t Have an Answer, Listen
Yesterday I ran into a guy I know at the gym. This guy has biceps as big as my legs. When I looked at him he looked as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he was about to collapse from carrying it. I asked him how he was doing. He stopped and looked at me and said, “Terrible, Ray. Last night at dinner, out of the blue, my told me she was going to divorce me.” For a moment, I thought this big, strong guy was going to fall to pieces. He held it together. He talked and I listened. Sometimes we can’t help others to feel good, the best we can do is to listen. I think that is good enough. Maybe, as he went through his day, he’ll remember that somebody listened.
Quotes to Brighten Your Day
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Feel Good Tip of the Day
Is It Check-In Time?
I like to go to the gym. I hit the gym six days a week. I enjoy exercising. I also enjoy the friendships I’ve made. Over the past three weeks one of my friends wasn’t showing up. At first I thought he was on vacation. When his absence went into three weeks I wondered if something was wrong. i decided to text him and ask how he was doing. He responded immediately. He was grateful I was checking in on him and said he life was very busy and he would return soon. I was happy he was okay. I think he was happy that someone checked in on him. Is there someone in your life you haven’t seen in a while? Think about checking in on them. All you need to do is text or email.
