ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE, MAY, 2024

Shalom Dear Readers:

As we travel on this roller coaster for all of our Jewish nation, many people have hibernated by choice in their homes, both here in our homeland, Israel, and all over the world. We have been shocked beyond belief! We ache for the hostages held below the ground and pray constantly for their release.

I present here some short thoughts from a book of quotations called POSITIVE THOUGHTS: LIVING YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST edited by Armand Eisen. I bought this book years ago and refer to it often.

EXAMPLES:

·      “Life is a succession of moments, to live each one is to succeed,” by Corita Kent.

·      “One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people,” by Dick Gregory.

·      “Let us not bankrupt our todays by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow,” by Ralph W. Sockman.

·      “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” Psalms 30:5.

·      Albert Einstein tells us three rules of work: 1. Out of clutter find simplicity. 2. From discord make harmony. 3. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

·      “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason turn his back on life,” by Eleanor Roosevelt.

·      “Our lives are like the course of the sun. At the darkest moment there is the promise of daylight,” by the London Times.

·      “I have found that there is a tremendous joy in giving. It is a very important part of the joy of living,” by William Black.

·      “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble,” by Helen Keller.

·      “Never mention the worst. Never think of it. Drop it out of your consciousness. I expect the best and with G.’s help will attain the best. In do so, your thoughts will turn toward the best and become conditioned to its realization,” by Norman Vincent Peale.

·      “Happiness consists not in having much, but in being content with little,” by Marguerite Countess of Blessington.

·      “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope,” by Martin Luther King, Jr.

·      “Your success and happiness lie in you. External conditions are the accidents of life. The great enduring realities are love and service. Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow. Resolve to keep happy, and you shall form an invincible host against difficulty,” by Helen Keller.

·      “We have to learn to be our own best friends, because we fall too easily into the trap of being our worst enemies,” by Roderick Thorp.

·      “Seek not good from without: seek it within yourselves, or you will never find it,” by Epictetus.

·      “It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm,’” by Sam Levenson.

Looking on the bright side of things is a strategy that has been used for centuries. Is the glass half empty or half full? Becoming an optimist is a personal decision and one that has profound ramifications on how we see the world. If we think positively about ourselves, about others, and about the world around us, the world often meets our expectations. Optimistic people tend to achieve their personal and professional goals.  How does one become an optimist? It takes practice. So, the next time you’re challenged, try telling yourself, “I can do it…I will do a great job.” Before you know it, you’ll be feeling more confident, more capable. The world will become sunnier and friendlier. And you’ll be happier.

Until we meet again in June 2024.

CHW