Happy New Year! We all have the same wish for 2021: let’s get as close to back to normal as possible. Staying at home may have given you more time to think about this and that. So here are some “this and that” things some of my friends have sent me over the past months—some by authors unknown and some by others.
- After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, and my friends, now I have started loving myself.
- I just realized that I am not Atlas. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
- I now stop bargaining with vegetable and fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not burning a hole in my pocket, but it might help the poor fellow save for his children’s school fees.
- I pay my waiter a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to their face. I figure if I can afford to eat out and it is a place you can sit, then I should be more than pleased to give a big tip.
- I stopped telling the elderly (mostly my friends) that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story is more important than me correcting them on repeating.
- I have “almost” learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
- I am trying to give compliments freely and more often. Compliments are a mood enhancer, not only for the recipient but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment—never, never turn it down. Just say, “Thank you.”
- I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
- I walk away from people who don’t value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
- I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat, and neither am I in any race.
- I am learning by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
- I have learned that it’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
- I have learned to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it just might be.
- I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time. Just choose to be!
Will Rogers
Now if these were not good enough for you, how about some of what Will Rogers said? I love to read Will. Here are some of my favorites.
- Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
- Never miss a good chance to shut up.
- If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
- Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
- Letting the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back.
- Eventually, you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
- The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
- I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
- One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.
- Long ago, men cursed and beat the ground with sticks; it was called witchcraft. Today it’s called golf.
- Finally, if you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you’re old.
A little this and that, a little Will, and a little wish that we will all have a better and safer 2021.