Reasons to be cheerful – know any?
We are bombarded with reasons not to be cheerful. The TV news in the UK is chokkers with tragedies, murders, and disasters of one sort or another. I remember the time when most news broadcasts finished with something cheerful but they seem to have difficulty finding anything worthwhile at the moment.
Is it the same in your country?
Anyway, I’m going to end this blog post with something cheerful.
I promised to find good quotations to end my blog posts with. Here’s an inspiring one from Henry Van Dyke:
“Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
I find this quotation cheerful and I have it near my desk. It encourages me to keep going even if I know I am far from being a nightingale. I’ll not admit to being a crow though! Also, it reminds me that it’s good to donate money to good causes, even distant ones, but if we can’t we can donate a smile and cheerful, encouraging words to those we interact with.
I Googled Henry Van Dyke and found he was a poet, preacher, essayist and novelist. A busy man giving out to others. And people who give and keep on giving to others are a reason to be cheerful – at least I think so.
Do you have some reasons to be cheerful that you could share with us all? Please go ahead and tell us in the comments.
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Is it the same in your country?
Anyway, I’m going to end this blog post with something cheerful.
I promised to find good quotations to end my blog posts with. Here’s an inspiring one from Henry Van Dyke:
“Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
I find this quotation cheerful and I have it near my desk. It encourages me to keep going even if I know I am far from being a nightingale. I’ll not admit to being a crow though! Also, it reminds me that it’s good to donate money to good causes, even distant ones, but if we can’t we can donate a smile and cheerful, encouraging words to those we interact with.
I Googled Henry Van Dyke and found he was a poet, preacher, essayist and novelist. A busy man giving out to others. And people who give and keep on giving to others are a reason to be cheerful – at least I think so.
Do you have some reasons to be cheerful that you could share with us all? Please go ahead and tell us in the comments.
This month’s bargain is
0.99 in the US and UK from 27th September through until 3rd October. Or FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Time Travel Romance Amazon Best Seller.
You might also like to know that Immortality: This Is Probably a Novel
is reduced to £1.77 and US$2.99 and other territories are cheaper than usual too. Paperbacks are US$7.25 and £5.95. You can sit back in an armchair and enjoy travelling to London, New Zealand, the Caribbean and to places you’ve never heard of and will never want to go to again. Why wouldn't you? Take a look and you'll be able to answer that question... and remember, don't answer the door to a stranger.
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Anna
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Sep 27, 2023 04:24AM
Kathleen, that is the fastest 'like' I have ever seen - thank you so much.
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My reason to be cheerful today: I live in a world with birds in it! They are such amazing little creatures, and they manage to be almost everywhere. My young son has always loved birds, and seeing them makes me think of him and smile.
Birds! Oh yes! I know what you mean. I have a pet seagull who lives on my roof. He is extraordinarily friendly and will sit next to me on my balcony. Yes, just sit - well, stand. I do, of course, give him tidbits - how could I refuse? He keeps the pigeons and crows away but allows the sparrows to jump around freely. I could rattle on about him and his endearing ways but it all becomes a bit unbelievable. I have discovered that there's more to birds than I thought.I hope your son will carry on liking birds. We need people to help them as I'm told that many are under threat. My seagull is a herring gull and apparently they are becoming fewer.
Doing something nice for someone—something you didn't have to do—or saying something pleasant to the clerk who serves you in the market or complimenting someone who's wearing something you admire, is a morale booster for all concerned. At least, it always leaves me feeling I've spread a bit of sunshine.
Yes! That's so easy to do (once you get started) costs nothing and yet makes a lot of difference wherever we go. I have a shopping bag with the words "She spreads a little sparkle wherever she goes." It's on the bottom, so nobody sees it, but I know it's there and it reminds me what to do!Thank you, Kathleen.
I agree Kathleen and Anna, I try to do this as well. Seeing someone's face light up when you offer to help, or pay them a compliment, is great! Although, it has backfired on me, an elderly lady told me she was quite capable of reaching up to a high shelf for herself, thank you very much! I loved the long summer days, but the darker nights and colder weather are still a reason to be cheerful. To light the first autumn fire, snuggle up in a throw on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and a book . . . lovely 😊
Lovely idea for a post. We can't change reality, but we can make it a little less harsh for someone.We made it through a summer - without wildfires! Without the AC quitting permanently (spent four weeks with some form of problem until management cleaned out the four floors worth of drain for the condensate, and replace the missing coolant - glad it was their problem and not ours).
I'm still wrestling with the structure of LIMBO (note: we have changed from 'struggling' to 'wrestling') but have most of the pieces - just need a brain for a few hours, please.
Be kind - it improves the world.
I agree with Kathleen Such as sending a Birthday card of email to someone can brighten their day. Small kindness gesture or holding a door for someone when they’re carrying packages! It’s great to be kind and compassionate 😍
Rosemary wrote: "I agree Kathleen and Anna, I try to do this as well. Seeing someone's face light up when you offer to help, or pay them a compliment, is great! Although, it has backfired on me, an elderly lady tol..."I've had it backfire too! I watched an elderly lady really struggling with a large shopping bag. She plonked it down on a seat and sighed loudly. I offered to help as I knew she had quite a way to go. She declined loudly. Perhaps though, later in the day, she'll have wished she hadn't responded so forcefully. It made me feel foolish though. But... we mustn't give up.
Don't laugh, Rosemary, but I've saved my summer's lolly sticks as kindling for that first fire. Quite an occasion!
Alicia wrote: "Lovely idea for a post. We can't change reality, but we can make it a little less harsh for someone.We made it through a summer - without wildfires! Without the AC quitting permanently (spent fou..."
Ah... there's a good few reasons to be cheerful, Alicia. Thank you.
Carmen wrote: "I agree with Kathleen Such as sending a Birthday card of email to someone can brighten their day. Small kindness gesture or holding a door for someone when they’re carrying packages! It’s great to ..."Not so long ago but long after men had given up on opening doors for women (and who can blame them?) I was at the end of a queue to go into a big department store. A young gentleman, who was about to come out, held the door open for a gaggle of about eight women, all of whom breezed through without a thank you; he caught my eye and we both raised our eyebrows and smiled. He could have got cross with those women but he turned it into a moment of shared amusement.
Thank you, Carmen, for reminding me of that uplifting incident.
Anna wrote: "Rosemary wrote: "I agree Kathleen and Anna, I try to do this as well. Seeing someone's face light up when you offer to help, or pay them a compliment, is great! Although, it has backfired on me, an..."I am laughing, Anna 😀 So, you're the crazy lolly lady I've heard about 😂
I have a little box full of them. I promise they are not all from lollies I have eaten myself. All I need is some logs now... aha! I remember, I use old newspapers, well, that's a start.
Reason to be cheerful. My wife and I are finally grandparents. We’ve been blessed with a precious granddaughter, Gracie. She’s now almost 8 months. We’re thrilled to be a part of her life.
My reason to be cheerful. I'm old now and going bald. But... it takes me a lot less time to comb my hair, AND... I spend less on shampoo!
Robert wrote: "Reason to be cheerful. My wife and I are finally grandparents. We’ve been blessed with a precious granddaughter, Gracie. She’s now almost 8 months. We’re thrilled to be a part of her life."A new life! How wonderful. So much promise, so much joy. Thanks for telling us this reason to be cheerful.
Paul wrote: "My reason to be cheerful. I'm old now and going bald. But... it takes me a lot less time to comb my hair, AND... I spend less on shampoo!"Haha! It's a great gift to find something to be cheerful about in everything that happens to us.
And what do you do with the money you save on shampoo? :)
Oh, I go out and buy a bag of heroin on the corner.... Just kidding. I might buy a book, or, more likely, a record (young people might not know what that is) or a CD. I have quite a collection. Anna, peace be with you this Sunday.
Paul wrote: "Oh, I go out and buy a bag of heroin on the corner.... Just kidding. I might buy a book, or, more likely, a record (young people might not know what that is) or a CD. I have quite a collection. A..."
I have a lot of books on CD and I look forward to finding the time to listen to more of them. I always forget to add them to my Goodreads 'Read' page.
Thank you for your kind and very important wish.
I like the Henry Van Dyke quote. This Arthur Ashe one I discovered recently has something in common with it:"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
Thanks, Lexi. A quotation I shall immediately put into practice, and there's not many like that.
Robert wrote: "Reason to be cheerful. My wife and I are finally grandparents. We’ve been blessed with a precious granddaughter, Gracie. She’s now almost 8 months. We’re thrilled to be a part of her life."
Congratulations on your precious granddaughter 👍🏽❤️I have 2 grandchildren myself ! They’re 8 and 10 years old! I wish I could see them more often , but they live in a different state .
Paul wrote: "Oh, I go out and buy a bag of heroin on the corner.... Just kidding. I might buy a book, or, more likely, a record (young people might not know what that is) or a CD. I have quite a collection. A..."
Paul, you have a great sense of humor! My husband is going bald as well ! I’m glad with the money you save , you’re buying book and records and CD. I have a large record and cd collection myself ! What type of music do you like to listen to? I like different types of music and artists .
Oh, I could write quite a list of things for which I am grateful and happy.One of my "Walkerism" thoughts is this:
Every day is a good day. It is my attitude or outlook relative to conditions or events of the day which can be bad, not the day. Therefore, if I think I am having a bad day, it is my fault.
This keeps my mind in the frame of making the best of situations, learning from adversities, coping with realities, and pressing forward in efforts to overcome on a daily basis.
I know, I am a bit weird.
No weirder than most of us, Walker. We all find coping mechanisms and yours sounds a good one. Whatever life throws at you, you'll cope.
Anna wrote: "No weirder than most of us, Walker. We all find coping mechanisms and yours sounds a good one. Whatever life throws at you, you'll cope."Indeed.
"There is within me a deep, abiding happiness that cannot be thwarted by the events or cares of the day."
Walker wrote: "Oh, I could write quite a list of things for which I am grateful and happy.One of my "Walkerism" thoughts is this:
Every day is a good day. It is my attitude or outlook relative to conditions or ..."
Not weird, very wise, Walker.
Walker wrote: "There is within me a deep, abiding ..."I don't usually start there - chronic illness makes sleep very broken, and I have to get the pain under control when I get up - but I think I'm basically an optimist, too, so I work my way to that, almost every day.
I can't write depressed, so there's that, too: the writing is too important to me to allow moods to get in the way. Sometimes I can actually use them!
I think that those who don't suffer pain or depression rarely know what it must feel like to have to live life with them. When we ourselves suffer, even if only for a short time, we are better able to understand others. For writers it can be helpful with characterization, for everyone it can grant us sympathy, empathy even and real joy when relieved or uplifted. Thanks, Alicia, as this is what you called our attention to.
Walker said: "There is within me a deep, abiding happiness that cannot be thwarted by the events or cares of the day."Thanks Walker - I thought that was something worth repeating :)
When happiness runs deep, it's something to be very grateful for.
We're collecting a lot of reasons to be cheerful. Thank you.
In my newspaper today, there was a photo of a red squirrel clutching the stem of a flower. The squirrel was burying its nose in the flowerhead seemingly enjoying the smell. I'm still smiling about that! My thanks to the photographer whoever they were.
Alicia wrote: "Lovely idea for a post. We can't change reality, but we can make it a little less harsh for someone.We made it through a summer - without wildfires! Without the AC quitting permanently (spent fou..."
That is SO true. It costs nothing to smile at someone who is having a rough time or just be pleasant to the cashier in a checkout line. "Your smile can be the sunshine in someone else's day."
Thank you.
Yes, there are reasons for us to be cheerful and there are reasons for us to make others cheerful too. Thanks, Walker.
My heart goes out to those affected by war, wherever it may be, and we all hope, I'm sure, that one day soon they will have reasons to be cheerful. And for those who have lost a loved one, I hope the loss will heal and you'll know they are at peace.
