the eternal optimist

best things ever.

2011-01-27T18:34:00.000-05:00

the 3 a's of awesome

by: Neil Pasricha

人生を楽しむ

2011-01-04T20:39:00.000-05:00

self image.

2011-01-04T20:22:00.000-05:00

energy exchange

2010-11-10T20:16:00.000-05:00

come, warm my heart.

2010-10-28T21:56:00.012-04:00

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes,
I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a
frail, elderly voice. I could hear something
being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in
her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a
print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned
on it, like somebody out of a 1940's
movie.

By her side was a small nylon
suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had
lived in it for years. All the furniture was
covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils
on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and
glassware.

'Would you carry my bag
out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase
to the cab, then returned to assist the
woman.

She took my arm and we walked
slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I
told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers
the way I would want my mother to be
treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave
me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,'
I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.
'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a
hospice.

I looked in the rear-view
mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have
any family left,' she continued in a soft
voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very
long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the
meter.

'What route would you like me
to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had
once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the
neighborhood where she and her husband had lived
when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in
front of a furniture warehouse that had once
been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a
girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow
in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying
nothing.

As the first hint of sun was
creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm
tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was
a low building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a
portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we
pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching
her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to
the door. The woman was already seated in a
wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?'
She asked, reaching into her
purse.

'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,'
she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning
light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound
of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove
aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that
day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient
to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked
once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything
more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve
around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully
wrapped in what others may consider a small
one.

Often it is the random acts of
kindness that most benefit all of
us.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we
are here we might as well dance.

enchantment.

2010-10-25T21:12:00.000-04:00

dream bigger.

2010-10-07T05:00:00.004-04:00

ra·di·ance

2010-10-06T22:52:00.002-04:00

"What you find in your mind is what you put there.

Put good things in there." - R. Rathbun

dream away.

2010-10-06T22:36:00.000-04:00

luck.

2010-10-02T00:37:00.001-04:00

shine, shine on.

2010-08-16T22:32:00.000-04:00

be glad.

2010-08-15T19:42:00.000-04:00

la vita bella.

2010-08-03T20:43:00.000-04:00

happiness is bliss.

2010-08-03T20:42:00.000-04:00

don't be like ....

2010-08-03T20:35:00.002-04:00

pay it forward ...

2010-07-22T22:40:00.008-04:00

"The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on." -J.A.

live in this minute.

2010-07-22T22:17:00.000-04:00

embrace. minutes. hours. lifetimes.

2010-07-07T23:21:00.000-04:00

Sheer Brilliance

2010-06-26T01:30:00.000-04:00

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

Confucius

2010-06-08T15:46:00.002-04:00

There is too little time and too many good friends to worry about all else.

you vs. fate

2010-05-31T23:08:00.005-04:00

In life, you meet people for a season, a reason or a lifetime.

bright pink.

2010-05-17T18:21:00.004-04:00

put on your

rose coloured glasses.

destiny

2010-05-11T19:57:00.013-04:00

everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. . everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason. everything happens for a reason.

... so enjoy the ride

peace. of. mind.

2010-05-03T23:11:00.000-04:00

be your best ...

2010-04-29T21:28:00.000-04:00

inspired

2010-04-27T23:48:00.000-04:00

This one's for you ...

2010-04-21T21:58:00.006-04:00

breathe it in.

2010-04-06T23:58:00.000-04:00

exude loveliness.

2010-03-27T17:00:00.000-04:00

☀

2010-03-25T22:48:00.002-04:00

wisdom.

2010-03-20T15:42:00.000-04:00

be thankful for everyone in your life.

2010-03-18T10:22:00.000-04:00

you can learn something new from everyone ...

enough said.

2010-03-15T22:35:00.002-04:00

make every moment magic.

2010-03-14T14:22:00.004-04:00

❤❤❤

2010-03-14T00:12:00.002-05:00

... whatever happens, was meant to.

be real. be you. i love it.

2010-03-11T09:32:00.001-05:00

eyes. on. the. bright. side.

2010-03-09T22:51:00.000-05:00

Get What You Give.

2010-03-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

That time is now ...

2010-03-08T13:21:00.000-05:00

be happy and pass it on :)

2010-03-07T11:49:00.000-05:00

be positive, be happy, be pretty.

2010-03-06T19:44:00.000-05:00

choose happiness, its fabulous.

2010-03-05T18:57:00.001-05:00

2010-03-05T18:55:00.000-05:00

Nails in the Fence.

2010-03-03T18:29:00.003-05:00

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.”

The little boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked up at his father and said “I hope you can forgive me father for the holes I put in you.”

“Of course I can,” said the father.

Author: Unknown

For you:

2010-03-02T10:28:00.001-05:00

Have the best day.

la la la ;)

toad:

2010-02-28T14:24:00.002-05:00

Believe in yourself ...

2010-02-25T19:20:00.000-05:00

... and others will too.

Everything Fabulous.

2010-02-25T19:08:00.003-05:00

2010-02-25T01:33:00.001-05:00

its really this simple ...

2010-02-24T01:26:00.003-05:00

normal, who's that?

2010-02-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

Your bizarre quirks are the best

part of you. Be quirky, its unique.

2010-02-18T12:48:00.000-05:00

don't try be something you're not.

2010-02-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

... be your best self.

Glitterific.

2010-02-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

... sometimes life just rains fabulousness.

I am thankful.

2010-02-16T00:54:00.002-05:00

2010-01-20T14:00:00.001-05:00

life = great

2010-01-14T09:59:00.000-05:00

2010-01-14T09:48:00.000-05:00

Be present, wherever you are.

☮

2010-01-13T16:06:00.001-05:00

treat others ....
the way you would like to be treated.

Lets CELEBRATE!

2010-01-12T14:18:00.010-05:00

To our fabulous lives ...

Champagne looks good on everyone.

Cheers to you, and you, and you, and you! ... I mean you!

Bliss

2010-01-12T10:18:00.002-05:00

2010-01-12T10:16:00.003-05:00

A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.

- Ghandi

2010-01-11T22:39:00.003-05:00

sometimes the things in life you're most afraid of,
are the ones that make you the happiest.

karma karma karma

2009-12-09T11:09:00.009-05:00

.... be good to life, and life will be good to you.

2009-12-07T12:49:00.003-05:00

you're a star to me ★

so fly.

2009-12-06T12:51:00.005-05:00

Peace Buddha

2009-12-03T10:46:00.004-05:00

I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.

Spread a little peace.

2009-12-01T19:06:00.002-05:00

Always remember, give before you get.

In life ...

2009-11-30T23:41:00.001-05:00

People will forget what you said, and forget what you did.
But they will always remember how you made them feel.

FAME MONSTER

2009-11-30T22:39:00.010-05:00

Latest obsession:

Lady. Gaga.

Crazily confident.

Over-the-top.

Uber unique.

Fabulously bizarre.

Like no other.

LOVE it.

loveeeeit

2009-11-27T16:56:00.002-05:00

Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart

♫ http://blip.fm/~gy5o3

.... just one of my fave songs right now.

Mantra

2009-11-26T11:49:00.005-05:00

Look good, feel good, do great things.

Good Fortune

2009-11-26T09:58:00.004-05:00

From dinner last eve, my fortunes read ...

You will inherit a large sum of money.

You will bring sunshine into someones life.

* * *

... does it get any better?

"One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others."

.... I'm paying these good fortunes forward to you!

Fave thing: how the fortune inside a fortune cookie can bring such amusement, happiness and excitement. Everyone needs a little inspirational message here and there ;)

2009-11-25T11:21:00.003-05:00

☮

Don't Be Afraid to Fail

2009-11-25T11:11:00.005-05:00

You've failed many times, although you may not remember.

You fell down the first time you tried to walk.

You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you?

Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.

R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.

English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.

Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.

Don't worry about failure.
Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

... just some advice, some great advice.

2009-11-25T11:02:00.008-05:00

just enjoy the moment.

be positive ....

2009-11-23T20:23:00.006-05:00

To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being. - JL