What Can Be Done About It?

Try again

When the project fails, ask whether it was worth it or not and if the answer is “yes”–Try again.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Winston Churchill

This is an example of applied optimism. Look for the bright side. Work toward a successful completion of your project. Figure out how to solve or correct your problem. Examine whatever is making you unhappy and deal with it.
And if you do all of that and fail? Well, then, summon up the courage to start all over again and go after it.

And whatever you do–Keep on smiling…
Everything is going to be all right

John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

It’s In There Somewhere

It's in there somewhere

It’s in there somewhere–I know it is.

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
What sort of rock pile faces you today? Is it a creative challenge or perhaps a wall that you must make your way over, under, around, or through? Maybe there is one special rock in there that needs your attention.
A cathedral is built one rock at a time—with a vision. Your journey through the day is best traveled one step at a time—with a smile, a little love, and a chuckle.
Have a wonderful day

“Everything is going to be all right.”
John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

 

And, from my brother Tom…
Thought you might like this John
“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to unchartered land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.” – Helen Keller
Let’s open some freakin’ doors, shall we?

Practice Til You Get It Right

practice

Excellence is attained, not found. Confidence comes with practice.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
–Aristotle
Think about that. “We are what we repeatedly do.” This means that if we laugh a lot, laughing becomes a habit. It would follow, then, that happiness would become a habit. Practicing optimism is the key to becoming a happy and accepting person.

Practice sharing a smile
“Everything is going to be all right.”

John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Three Things That Improve With Practice…

The lady is happy

Practice three things–Love, Hope, Optimism

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic. We can change the world.”
–Jack Layton
Help others by setting an example. Welcome love, hope, and optimism into your own life. These qualities will become a skill set and your abilities will improve with practice. Good health and happiness will be your reward.

My friend Shannen has been fighting cancer for over eight years. She always has a smile, a hug, and a plan for the future. Practice, practice, practice

Share a smile
Everything is going to be all right
John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Be Totally Selfish Today

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”—Mark Twain—
Let us be selfish today. Let’s do something that makes us feel good. A random act of kindness or extending a kindness toward a friend will elevate our own spirits. It works every time. And like Mark Twain said, try to cheer somebody else up. It will make you happy.
John P. Schulz

And share a smile as you perform your selfish deeds
Everything is going to be all right
John P. Schulz

be kind

Today, be selfish–by being kind

Leave something behind

something left behind

My brother Tom sent me this a while back:

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there. It doesn’t matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.” –Ray Bradbury—

And always share a smile
Everything is going to be all right
John P. Schulz

One A Day For A Year–Here’s Number 365

Quotes and Notes #365, November 4

“Knowing when to stop is the number one sign of a good writer.”—Jane B. Schulz, “My Mother Taught Me To Write”

Everything is going to be all right, diagram by Carmen Butcher

Everything is going to be all right, diagram by Carmen Butcher

One time my grandmother came home from church and I asked her, “Grandma, how was the sermon today?’ She replied, “It would have been a very good sermon but Preacher Johnson missed three good places to stop.”

A little over a year ago, on Facebook, I posted a motivational, cancer-related quote each day for the month of October in honor of Cancer Awareness Month. So many people asked me to continue that I promised to TRY to come up with an annotated quote article every day for a year. The articles became rather popular. I ended up with a mailing list of special people who requested the articles, and with a blog site which garnered over twelve thousand hits during the course of the year. Last December, my friend David Brown said, “I’m just wondering how long you can go without it becoming trite and worn.” I remembered that in my writing.

The payoff has been wonderful. I have gotten many nice comments. The best part of it, though, is that, every day, as I make my way out and about town, two or three people will smile, wave and say,

“Hey, John, Everything is going to be all right.”

I reached my goal and it is now time for a little break. I will not abandon the mailing group, the blog, or the Facebook following, I just need to ponder about my next direction. You can always go wander around in the blog site archives which you will find here:  https://johnschulzauthor.com/

Today’s wonderful illustration is a gift from my friend Carmen Butcher, Author, Professor of English, Shorter University. Thanks, Carmen, I treasure it.

So, carry on. I’ll be in touch
Share a smile wherever you go
Remember that only you can determine your attitude
That you are the only you in the world, and that,
Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Number 364–What I Have Learned…

Quotes and Notes #364, November 3

The nandina shows us survival, strength, and beauty.

The nandina shows us survival, strength, and beauty.

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”—Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations”—

If I have found a message through the course of writing 364 of these articles, it is this.

  •           You have power over your mind.
  •           You can control your attitude.
  •           You can find your own happiness.
  •           You can be you—it matters not what others think.
  •           You have great value.

When I go to the grocery store these days and smile at a perfect stranger, they seem to be delighted and they always return the gesture.

The final thing I found—just lately—is the saying, “You are the only you in the world.” I guess I always knew that but didn’t recognize it.
Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Got a Problem?–Kiss It–read on…

Quotes and Notes #363, November 2

Complex simplicity

Complex simplicity

“I met a man who sold umbrellas; just five dollars to avoid all that rain. A simple remedy to a problem beyond our control is often called the things you cannot change; serenity.”—Emily Flim—

This brings to mind the “KISS” principle. The Kiss principle is one of the most wonderful problem solving concepts that I ever came across. What does KISS stand for? “Keep It Simple, Stupid.”

A lot of times, if we will sit back and examine the problems that concern us, we will find little corners, rough places, and dangerous edges. If we take the time to chip away at the edges of the problem, we can finally get to its essence. We can simplify the problem. Then we can take care of that problem and move on to the next one. Keep it Simple.

This principle works best with a smile
Remember that you are the only you in the world.
Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

Let’s Go For A Walk…

Quotes and notes, #362 November 1

Walking into outside.

Walking into outside.

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”—John Muir—

“Now shall I walk or shall I ride?
‘Ride,’ Pleasure said;
‘Walk,’ Joy replied.”
—W.H. Davies—

A walk through the woods, a walk through town, or a rambling through the pictures in your mind—walks and other roamings are good for working on attitudes. Attitudes are what keep you happy (or unhappy, if you so choose).

“The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for.”—Louis L’Amour—

Share a smile with others as you pass by
Remember that you are the only you in the world.
Everything is going to be all right.

John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”

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