Winning Words 10/7/10
“If you can’t see the bright side of life, polish the dull.” (Unknown) Do you remember Joe Btfsplk? He was the guy, dressed in black, in the Li’l Abner comic strip who always walked around with a cloud over his head. Life wasn’t so bright for Joe. It’s one thing to say, “Polish the dull.” But, how? Do you have some advice to give on the subject? What has worked for you? I’d like to share it on the blog. ;-) Jack

FROM RI IN BOSTON: I've found that getting a different outlook on things around you can help give a better perspective on your personal situation. When something has my mind locked up I take a long walk, and do it in unfamiliar surroundings. The fresh settings stimulate me to thinking about what I see, and considering other circumstances than my personal world. Just getting moving and breathing fresh air in all likelihood benefits me
too. I suggest abandoning the car and taking a walk. FROM JACK: Suggestion #1 is a stimulating one.

FROM ML IN ILLINOIS: make a habit of complimenting people, especially those who least expect it. FROM JACK: Suggestion #2 is from one who habitually polishes dull stuff in the world.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: Since you ask, this dullard finds the most hope in striving to listen, particularly to scripture but also to all the loving, peacemaking, constructive shining light that seems to come from all around. Sometimes, I wonder if this could happen in the most dire of situations--Nazi Germany, prison, places where famine is, places of extreme poverty. Hope even there in those places too. We all are connected and perhaps that is the bright spot and leads of to give however we can to people all over who are suffering. FROM JACK: Suggestion #3 reminds us to LISTEN to what's going on around us with all of our senses.

FROM JK IN MICHIGAN: Remember that 'polishing the dull' teaches you perseverance. Being faithful with what you have also establishes your faith in God and yourself. Jesus said "Blessed is he who has not seen but still believes". Remember that even this concept is echoed in fiction; Aladdin had to reach out and polish
the lamp to get his wishes. FROM JACK: Suggestion #4 says to reach out an polish something that appears dull. Aladdin may appear.

FROM SG IN TAMPA: To take one day at a time and to enjoy that day. FROM JACK: Coming in at #5, is "enjoy the day" and don't look too far ahead. I read on the internet today that Tampa is one of the top places for people to stressed about their housing. Michigan was further down the list.

FROM MOLINER CF: illigitimi non carborundum FROM JACK: I'll bet you had that posted on your office wall. #6 is, to patient with other people who don't have that virtue.

FROM MOLINER JT: As the Hymn says. " Take it to the Lord in prayer" FROM JACK: Prayer is #7. It's especially helpful when it seems like you are continually wearing dark glasses.

FROM CJP IN WISCONSIN: I always say to myself-there is someone out there that has it much worse than me.
My mom Edith always said "Count your Blessings". It's true we must try to be thankful and keep a positive
attitude. FROM JACK: For your suggestion, #8, two songs come to mind..."Count Your Many Blessing, Name Them One By One" and "Look On The Sunny Side."

FROM PRFM IN WISCONSIN: Sit outside on a sunny day! FROM JACK: #9 sounds like a good idea, and today was one of those days. Even Joe Btfsplk would have liked it.

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: Like the adage "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade"~ Not always easy to do, but positive attitude, and "can-do" grit are often the key. And the knowledge that God has said he can bring good out of every situation."We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose"...Romans:8:28 So we tend to believe that some good can come out of adverse circumstances. I'm sure that many times, this requires "faith-full eyes"!

FROM PRDR IN MICHIGAN: Probably because I’m absorbed in this Sunday’s gospel, I think we best polish the dull with gratitude. Melody Beattie says, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Gratitude makes things
right. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. It can turn an existence into a real life, and disconnected situations into important and beneficial
lessons. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
I’m that’s more than you can use on your blog, but you can “take what is useful and leave the rest” as they say in the 12 step communities. This is from Melody Beattie’s little book, Gratitude: Affirming the Good Things in Life, published by Hazelden. FROM JACK: Yes, that's a BIG sermon for the LITTLE blog, but it's worth sending out, especially after I read it a second time. Someone has to affirm the good things in life to counteract the negative (which gets the "press')

FROM CJL IN OHIO: Work harder & smarter. FROM JACK: Your response reminds me of The Karate Kid movie, where the instructor got the boy to polish his car...and by doing that, he became better at karate.