For those of us who work with words and pictures we know just how important it is to share them with others on countless occasions and to carefully arrange them to tell the whole story and to encourage the recipients to be well informed as well as feel good about themselves and their community.
One of the greatest expressions of care and kindness can be extended in a personal or family letter, a card, and of course now in emails to a loved one, friend, co-worker, neighbour or who-ever, which can include sincere wishes and messages of congratulations, thank-yous, sympathy, get well, a special invitation, or just a plain old hello how are you, hope everything is going well, we miss you a lot, let’s get together, please stay in touch, and on and on.
Along the way I have had the wonderful opportunity of being able to serve as a 1960s ‘cub reporter’ and later as the Editor of both the Ponoka Herald and the Ponoka News for over 30 years off and on. While chasing thousands of good stories and pictures in and around town all of us persistent ‘news-folks’ we have to adjust to writing the positive, fun, and success stories, as well as some of the real tough and sad ones that also have to be told.
Nowadays while browsing and putting together my column as well as the Reflections and Remember When articles and photos that I so much enjoy sharing in the Ponoka News each week, I always run across or receive so many great old tales and articles, as well as some really sweet lifestyle jokes and quotes that I just love passing on to our faithful readers, who also kindly share them with me on so many occasions. I hope that some of these tidbits will make everyone feel good about themselves, and no matter what your age might be, please be proud of all the contributions and milestones that you have achieved and shared and will continue to strive for throughout your active individual and family lifestyles.
• We don’t forgive people because we are weak…we forgive them because we are strong enough to realize that everyone makes mistakes along the way.
• People who shine from within don’t need to be in the spotlight. Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up.
• When you think that you can’t make a difference, remember that one raindrop raises the ocean and helps a root to grow.
• Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day that always says ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’
• Faith sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. Those who are never forgotten are those who have touched the hearts of others.
• Life isn’t always about the breaths that we take, but about the precious moments that take our breath away. A smile and a laugh are the ‘duct tape’ of life because they can fix just about anything.
• We do not quit playing because we grow old…we grow old because we quit playing. No matter how we feel we should get up, dress up, show up, and never give up.
• If you think that you are too small to have an impact, trying going to bed with a mosquito.
• Joke of the week on the subject of lawn mowing is a true story told by legendary golfer Lee Trevino, and you just gotta love him for his down to earth humour and honesty. One day shortly after joining the PGA tour in 1965 Lee Trevino, a great professional golfer and married man was at his home in Dallas, Texas mowing his front lawn as he always did. A lady driving by in a big shiny Cadillac stopped in front of his house, lowered the window, and asked, “Excuse me, do you speak English?’ Lee responded with a great big smile, ‘Yes Madam, I do.’ The lady then asked, ‘What do you charge to do yard work?’ Trevino paused for a moment and then said, ‘Well, the woman in this house lets me sleep with her.’ The lady hurriedly put the car into gear and sped away.
Before we give somebody a piece of our mind we need to be sure that we can get by with what we have left. As summer fades and the days get shorter it’s okay to stay up a little later and get the best out of every moment, and then go ahead and have a great week, all of you.