Create a List of Joyful Moments to Relieve Stress

Posted on 24/11/2025 by Grumpa Joe

Every once in awhile a moment occurs that is special. One of my motivational teachers put me onto  keeping a list called “Warm and Fuzzy Moments.”  Moments come along that make us feel good. The moments are special.  Sometimes it is an unexpected card from a friend, or a “thank you” for something you did for someone. By recording the moment one can occasionally review it and feel good all over again. This technique is especially helpful when I am stressed out and not feeling good about myself. I can remember all the times when I received something unexpectedly for a positive action I took unconsciously.

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Recently, one such moment occurred while I was walking on the path near my house. I was totally zoned saying the rosary and listening to the songs of the birds. I felt a presence near me, but kept walking. Sometimes it is another walker or a runner who silently approaches from the rear. Many times I never hear or see the person until they are next to me. This morning it was a deer. Not a fawn, nor an adult mature deer, but a teenager. It sported the beautiful honey brown color of a springtime deer without the baby spots of a fawn, or the antlers of a buck. He/she stood just above my waist in height.

I was totally surprised and amazed that this beautiful animal should come so close to me and walk along my side for a few steps. She finally picked up the pace and trotted out ahead of me and off into the brush along the side of the trail. The encounter lasted only a few seconds, but it is etched into my mind as a “warm and fuzzy” moment. It is written on my list.

My deceased wife Barbara loved deer. Could this magnificent animal been sent by her to tell me that she is well? Did God chose to let this creature wander into my path to make my day? What ever the reason it happened, a freak of nature, a coincidence, a sign, it made my day.

I recommend to all goal achieving people on this earth to keep a log of their “warm and fuzzy” moments. The moments relived will pick you up, and help you through the times you are low and not feeling good about yourself.

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Making a Good Day Great!

Posted on 02/09/2025 by Grumpa Joe

Today, I planned to get a number of things done. It started with a breakfast omelet loaded with chopped garlic, onions, and accompanied by wheat toast and coffee. Cooking the omelet was a good thing, and provided me with a sense of accomplishment followed by the reward of eating the omelet. Next, I watered my house plants, and soaked my orchids under the spray on the sink. I sent my daughter-in-law a birthday card. The kitchen was calling me back, so I chopped onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and put them in a large pot with green peas and a ham bone loaded with meat. Once the goodies were covered with water, I put the soup on the stove to boil and simmer.

 

While the soup cooked, I mounted a fixture for my new flat screen TV. At this point, my day slowed to a crawl. My son-in-law came over to finish installing an electrical outlet for the TV. Jeff is one of my favorite people so I spent time talking with him about ponds, and his HVAC business. While he worked, I sat reviewing my monthly bills so I could pay them off.  Jeff disappeared for a short time, but came back with my grandson. I actually got a chance to work on homework with my namesake.

After a brief review of the meaning of antecedents on the internet, my grandson and I were underlining pronouns and their antecedents when the phone rang. It was the leader of my Wednesday night mens group asking if I minded if we brought the wives with us this evening. I immediately responded that it would be fantastic to bring the wives.

My list of goal steps for the day went to hell this afternoon, but I can’t get into a snit about it because the activity that came to me was more important than my original plans. How much better could it get? Visiting with my oldest grandson, followed by dinner with my wife and friends. Goals are good, but fun with family and friends is better. Visiting with family and friends is one of my “high payoff activities.” In fact it is number one on my list.  This activity carries the highest priority and is the most important thing in my life. All else pales in comparison.

What are your High Payoff Activities?

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Aw-Shits and Atta-Boys

Posted on 01/09/2025 by Grumpa Joe

Art Price, a friend from work, introduced me to a new term as a joke, but it has become a hard fast rule. We go along in life doing good work and maybe we get an “atta-boy” from our boss or a co-worker. One day something bad happens and we have an “aw-shit” moment. We screwed up. Did you ever notice that it takes only one “aw-shit” to erase ten “atta-boys?” Why is that? Why is it that people tend to remember those “aw-shit” moments and forget about all the “atta-boys” we’ve accumulated along the way?

I like to believe that I get “aw-shits” by trying hard. The more work I do the better the chances are that I will occasionally fail.  The failure does not mean that I am a failure, it only means that I tried something that didn’t work. It is human nature to play up the negative. Why? I haven’t a clue. Maybe one of you can fill me in. In his life time, while working on the light bulb, Thomas Edison tried over five thousand filaments that failed  When asked by a reporter if it was time to give up after failing five thousand times he replied. “I have not failed, I have identified five thousand things that don’t work.” Thank God he didn’t give up. We might still be using candles to light our homes.

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Being Positive is Fun, Being Negative is Funk

Posted on 30/08/2025 by Grumpa Joe

Wow! It seems like forever since I last posted. So much has transpired. The baby steps that I used to tick off have stopped and that sent me into a sunk feeling. I like to say I am in a funk when I am feeling depressed. In spite of all the positive activity toward my goals I have been stricken with a slight case of depression. My self-esteem is low, and that always is a sign of depression. Some little thing triggered me into a funk. The funk is over, I’ve survived and now it’s time to BLOG again. How did I get myself out of the funk? Well first there is work. Good hard physical work. Thank God, I can still do physical work. That meant that doing my physical therapy exercises religiously and without complaint.

I drove to Pets Mart last week and bought ten good size goldfish for the pond. We can now see fish from our kitchen window, whereas before, the little guys were invisible. Everyday, Lovely and I throw a handful of fish pellets into the water to feed them. I want to train the fish to come to us when we approach the edge of the water.

Another powerful tool for getting out of the funk is to pray. I pray every night before retiring. I coax my sub-conscious into bringing me only good health, great stories, and abundance. Included is a request to help a bunch of people who need it. In the morning, when I walk, it is  another opportunity to pray and speak to God. I can’t walk without praying. It’s a habit I developed over the last twenty-two years.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the endorphins begin to kick in and the funk begins to disappear.

Today, I remembered signing up for writing school twenty years ago. I had hoped to improve my writing to become as good as the really fluid writers on the blogs I visit. Man are they good. I admire people who can write their thoughts clearly, concisely, and in a completely understandable way . They amaze me. How can some writers be so descriptive with their words and others like me are complete klutzes. Do you believe this, I’m writing myself into a funk just by giving someone unknown to anyone an “atta boy.”

I am not a klutzy writer, I do well. Even though others can write rings around me, I must concentrate on the positive in my life and not dwell on the negative. The negative, “or dark side,” can quickly envelop the “id” and predominate. We have to learn and practice being positive every moment of our lives. Being positive is much more fun than being negative. Funk rules the negative person.

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The Three D’s of Success: Desire, Determination, Durability

Posted on 28/08/2025 by Grumpa Joe

I once heard George Halas, owner of the Chicago Bears and the world-famous football team, say, “There are three D’s required to reach success.”

The first ‘D’ is for “Desire.” Without desire one will not achieve a goal. A person must have the goal imprinted deep within his mind. How often have we heard that we must record our goals? The simple act of writing the goal on a piece of paper serves to etch it into our subconscious mind. The list allows us to “see” the goal in front of us often. Each time we “see” the goal on the list it becomes more firmly entrenched in our minds. The constant reminder will churn within us a desire to achieve.

“Determination” is the second “D.” This is the quality that keeps us taking the baby-steps toward achievement. Determination keeps us focused and coming back to the goal after being steered off the course toward other pursuits. It is the quality that keeps us getting back up after a failure has knocked us down. It is the trait that will cause us to rethink the situation and create a new path toward success.

Finally, there is “Durability.” For a football player this is an important aspect of success. It means staying physically fit and in condition to take the hits and the falls that occur in the game. Though many of us will never play football, we still need durability to succeed. We need to remain physically fit, and mentally sharp. Physical conditioning is one way to achieve the energy levels and mental acuity that it will take to reach the goal we set. Physical activity increases the oxygen levels in the blood to give us energy, and allows our brain to function. Activity, gives us the thinking power needed to define the steps to take toward achievement of our dreams.

DESIRE, DETERMINATION, DURABILITY,

The three “D’s” of success.

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