| Prior Date | Archive Index | Next Date |
|
WITandWISDOM(tm) - June 19, 2003 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is in the doing, not the getting - in the trying, not the triumph. - Zig Ziglar ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Earlier in this century the renowned psychiatrist Milton H. Erickson was giving a lecture in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At that time he was asked to visit the aunt of a colleague who lived there. Dr. Erickson's colleague explained that his aunt, who was in her sixties, had inherited a fortune but lived alone, never having married. By now, she had lost most of her close relatives and friends. She had medical problems that put her in a wheelchair. The nephew was concerned that his aunt was not only depressed but also considering suicide. Dr. Erickson took a taxi to the aunt's home. She gave him a tour of her estate. It seemed to him that, except for minor remodeling to allow wheelchair - access, nothing had been changed since the house was built in the 1890s. The furniture and household decorations smelled of must, and Erickson noted the heavy curtains were kept closed, making the house a dark, depressing place. However, the aunt became animated when she showed Erickson her greenhouse, where she spent hours and hours working with plants - particularly African violets. The woman confided that she suffered with major depression. Erickson told her that her problem was not depression but the fact that she had chosen to isolate herself from people. He said, "I recommend that you look in the latest church bulletin. You'll find announcements of births, illnesses, graduations, engagements, and marriages there. Make a number of African violet cuttings, repot them in gift pots, and have your handyman drive you to the homes of people who are affected by these happy and sad events. Bring them a plant and your congratulations or condolences and comfort, whichever is appropriate to the situation." Although upset by the psychiatrist's blunt assessment, the woman responded positively. Twenty years later, Dr. Erickson proudly displayed in a scrapbook an article from the Milwaukee Journal. It had a large headline that read: AFRICAN VIOLET QUEEN OF MILWAUKEE DIES MOURNED BY THOUSANDS. The article detailed the life of this caring woman who had become locally prominent for her trademark flowers and her charitable work with people in the community during the ten years preceding her death. It is a law of life that people who deliver comfort are themselves comforted, and those who lighten the load of others find their own burdens lighter. By Victor Parachin, Tulsa, Oklahoma Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) September 2001, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com Submitted by Dale Galusha ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: A lawyer's answer to the question: How many lawyers does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: Such number as may be deemed necessary to perform the stated task in a timely and efficient manner within the stricture of the following agreement: Whereas the party of the first part, also known as 'Lawyer,' and the party of the second part, also known as 'Lightbulb,' do hereby and forthwith agree to a transaction wherein the party of the second part (Lightbulb) shall be removed from the current position. The aforementioned removal transaction shall include, but not limited to, the following steps: (1) The party of the first part (Lawyer) shall, with or without elevation at his option, by means of a chair, step stool, ladder, or any other means of elevation, grasp the party of the second part (Lightbulb) and rotate the party of the second part (Lightbulb) in a counter-clockwise direction, this point being nonnegotiable. (2) Upon reaching a point where the party of the second part (Lightbulb) becomes separated from the party of the third part (Receptacle),the party of the first part(Lawyer) shall have the option of disposing of the party of the second part (Lightbulb) in a manner consistent with all applicable state, local and federal statutes. Source: The Funnies, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andychaps_the-funnies ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A teenage girl had been talking on the phone for about half an hour, and then she hung up. "Wow!" said her father, "That was short. You usually talk for two hours. What happened?" "Wrong number..." replied the girl. Source: Gentle Humor, mailto:words@netcarrier.com?subject=GHSubscribe ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Don't Know Much About' Henry Ford You could have any color you wanted - as long as it was black. One hundred years ago this month, Henry Ford (1863-1947) started the Ford Motor Co. A machinist by age 16, Ford became interested in automobiles as soon as they came on the scene, building his first in 1896. No genius inventor, he nevertheless helped transform America as few other businessmen have. What do you know about the man who helped create America's love affair with the car? Crank up this quick quiz by Kenneth C. Davis, the author of Don't Know Much About History. 1. What Ford classic appeared in 1908? 2. What innovation in manufacturing did he introduce in 1913? 3. The next year. Ford did something shocking that made him a hero to his workers in Detroit. What was it? 4. For what political views was Ford criticized late in his life? Quiz Answers: 1. The Model T, which from 1914 to '25 came only in black. By 1927, the model's final year. Ford had sold more than 15 million. 2. The assembly line. Conveyor belts brought parts to workers, each of whom performed a particular task instead of building a complete car. Production costs fell, and the price of a Model T, originally $825, was just $290 by 1925, putting a car within reach of the average family. 3. He raised the daily minimum wage to $5, more than twice what most workers earned. He also cut the workday from nine hours to eight. 4. An anti-Semite and isolationist, he opposed U.S. involvement in World War II. Source: USA Weekend, June 6- 8, 2003, http://usaweekend.com |