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WITandWISDOM(tm) - January 13, 2006 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "Whatever it is we'd seek to have more of, find someone who has less and be the source of it." - Neale Donald Walsch, from Conversations With God Source: Guideposts, Copyright (c) August 2004, http://www.guideposts.org ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: A few years ago, Dave, a dear friend, went through a terrible throat surgery and long hospitalization. Though he's a professional motivational speaker who frequently talks about the power of positive thinking, he told me he was surprised to really see how much his attitude affected the amount of mental anguish and physical pain he experienced. Even more, he was surprised how much his attitude was affected by the attitudes of the health care workers he saw each day. "You could just feel the difference between the few who genuinely cared about you as a person and those who thought of you as one of their daily burdens," Dave said. Unfortunately, the majority of men and women who came in and out of his room were coldly indifferent. They treated him as a medical problem rather than as a person suffering from a medical problem and he found the experience demoralizing, depressing and deeply disrespectful. Many doctors and nurses seemed annoyed by his presence and his problems. They would often talk about his condition in front of him as if he weren't there. Most failed to demonstrate the slightest concern with the effect their callous words and demeanor might have on their patient. Dave found this attitude outright toxic. In contrast, the few workers who went out of their way to lift his spirits and brighten his day with simple but sincere expressions of concern and encouragement weren't just good medical professionals. They were good people. These "angels of mercy" who bring their hearts to their work, knowing that mental sunshine and flowers can be as important as drugs, deserve our love and admiration. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. © 2005 Josephson Institute of Ethics; reprinted with permission. Michael Josephson, one of the nation's leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the premier youth character education program, Character Counts! For further information visit http://www.charactercounts.org Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright (c) ACTS International, 2004, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: More Things Women Want to Hear, but Never Do Part 2 of 2 [Jan 3, 13] I'm getting a little tired of steak on the grill. How about a nice quiche? You know, I think I'd really prefer the four-door sedan to that impractical Corvette. I think we're lost. Let me find a gas station to ask for directions. My golf clubs are only 30 years old. Why don't you use the money my parents gave us to get something nice for the house. If the guys call and want me to go to that new sports club with them, tell them I'm busy. I really want to get the living room painted tonight. Sports cars are just such stupid little toys for men who have never really grown up. If you're looking for me later, I'll be over there looking at the home decorating magazines. You know, we really don't visit your relatives enough. Why don't you relax this weekend. I'll take care of the cooking and housework. Source: ArcaMax - Jokes, http://tinyurl.com/9kf44 ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: When we get home," I lectured my three young sons in the backseat of the car, "I want you all to clean your rooms because Uncle Ed is coming over. He's never been to our house before, and I want it to look tidy." My nine-year-old finally broke a lengthy silence. "But isn't that kind of like lying?" Submitted by Lorraine ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Cat found after six years A cat has been reunited with its owner after six years. Colin the tomcat vanished from Emma Phillips' home in Barkingside, Essex, in 1999. Colin lived as a stray until a woman handed him to pet rescue charity the PDSA. A microchip was found in his neck and Emma was called reports The Sun. She recognized him straight away, she said: "He had a rip in his ear and black dots on his face." Source: Ananova http://www.ananova.com