Category: Reck, Ross; Dr.

  • A Very Important Difference Between Happy and Unhappy People – by Dr. Ross Reck

    A Very Important Difference Between Happy and Unhappy People – by Dr. Ross Reck

    Being Happy
    Pixabay

    One of my daughters sent me a quote that read, “Happy people are those who continuously evaluate and improve themselves. Unhappy people are those who continuously evaluate others.” What this means is that happy people are focused on personal growth—trying and learning new things, going to new places and making new friends. For them, life is all about the journey and they take the necessary actions to make sure the scenery is constantly changing. As a result, life for them is fun and exciting. Unhappy people, on the other hand, avoid opportunities for personal growth—they are content to remain stuck where they are, and they attempt to make themselves feel good by finding fault with others. The problem is that without personal growth, life is neither fun nor exciting. Rather, it’s like being on a road trip where the scenery never changes.

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  • You Don’t Have to Earn Your Joy – by Dr. Ross Reck

    You Don’t Have to Earn Your Joy – by Dr. Ross Reck

    Happiness - Joy
    Pixabay

    A wise woman named Cheryl Richardson said the following in her weekly blog at cherylrichardson.com. See if this sounds familiar. “I stood at the kitchen sink rinsing plates and putting them in the dishwasher when I noticed a familiar train of thought laying tracks in my head. Let’s see, I told myself, I’m done paying bills, balancing the bank accounts, and cleaning up the kitchen, so now I can make a cup of tea and finish reading my book. Sounds harmless enough, except that it was the third time in a week that I caught myself acting as if I could only do what I wanted to do once work was done.” The problem with this kind of thinking is that it ignores the fact that we need regular doses of joy in our lives in order to be happy and healthy human beings. Joy is something we need to make time for on a regular basis; not something we should have to earn.

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  • An Example of a Great Attitude – by Dr. Ross Reck

    An Example of a Great Attitude – by Dr. Ross Reck

    Driving Across America
    Pixaby

    A friend of mine made the following post on Facebook recently about her drive from the east coast to San Diego. It’s an excellent example of a great attitude. “I just finished driving across this beautiful country of ours—what a thrill!! The majority of drivers were courteous and yet too many were driving dangerously aggressive. There’s a lot of stress in this world. I could feel the difference as I passed through cities and towns. On the other hand, there is also so much kindness out there too. Lots of smiles just waiting to be encouraged. What fun!” What I find interesting is that she acknowledged the stress and aggressive behavior but chose to focus on kindness and smiles. What a wonderful perspective!!

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  • One Way Out of a Funk: Do Something that Puts a Smile on Someone’s Face – by Dr. Ross Reck

    One Way Out of a Funk: Do Something that Puts a Smile on Someone’s Face – by Dr. Ross Reck

    Blueberry Cake / Pie

    Not long ago, I found myself feeling a bit down. There was no particular reason for it, I was just in a funk. One of the things I have learned over the years is that the quickest way out of a funk is to do something that puts a smile on someone’s face. So, I decided to make a blueberry cake/pie for my grandson Luke who had been sick and housebound for a few days. Blueberry cake/pies are his favorite. After I finished baking it, my wife said, “We have lots of ripe tomatoes in the garden and Mia loves them. Why don’t you take a basket of tomatoes to her as well.” I thought, “What a great idea!” Then she said, “Trader Joe’s has peonies right now, and Katie loves them. Why don’t you stop on the way and get her some.” So, I did. When I walked into their house carrying a box that contained a fresh cake/pie, fresh ripe tomatoes and two bouquets of pink peonies, I was greeted with enthusiastic and grateful smiles from my two grandchildren and my daughter. And, as you can guess, my funk disappeared, and I felt great for the rest of the day!

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  • If You Know Someone Who Lives Alone, Check in on Them Once in a While by Ross Reck

    If You Know Someone Who Lives Alone, Check in on Them Once in a While by Ross Reck

    Do It Now!

    Alone
    Pixaby

    A friend made this post recently on Facebook: “I’m feeling down. I just learned that a friend I knew when I lived in Illinois passed away. The last time we spoke, which was a month ago, she seemed so up, but evidently, she wasn’t. She took her own life. Her sister said she felt lonely because many friends and family members had recently died. Her other “friends” were too busy with their own lives to spend any time with her. I guess what I am trying to express is we never know what others are going through. Now I wish I had called more often.” The lesson here is that if you know someone who lives alone—especially if they are recently divorced or widowed—check in with them. You never know what the impact of reaching out could be.

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