Coffee, Tea & Sympathy

What kind of day did we have today? Are we critical of the day’s events or circumstances because they didn’t meet our expectations? Based on our standards of perfection, will we ever have the perfect day?

There is no such thing as a perfect day. Today happened just the way it was supposed to, with its imperfections as well as its achievements.   If it was a lousy day, it was only because we believed it was a lousy day.   By the same token, today was a good day because we believed it was, not because the sun was shining or traffic was light or we got paid.

Every day is different. Some days may be enjoyable experiences while others may be difficult to get through.   But each day plays an important part in our development. Instead of judging each day like a teacher grading papers, we can see each day as our teacher.

What we learn from the day, as well as the attitude we have about it, is our daily lesson.

— from the book Night Light

 There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live… the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: Wait and Hope.

Edmond Dantès, The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas

Sometimes God is pushing his will in mysterious ways. If the same message comes to you from many different directions, perhaps it is time to follow it. Sufi poet Rumi says:
”If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”
When you hear the same words day after day, you should not accept them as criticism. You just have to look at them without prejudice.

- 365 prescriptions for your soul, Bernie Siegel