Author: kenlassblog.net

I was sitting in the bleachers watching my four year old grandson play baseball recently. His team consisted of all boys, except one brave, determined little girl. She struggled to hit the ball the entire game, until her final at bat. With the bases loaded she managed to hit a groundball and make it safely to first base. A run scored that helped her team win the game.

In the team huddle after the game, the coach presented the little girl with the game ball. She broke into a joyous smile that was bright enough to light up the world. She excitedly ran to the backstop screen to proudly show the ball to her family in the stands. She was so thrilled.

There were other players on the team that had played a better game. But the coach knew that acknowledging the little girl in this way would bring her joy. It occurred to me that’s what life should be all about. Bringing joy to others. Everybody was happy for that sweet child and broke out into applause for her.

Because joy is contagious.

The other day my young grandkids asked me if they could watch TV. I asked them what they wanted to watch, and since it was close to Halloween, they told me they wanted “Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin”. I put it on, and they watched it intensely. There were loud bursts of laughter when Charlie Brown got rocks in his trick or treat bag, when Lucy pulled the football away yet again, and when Linus was labeled as a “blockhead”.

This cartoon was made in 1966. I watched it as a kid. My children watched it when they were young, and now my grandkids are into it. It is refreshing and encouraging to know that clean, wholesome entertainment is still appealing to children. It gives you hope we can survive the moral decline in our video culture.

Good, honorable fun will never go out of style. Even a blockhead can see that.

I was mowing my backyard with my lawn tractor recently, when I ran over a stick. The small branch somehow lodged in my deck belt and threw it off the gears, meaning I could no longer engage my mower blades. I fiddled with the belt for hours, trying to figure out how to reinstall it. This sort of thing is not my forte, and I eventually gave up.

I started asking around if any of my friends could help, and a wonderful guy, who has fixed the same problem on a mower just like mine, came over and knew just how to do it. It was his good deed, and he wouldn’t accept anything for the repair.

I’m never going to be able to fix anyone’s lawn mower, but it certainly made me want to forward the kindness to someone else. And I have strived to do that. I’m part of a chain of goodwill, and I won’t break the chain. Sooner or later, that chain will reach you, if it hasn’t already.

Keep it going.

I love to tickle my grandkids. I revel in their cackling laughter when I bring out the “tickle bug” and “sting” them with it. I found out something interesting about this. Did you know you are not actually ticklish in the armpit, or the ribs, or on the bottom of your feet. You are ticklish in the brain.

The physical contact stimulates the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls emotional reactions. This explains why some people can focus their mind and resist the temptation to laugh while being tickled. We used to play that game as children, daring each other not to laugh as your friends tickled you. It’s really difficult. But you can do it if you concentrate hard enough.

And if you can train your mind to do that, rest assured you can also train it to overcome all kinds of stress in your life.

I f figured you would be tickled to hear that.

The other day I was out in my yard and I looked up and saw a large flock of birds. They were all heading south for the winter. Some of them will travel thousands of miles, halfway around the earth. They will find their way to the same exact place they have been before, using only their own instinct and sense of direction.

The internet says birds can detect the earth’s magnetic field, which allows them to determine latitude and global positioning. Contrary to what most people think, it’s not changes in temperature that cue them when it’s to fly south. It’s changes in daylight patterns.

Such gifts are surely not the product of evolution. They are designed. No doubt by The Great Designer.

You’ve probably never heard of a Chinese billionaire by the name of Xu Gang. He founded a titanium dioxide pigment company (whatever that is) in 2011 and went public with it. The company was spectacularly successful and brought him great and immediate wealth. He became a billionaire in just a few years.

Then, last May, Xu Gang suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. He was just 61 years old. All that money. All that success. Yet it didn’t even get him to retirement age.

Don’t spend the time you are given by being obsessed with pursuing wealth and material success. Make your days count. Love people around you and leave a legacy. Don’t put it off. You may not have as much time as you think. Just ask Mr. Gang.

Oh, wait. You can’t.

One of the best ways for older folks to protect themselves from falling is to practice balance. I didn’t even know balance was something you could practice and improve. I figured you either had it or you didn’t. But apparently, if you make a daily routine of things such as, standing on one leg, or walking heal-to-toe in a straight line, you will eventually develop more solid balance when walking, climbing stairs, exercising, and so on.

Keeping a good mental balance is important also. Life has many obstacles that can trip you up. A healthy dose of prayer and church fellowship will help keep your moods and outlook from falling into dark places.

You’re always on stable ground when you focus on others. Who can you catch from falling today?

Psychologists tell us it’s more important than ever to connect with other people. Which brings up the question: Would you know how to start a conversation with a stranger? It takes a little effort, and a little courage. You never know what kind of mood or response you’re going to get. However, most people are friendly and willing to begin a conversation if they are approached.

Of course, the easiest way is to ask them about something you have, or are doing in common. Waiting in line, parenting or grandparenting, travelling on the same plane or bus. The thing everybody has in common is the weather. Current events (although probably not politics), sports. Maybe even religion (be careful about coming on too strong).

You might be surprised at how quickly you can make a new friend or acquaintance if you just break the ice. Yes, it can be a little scary, and out of your comfort zone, and it might go nowhere. But it’s generally worth the effort.

The incredible advances in technology have come at a cost. In the process, we have lost the concept of patience. We have become accustomed to immediate access to information. Instantaneous answers to questions. We have forgotten how to wait.

I see it in my grandkids. If they aren’t immediately gratified or entertained by an activity, they quickly abandon it. I’ve tried doing jigsaw puzzles with them. If they don’t immediately find several pieces that fit together, they give up. Adults who want to lose weight no longer try to change their eating habits and take the pounds off gradually. Instead they take pills and shots in an attempt to reach their goal overnight.

Most concerning, we’re not patient with each other. That driver in front of us hasn’t noticed the light has turned green. Time to lay on the horn. We want those around us to live by our expectations. Grace and forgiveness are hard to come by. Maybe if we all just took a deep breath, slowed down a bit, and scaled back on all the judgement, the world could be a better place.

You’ve probably heard the expression “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. It’s actually true. Life is challenging enough without stressing over things that don’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things.

I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to get frustrated when you can’t find a parking space, when your internet goes out during your favorite TV show, when your football team loses, when your neighbor’s dog poops in your yard. When you are taking your final breaths in this life, will those things really matter to you?

Take a deep breath. Be kind. Relax. That driver in front of you will eventually stop looking at his phone and realize the light has turned green. Patience is its own reward.

I’m writing this to myself.