Rudyard Harrison, Somerset West
“When I remember my favourite things, then I don’t feel so bad”.
Familiar words from the lovely movie The Sound of Music.
Remembering our favourite things, however simple they are, will bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts.
Despite all the doom and gloom, many of us have a pretty good life in South Africa.
Instead of being dragged down by the bad news, let’s allow our spirits to be raised by the good news.
A lot of really
good work is being done. Let’s look for the joys!
Last week my spirits were buoyed by these ordinary experiences.
A ball rolls out of a toy shop onto the pavement; a passerby scoops it up and returns it to the toddler playing on the floor.
A motorist trying to make a difficult U-turn in rush hour traffic is waved across by a laughing minibus taxi driver.
A customer climbs out of her car at a shopping mall and enthusiastically exchanges greetings with the car guard “bonjour Madame, bonjour Rene!”
A steakhouse waitress delivers a patron’s fussy order, exactly as requested, with a smile from ear to ear.
It’s often the small, everyday things in life that put us in a good mood. Let’s spread the joy by making a habit of treating others with courtesy and respect. Life is a challenge for most of us; it will be more bearable if we look for the joys!
Shalom!
Rudyard Harrison
