Thankful For
John LeBoutillier
Friday Oct. 4, 2002
Fall has begun and it is a good time to take stock.
Do you ever stop and list some of the things that make you happy? The things that are fun? The daily things that you love - but perhaps often take for granted?
Here are a few of mine:
Reading - anything! I love the 3 newspapers I read every day. I doubt I could live without reading. How thankful I am that I can read - that my eyes are healthy - and that I was raised in a home and a school environment that made us read.
Similarly, what is better than having a good book to read? When I see adults sitting on the Long Island railroad like bumps on a log and not reading I feel sorry for them. They are missing one of life's great privileges.
Friends - and I don't mean the NBC TV show! Friends are one of life's great experiences. A good laugh with a friend - who has no hidden 'agenda' - is one of the things that gets you through a day. Our friends should be treasured. And not held to standards of perfection, either. Enjoy a friend's strengths - and ignore the other things.
Good health. Oh, as a little kid how I used to ignore adults when they said, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything." Well, it's true! And the same applies to the health of your family and loved ones and friends. Never take it for granted. Never!
An admonition my brother made to me 35 years ago. He said, "Think of all your body does for you. Don't you think you can give it one hour a day to keep it working properly?" That launched me on a life-long daily workout habit - running, stretching, biking and weight lifting. Daily exercise is truly one of life's greatest pleasures. Pity those who haven't been raised in a health-conscious environment.
Talk radio. Ever since the early 1970s, I have always listened to talk radio. Barry Gray - who literally was the first radio host to incorporate telephone calls on the air - was my radio idol. Good talk radio is tough to find - but when you do it is a treasure trove of information.
Music. How can you get through a day without some music playing at least in the background? It fills out the day - and makes you feel good. Doctors report it may also improve health. But most of all music just feels good.
A cause. We all need something - one thing - that motivates us and is bigger than we are. Life without a cause is not worth living.
Prayer. More than anything, a quick little conversation with God does more to help solve problems - or at least to help handle that problem. God is the most misunderstood factor in life. He is mis-used and mis-represented by all sorts of people. God is in each of us - and is a Power Source available to help us whenever needed. "Be still and know I am with thee" says it all. Worry less - and rely on the Presence of God to help you.
Writing - anything. I love this column because so many of you write back and we then have good back-and-forth email conversations. Please let's continue!
