So....Feeling sorry for yourself?

What's to feel sorry for yourself?

• Your 401 K is now a 201 K?
• Spring baseball is here and the Dodgers still haven't been able to sign Manny Ramirez.
• The spin doctors are now telling us we are in a depression instead of a recession.
• Michael Phelps party ways cost him an estimated $60 million in endorsements.

There are a lot of things that we can control and even more that we can not control. If you spend your time concentrating, worrying and fretting over things you can't control, you will soon be helping your psychiatrist make his house payment.

"If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is."

Anonymous

I ride my bike several times a week as my schedule permits. On my ride this afternoon, I saw a man who I would guess was in his 50's, riding on the trail. He was moving along at a good pace, not burning up the trail, but not just a casual rider out for a scenic afternoon cruise. His bike looked normal except for one thing about it that was different.

It only had one pedal.

That's because this rider only had one leg. This guy is out doing what 95% of the population probably couldn't do with two healthy legs. I saw him later on the trail. He was probably doing at least a 20 mile loop. I pulled along side him and said, "Not to be patronizing, but you're an inspiration to most of us out here on the trail." He very humbly replied, "I'm just glad to be out here." No feeling sorry for anyone here!

I know I felt uplifted and grateful for what I have after seeing this special person. I don't his name and probably never will, but I started waving "Hi" to everyone I saw on the trail after that. Amazing how many people smiled and waved back. (Normally, riders on the trail just try to stay out of each others way and not run over the people walking.) It reminded me a little of the movie, Miracle on 34th Street, where "Kris Kringle" started a "I can help more than you can" revolution in New York around Christmas time by getting the big department stores to work together instead of against each other. It infected the whole city with a joy and friendliness and it started with one person. Now, I am not saying I'm Kris Kringle or that I am trying to start a "Friendliness" revolution. I am just saying that if you look for a little inspiration, you can find it almost anywhere.

There are a lot of people who are stressed out, worrying about everything. How far would a wave and a "Hi" go towards making them feel better. Maybe it would go nowhere. But maybe, it would uplift them a little and then they would wave to the next person they come to meet. I know this sounds REALLY SIMPLE! Maybe even simple minded. Maybe it is. Maybe I am.

SO WHAT!

I would much rather be called simple and a good, friendly person than be that "grumpy guy" that people want to avoid. What the heck do you have to lose? Do It Right Now! Make somebody feel good because you recognized them. If nothing else, you sure won't end up feeling sorry for yourself!