Stories by keepsmiling (8 matches)

Life is Like a Bank Account

This story is about a 92 year old, petite, well-poised and proud lady. She is fully dressed each morning by eight, with her hair fashionable coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind. She is moving to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight year old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room yet.  Just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something ... Read Full Story >>

A Gift From An Old Man With No Legs, To A Young Man Without Shoes

It had been a long time since I had been to Jacksonville, Florida. I had driven to town hoping to see the old barber shop where my hair had been cut as a child.  The orphanage would bring us kids downtown for a free haircut by the new barbers being trained. As I wondered around, I was a little disappointed when I saw the old buildings that I had known as a young boy were now gone.  Every one of them had been replaced with new high-rise buildings.   As it was very early and hardly anyone was on the street, I parked my truck and decided to try and locate a telephone to see if the Florida Barber College had moved to a new location.  Hopefully it was sill in business.  As it was rather cold, I put on my coat and began searching for a telephone.  After walking about a ... Read Full Story >>

Dont Worry Be Happy

This is one of the happiest songs I have ever heard -- Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy.  Every time I'm down, I listen to this and I wanna share my happiness with you all.  Here's the video and below it are the lyrics to the song: Don't Worry, Be Happy Performed by Bobby McFerrin Here is a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry be happy In every life we have some trouble When you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy...... Ain't got no place to lay your head Somebody came and took your bed Don't worry, be happy The land lord say your rent is late He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Lood at me I am happy Don't worry, be happy Here I give you my phone number When you worry call me I make ... Read Full Story >>

If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking

I came across this lovely poem by Emily Dickinson that I wanted to share: If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.       ... Read Full Story >>

The Power of a Simple Text Message

This morning I picked up mobile to find that I had a very low balance.  It was not enough to call anyone but I could still send some SMS messages.  Instead of sending forwarded messages, I always send special messages that my friends all know me for. 

Here's one of the messages I sent:

Hiii George.  You look great and smart today, WOW!  Nice shirt dear, I love it.  Now I see you smiling -- you have a great smile too!  Wear that smile whole day, have a great day ahead..love u

I know these short text messages bring a smile on my friends' faces, which brightens my day too. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

A Poster In My Room

Sometimes help comes from the most expected places.  I have this poster in my room, with the title 'Don't Quit': When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don't give up, though the pace seems slow - You might succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor's cup. And he learned too late, when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside ... Read Full Story >>

Find Something Beautiful

                        FIND SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insights with a classroom of students. The class was nearly over, and as the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important." "Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is the ... Read Full Story >>

At The Baker's Shop

Yesterday evening, as I was entering the bakery, I saw a father and his 7-8 year old son.  The kid was pointing to a particular cake and pleading his father to buy it for him. From their clothes, it was clear that they were poor.  The father did have some money -- a 500 Rupee note -- but no change.  The shopkeeper was insisting  that he needed change, and the father was trying to console his son by saying that shop keeper is not accepting the money. I could see the sadness on the eyes of that kid. On seeing me, the father turned to me, "Do you have change for 500 rupees?"  I replied,  "No."  But I did him some money so that he could buy his son what the cake he so wanted. I was too shy to stay there, since I knew that they will come to thank me.  So I went ... Read Full Story >>

A Gift From An Old Man With No Legs, To A Young Man Without Shoes

The Story of a Wallet

The Domino Effect of Sack Lunches

Taking Off My Shoes

From a Village to Google, on a WheelChair!

Every Kid Needs Smarties!

A Simple Rule Since I was 12

Kindness Karma on a Hot Summer Day

Confronting Road Rage With Compassion

Prayer Gram