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Author: willrjconroy

The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: Other People

The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: Other People

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Other people will always surprise you. Not always in frequency, but in their talents, interests, kindness, and life experiences. Credentials and appearance allow for first impressions and levels of understanding just below the surface, but rarely do we get the whole story. As we approach the new year I’d like to emphasize the importance of meeting new people and the importance of taking the time to learn more about them. Ask questions. Be surprised. Learn and grow together. When seeking…

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Air to the Throne

Air to the Throne

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Penguin: Heir to the throne! Heir to the throne! The King is gone, we are on our own! Miss Baboon: Not heir, you silly goose, AIR! The King is alive, quite well actually. But he has run out of air, his dryer died tragically. Penguin: Miss Baboon, I am a penguin… Miss Baboon: Stop! Let me stop you right there, nothing else matters, just our Majesty’s hair! We must find him more air, how or where I don’t care. Spare…

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The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: Forgiveness on the Road to Self-Discipline

The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: Forgiveness on the Road to Self-Discipline

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Forgive yourself. Do it now. Then move on. I keep finding that as I write a weekly newsletter I should take my own thoughts into consideration. I often struggle to ease up on myself after a mistake or failure of any kind. So, as you read on at Practice Optimism, please know that some of the topics I choose are not necessarily strengths, but things I am working on too. They make me think as much as I hope you…

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The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: Praise

The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: Praise

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“Everything in any way beautiful has its beauty of itself, inherent and self-sufficient: praise is no part of it. At any rate, praise does not make anything better or worse.” – Marcus Aurelius I do not typically begin a post with a quote from someone else. Some great advice I got in college: nobody can capture your thoughts or words better than you, only use the words of others to support your claims. Today is a bit different because I…

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A Crooked Mug

A Crooked Mug

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A crooked mug hung on the wall, hanging left, could it fall? Why left on the hook and not to the right? A mug like the others, it fit in, but not quite. Hanging free but awkwardly, his teacher wondered why it would be. Is this necessary? I’m calling his parents, I need a reason, I hope they share it. Well Miss, here it is, the crooked mug, here it sits. Can you tell me why your son is different?…

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Yes You Can, Henry.

Yes You Can, Henry.

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Henry jumped into bed as fast as he could. “Why is the world so big?” he asked. His Mom smiled. So you can explore all it has to offer. “Can I scuba dive?” he asked, pointing to his shelf full of toys. Yes you can, Henry. “Can I make it to the Olympics?” he asked. Yes you can, Henry. “What about a doctor? Can I be a doctor?” he asked. Yes you can, Henry. Henry pulled his covers up to…

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Smile, Laugh, and Play

Smile, Laugh, and Play

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How do you like to spend your day? Make sure you smile, laugh, and play. Take a deep breath, kick a ball, run here and there, have a good fall. Call a friend, maybe two. One of them will know what to do. Playgrounds, sports, drawing, and movies. Snacks desserts, and yummy smoothies. Too many choices, it could take awhile. Just make sure they make you smile. A smile is basically half a laugh, go one step further on my…

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The Fastest Car

The Fastest Car

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The fastest car revved and roared. Down the road, loud sounds soared. Hard right turn, screeching tires. Faster, faster! Winning requires speed and skill to be admired. One more lap, almost done. Faster, faster! Let’s see who won! A photo finish, what a race! The winner had the fastest pace!

The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: A Construct of Time

The Weekly Optimist Newsletter: A Construct of Time

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Time is the most valuable measurement. Appreciate it. Acknowledge it. It is priceless. Time measures many aspects of our lives. It measures our tasks and dictates our due dates. It also measures our relationships and in some ways our health. Time to go. Time to eat. Time to not eat. Time to move on. Living for more time can mean you lived well or lived a healthy life.  Time can influence our emotions and actions. It keeps track of our…

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A Dog Named Sonny

A Dog Named Sonny

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Sonny! Come! Time for dinner. You need to eat, you look thinner. Sonny! Come! Want food, Sonny? Time to eat, leave the bunny. Why doesn’t she ever listen? Normal dogs are on a mission, when it’s time to chew, other dogs come in seconds, maybe two. Sonny! Come! Sonny! Come! I’m so done, this is dumb. Click, clack, click, clack. Here she is, look who’s back. Ready to eat? Take a seat. Sit, Sonny. Good girl. You’re still our favorite,…

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