We can be bitter about our handicaps or we can be happy about our blessings.

TODAY can be a healthy unusual day for you-and for others-if you take time to give someone a smile . . . to express a word of kindness . . . to lend a helping hand to someone in need . . . ..to write a note of gratitude . . . to give a word of encouragement to someone who is temporarily overcome with problems . . . to share a portion of your material possessions with others.

A pinch of praise is worth a pound of scorn. A dash of encouragement is more helpful than a dipper of pessimism. A cup of kindness is better than a cupboard of criticism.

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.

Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes the solutions, knows about difficulties but believes they can be overcome, sees the negatives but accentuates the positives, is exposed to the worst but expects the best, has reason to complain but chooses to smile.

To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges; to the pessimist, all doors have locks and latches.

I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, to pray for peace, to plant some trees, and sing more joyful songs.