5 Tips To Keep Happy... Even In Wartime

The world is going downhill faster than an Olympic skier. Terrorists lurk around every corner. Climate change will soon melt the tundra and turn Iowa into a desert. Frankenstein foods are flooding the market, cleverly masquerading as innocent potatoes and beets.

And everybody is planning a war.

Sadam wants to unleash unspeakable biological evils. George Bush II wants to unleash unimaginable military might. Germany and France want to just unleash. North Korea ... need I say more? India and Pakistan want to run a nuclear relay race, and worst of all we won't even know who the good guys and bad guys are supposed to be. And I know why my Israeli friend moved back to New Jersey.

Just when we thought it was safe to sit back and take comfort in knowing exactly how bad things are, some fool has to come up with five tips to keep our spirits up in uncertain times. And that fool is me. So here are the tips:

  • Count your blessings. We have so much to be grateful for. Iraq's dime store missiles cannot hit anywhere too important (defined more specifically as "where I live"). Then, of course, there is all the "stuff" we have, like the flush toilet (I would not want to have lived 500 years ago!) and the remote control. We can be grateful for all the variety, such as 32 flavors of ice cream on every corner and at least a dozen flavors of tooth floss. We can count our education, our knowledge and our opportunities. And we have soooo much more freedom than our ancestors. Geez, with all these blessings to count, it gets hard to enjoy living in terror of the big, bad world.

  • Smile at a stranger. If the world shows us a threatening face, why not paint that face with smiles to make it less threatening. Let's face it, if I smile at you, you'll smile back. The more I smile, the more people will smile at me. The more you smile, the more people will smile at you. If everybody follows my advice, at least dentists will be too busy to fear world events.

  • Learn a new skill. Imagine the sense of accomplishment and the power of mastering a new skill. Like mesquite cooking. Like whittling. Like pterodactyl breeding. Oh well, two out of three. And if you learn that skill in a classroom setting, full of other energized new-skill-masterers, you get the bonus of seeing that positive face of the world, complete with smiles and busy dentists.

  • Study history. Bad things happen. Good things happen. That's history. Today will one day be history that somebody reads about. So don't sweat it. (Editor's note: If nobody is left to read about it, scratch this tip.)

  • Volunteer. One of the scariest things about the world today is not just that it seems to be going downhill, but that we feel powerless to stop it. Worse still, politicians and diplomats are in charge. But we CAN take control and send the world uphill right in our own neighborhood. We can help the local animal shelter. We can work at the food bank. (That's my personal favorite, and NO you do NOT get free samples.) We can help little old ladies across the street. We can make a difference right in our own communities where the politicians and diplomats won't interrupt.

    Sorry about those five tips. If you wish to ignore them and return to the regularly-scheduled misery-wallowing, please go ahead. After all, in wartime nobody really wants to be happy, do they?

    About The Author

    David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, even in wartime (he hopes!) and author of "Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness". Sign up for your free "Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html or visit the Self-actualization Resource Center at http://www.thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html

    http://www.thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html

    green cleaning service Park Ridge ..
    In The News:

    Reclaim your time from big tech with effective screen time reduction strategies for iPhone and Android, featuring steps to limit app usage and create phone-free zones.
    Amazon Prime Day shoppers face threats from 120,000-plus scam websites as cybercriminals prepare phishing traps and malware ahead of the July sales event.
    Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.
    The AEON humanoid robot tackles labor challenges with Nvidia AI, Microsoft Azure cloud and advanced spatial awareness, working alongside industry leaders Schaeffler and Pilatus.
    Google's Ask Photos feature brings AI-powered searches to your photo library, letting you find memories with natural language queries while maintaining privacy controls.
    The return of blue book exams emerges as universities fight widespread AI academic dishonesty and educators debate whether to ban AI tools or teach responsible usage.
    Signs your phone might be hacked include strange behavior, unauthorized texts, battery drain and pop-ups, while protection involves updating software and avoiding public Wi-Fi.
    Tokyo startup H2L has launched Capsule Interface technology enabling full-body robot control with muscle sensors, offering immersive remote operation.
    The A.I. industry seems set for growing pains as Big Tech companies scramble for solutions to the medium's unprecedented strain on the power grid.
    Fourth of July fireworks cause a 60% spike in lost pets, but GPS trackers and AI photo-matching services like Love Lost can help reunite missing dogs with their families.
    Protect yourself from jugging, the rising crime by which thieves monitor ATM users and follow them to steal cash, with six practical safety tips to stay alert and secure.
    U.S. airlines like Delta, American and United are selling your domestic flight records to government agencies through the little-known Travel Intelligence Program.
    Autonomous robots from Uber Eats are rolling out across U.S. cities, featuring LIDAR sensors, secure compartments and all-weather operation for food and grocery delivery.
    Costco has expanded into EV infrastructure with new ultra-fast charging stations that can charge most electric vehicles to 80% in 20-60 minutes while shoppers browse the warehouse.
    The new Gemini Robotics On-Device AI allows robots to perform complex tasks without internet, offering enhanced privacy, reliability and adaptability for real-world use.
    Protect yourself from Amazon phishing scams by spotting red flags like suspicious sender addresses and spelling errors while using Amazon's Message Center to verify communications.
    GAC Group's new Govy AirCab flying car combines lightweight design with advanced safety systems and smart cabin technology to revolutionize city travel with an 18.6-mile range.
    The Berkeley Humanoid Light (BHL) is a lightweight, open source humanoid robot that anyone can build using 3D-printed parts and off-the-shelf components.
    Meta’s new AI chatbot is getting personal, and it might be sharing more than you realize.
    A new threat targets both Android and iPhone users: SparkKitty, a powerful mobile malware strain that scans private photos to steal cryptocurrency recovery phrases and other sensitive data.
    Thanks to a team at the University of California, Davis, there's a new brain-computer interface (BCI) system that's opening up real-time, natural conversation for people who can't speak.
    Privacy risks are hiding in plain sight, as your personal data is likely being collected, tracked, and sold without your knowledge.
    VenHub, a fully autonomous, AI-powered smart store just opened at the LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles.
    A woman's Facebook account takeover reveals dangerous social engineering tactics and provides lessons on recovery, avoiding scams and enacting stronger security measures.
    Shanghai engineers are using 432 walking robots to relocate a complex, preserving Shikumen architecture while creating space for a modern underground hub and cultural center.
  • Why Positive Thinking Doesnt Work!

    There was someone I used to work with who, well... Read More

    Do You Believe What You Think?

    If you work toward what you dream, the dream can... Read More

    Life as a Burden Vs. Live as a Privilege

    Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is the glass... Read More

    It Is All About Attitude!

    Why do we really need the experiences that we have... Read More

    Positive Thoughts and Words

    You want to change your self-care habits and you can't... Read More

    Individualized Positive Affirmations for Improving Self-Esteem

    Positive self-esteem is very important if not crucial to our... Read More

    Don?t Worry, Be Happy!

    Philippians 4:6-do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,... Read More

    First Aid For The Soul

    A Model of the dysfunctional, unconscious human psyche. A way... Read More

    Be Positive

    This may sound quite aberrant to most of the younger... Read More

    Why You Want What You Cant Have

    "You can't always get what you want . . ."... Read More

    My Sunshine

    "You Are My Sunshine My Only Sunshine You Make Me... Read More

    What Every Employee Should Know About Looking Beyond His Attitude

    Our attitude makes seems to control just about everything about... Read More

    Taking Responsibility for Yourself

    This week I happened to catch a few minutes of... Read More

    What Do You Believe?

    "If I have the belief that I can do it,... Read More

    Management of the Almighty Anger

    Apart form the Emotions and the attitude, Anger is a... Read More

    Choose Wisely

    During these times of uncertainty in the outside world, look... Read More

    Short Cut to Self-Confidence: Say Yes to You!

    You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More

    Positive Affirmations

    Never used 'em. Not likely to start now.OK, so I... Read More

    The TRUTH About What REALLY Causes Negative Thoughts

    Do you feel that your negative thoughts are holding you... Read More

    If Youre Stuck Then Make a Different Decision

    Many people don't really understand the gift they have been... Read More

    Where Do You Get A Positive Attitude You Asked?

    How are you? Where do you get a positive attitude... Read More

    Top Three Secrets To Becoming A Better Thinker

    We all know there are ways to become a better... Read More

    Universal Mind

    "There is an infinitely worthier subject for philosophers (to study)... Read More

    Passion To Succeed

    "Spiritual Intelligence" (SI) is the ability of a person to... Read More

    How To Self Talk Your Way To Success?

    Dear Friends,All human beings have a unique ability right from... Read More

    emergency cleaning services Morton Grove ..