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Quote of the Day:
“I love to work, although sometimes I can spend whole days doing nothing more than picking the lint off the carpet and talking to my mother on the phone.”
– Beth Henley
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After cruising many of the pages on Benjamin Franklin, I found this one where he attempts to keep track of being a good person every day. It’s interesting in that Franklin wasn’t any more perfect than the rest of us in the 21st century.
“Virtues
We have divided Franklin’s thirteen virtues into personal and social character traits.
Personal
The eight personal virtues relate to your attitudes toward activities and their challenges. Good personal character traits will better your chances of success in achieving your goals.
Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
Social
These five social virtues that Franklin stated concern your attitudes toward people with whom you have dealings. Good social character traits result in other people wanting to do business with you or to have relationships with you.
Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”
From: “Benjamin Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues“
I find it interesting after seeing the show about Franklin and the birth of the “Declaration of Independence” the personal lives of the men who brought or tried to bring order to our country.
My feelings are if we attempt to follow these virtues or say the 12 Steps of AA or Al-Anon, our life would be more orderly.
I do know that spring has arrived. No more guessing. Why I say this? I say this is that Bailey’s hair is all over the place. The hair that comes off the bush when I’ve finished grooming him and. . . my clothes are covered in hair balls. As much as I like to wear black, gaaaah, the color black show cat hair like no one’s business.
Today, the psychiatrist that I saw prior to Medicare, called me upon my PCP recommendation and Michael and I talked about what is going on with me. Dr. P feels it could be an interaction between the medication I’m taking and the recently increased dosage of another one. I was instructed to back off by 100 mg and to see how I do.
Today’s Fun Kitty Story: I was sitting in my chair watching television this morning. Max is sleeping with his head on my ankles which are on the ottoman. When I woke up later Bailey was sleeping in my lap stretched out between my legs and both cats were head-to-head. They slowly began to move around and change positions until finally they woke themselves up and headed to the litter box. Of the two cats, Max has the shorter hair but does he put out the heat. I like this since I run on cold. Bailey on the other hand doesn’t have the heat that Max does but at some point, I feel toasty.
It is getting late and I’m tired, till tomorrow.
mz. em
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Currently Reading:
“Lisey’s Story” by Stephen King
“the NEW diary” by Tristine Rainer
“Loving an Alcoholic” by Jack Mumey
“Walking on Alligators” by Susan Shaughnessy
“New American Standard Bible” – The Book of Psalms
“Hope for Today” by Al-Anon
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