Run the Dishwasher Twice - Episode 73 - Advice from Ralph Waldo Emerson with host, Debbie Lannen. "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Wise words, but how do we make sure that happens. I think by focusing on our small successes. Take each day one at a time and strive for making it better in some small way for ourselves and those around us. Small successes can and will add up and make a difference! Welcome to Run the Dishwasher Twice. Thoughts to help you have a more positive outlook. My name is Debbie Lannen and I will be your host. Now just a reminder. I'm not a therapist or a counselor. I'm just like you trying to be happy in this crazy world we live in. Today I want to share with you a writing from Ralph Waldo Emerson. I don't know how many of you have actually read his works but I came across this part of one of his writings and I thought it was quite interesting and a good motivation for today. So, let me share that with you. To laugh often and much. To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty. To find the best in others. To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden path, or a redeemed social condition. To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to succeed. 

I love that writing because what it does is it points out that even the smallest of a thing can be important to someone and make a difference in someone's life. That's the important thing. It can make a difference in our own lives. It doesn't matter how big this thing is, and I think that's what Mr Emerson was trying to point out. He says, "Whether you leave a healthy child or a garden path" and those are two very different things. They will have an impact on someone during their life. For example, you're standing by a sliding glass door leading out to a backyard. Now it's a big window and you're looking out and you can see the vast expanse of the land outside. NoW think about standing in perhaps a bathroom window. It's a much smaller window but you still have a way to look outside. We don't always have to be looking through the door wall, massive windows, we can narrow it down and look into smaller visions. When we're growing up many times people will come up to you and say what do you want to be when you grow up? How do you know what you want to be when you grow up? Focusing on smaller things can make us happier and it helps us to move on to larger things in our life. I think that's kind of what Mr Emerson was saying Today we don't need to always look at the big picture, sometimes we get lost doing that. So what we want to do is look at the little things in our life as successes. We all want to feel like we are a success but sometimes if you're looking at that big picture it can make us feel like a failure. Looking at smaller things is much easier because you haven't quite got to that ultimate summit you're pushing to get to. So instead of thinking how can I get to the top of that hill, think how can I get to that small ledge which will then lead me to another small ledge. I guess my point today is let's look at things in a little different way and celebrate the small successes we have in our life. So that's it for today just five minutes to hopefully help you feel a little bit better about your life and the lives of people around you. Thank you all for listening. I hope you will continue to subscribe to Run the Dishwasher Twice. I will be here on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Remember to share the podcast on your social media. I would greatly appreciate that. Continue to leave those comments. I love reading them. Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful day and remember run the dishwasher twice, why not!

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