Until a year ago, I rarely dealt with the bank branch that handled my business account. Those transactions were always handled by my associate. Recently, it became more convenient for me to take care of those transactions. When I first started going there, the place seemed dark, dreary and lifeless–I felt like I was in a funeral home. At the time, I thought, “Why do people bother to bank here?” Over time, I got to know a number of the tellers and vice versa. Now when I walk in, I’m greated with an enthusiastic, “Hi Ross!” and everyone is smiling. This morning, as I was finishing my business at this bank, I looked around and noticed that the place seemed much brighter and more cheerful than it did a year ago. The lesson here is that your world is what you make it. If you want your world to be brighter and more cheerful all you need to do is start smiling and get to know the people you come into contact with on a regular basis i.e., the people at the grocery store, the bank and the dry cleaners. This takes very little energy and it makes you feel really great.
I can’t agree with you more Ross. Last weekend was the weekend of terror for my fiance. Meet the parents weekend. Not to mention my weekend that I received my masters degree. My fiance was such a good sport. As stressful as the weekend was, and somewhat embarassing on my part, the night before my fiance went back to DC (where I’ll be moving in 9 days to start my and “our” new life) we went out a wonderful dinner and LAUGHED about everything. I also made about 5 new friends (I include everyone in the joy of my life) and laughed some more. My fiance sat back and watched me laugh with our new friends and was even happier than he was when his plane landed. As long as you can smile and laugh, especially in the world we live in, with the ones you love and that genuinely love you, life is AMAZING. Appreciate everything that is given to you in this world. If it hurts, cry it out for a little bit, then smile because you are still alive to make a change. Live, love, laugh. I know I do. =)
Renee Deyden
Dear Renee,
Thank you so much for your wonderful story and for coining the Three L’s–Live, Love and Laugh. Have a great Day. Ross