What do you plan to do differently on June 9th to make yourself a better person than you were yesterday? It’s a serious question. A few years ago, I barely avoided a head on crash that would have probably killed me. I now view everyday as another chance to be a better person. It’s one of the many reasons I write a post every morning. What’s your plan for today? We can all start off by celebrating Donald Duck Day, National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day (yum) or National Earl Day which is named for Earl Baltes who built a race track in Ohio. I’ll go with the pie. On this day in the year 68, the Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide to evade a Senate-imposed sentence of death by flogging. Wow. Death by flogging? If you read about him, he probably deserved it. This is the day in 1822 that Charles Graham patented porcelain false teeth. In 1860 on this day the 1st US “dime novel” was published: “Malaseka, The Indian Wife of the White Hunter,” by Ann Stevens. Finally, in 1869 Charles E. Hires sold his 1st root beer, in Philadelphia. In 1898 on this day, China leases Hong Kong to England for 99 years. This is the day that Charles Dickens died in 1870. Here are two quotes from Mr. Dickens: “Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some” and “Do all the good you can and make as little fuss about it as possible.” I’ll give you one more Dickens quote to finish off this post and bring it full circle: “Try to do unto others as you would have them do to you, and do not be discouraged if they fail sometimes. It is much better that they should fail than you should.” Abide
