The sign reads 11.20.2022. I’m expecting another good day to be alive. This is the 28,296th day of my life and I intend on making it a good one. Just like I tried to do yesterday. Happiness is mostly about attitude. John Mitchell said, “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude toward us.” He may be right. November 20 is Beautiful Day, Future Teachers of America Day, Mother Goose Parade Day, Name Your PC Day, National Absurdity Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Universal Children’s Day, and National Peanut Butter Fudge Day, which would be my celebratory pick. Now some history: On this day in 284 the Roman soldier Diocletian was proclaimed Emperor by the army. He would serve until 305 and preside over the largest and bloodiest official persecution of Christianity. On this day in 1521 the Arabs attribute the shortage of water in Jerusalem to the Jews making wine. This is the day in 1789 that New Jersey was the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. On this day in 1820 the whaling ship, Essex was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the southern Pacific. Out of a crew of 20, 8 survived (cannibalism). This event became the inspiration for the novel “Moby-Dick”. This is the day in 1923 that Garrett Morgan patented the traffic signal. This is the day in 1969 that militant Native Americans seized Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay. Today we will visit the wisdom of Russian author Leo Tolstoy who stopped writing in 1910. Leo said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” “Each person’s task in life is to become an increasingly better person.” “History would be a wonderful thing – if it were only true.” I’ll end with this one: “The key to success in life is using the good thoughts of wise people.” I have to agree with Leo on that one. I’ve learned so much over the years from reading the quotes of wise people. I hope you’ve benefited too. Abide.
