Noticing the Positive.

It seems like world stress is rising sharply. And why not? Why do government officials continue to hammer the worse possible case scenarios? Why does it seem like everything is in crisis mode? Don't the officials know that through media their attitude of crisis will get blown into an even worse situation, including the emotional instability of the country, and for that matter, the world?

Why continue to bog the world down with attitudes that the crisis is only going to get worse...no matter which crisis they are discussing (economic, North Korean Missile, etc.).

Let's start to build the country up with stories about the good that is going on. Don't you agree that by building-up the country the instability might turn to stability? It's time to get off of this emotional roller coaster!

What's good in the world today? Here are a few things that should bring hope to everyone.

As the economy tightens, volunteerism is on the rise...people are willing to help those in need. Which state is number one in the United States for volunteerism? Utah!

Rankings for Utah

■Volunteer Rate Ranking: 1st within the 50 states and Washington D.C.

■Average Volunteer Rate: 43.9%

■Volunteer Hours Ranking: 1st within the 50 states and Washington D.C.

■Average Volunteer Hours per Resident: 81.3 hours

Volunteer Information

Another positive...

Have you watched children play lately? Have you noticed how they, no matter their situation, find a way to use their imagination, to smile, to enjoy life? We could all take a lesson from children! Laugh, smile, use your imagination!

Plus, the sun came up today! Amazing...that is a great thing! The world cannot be all that bad!

Take a moment today to find something positive, recognize it, enjoy it, and smile...it's good for you.

LDS Humor, "Sunbeams"

Subject: Sunbeams

An allegedly true story from a physician in Utah.
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I work part-time as a teacher of family doctors. The program provides training on psychiatric disorders and emphasizes the importance of emotional support. The new doctors are given plenty of time to visit with their patients and learn about their challenges. One of our interns, who has never lived in Utah and knows nothing about Mormons, is still struggling to understand the cultural climate here. Last week he was interviewing a new patient and stumbled on what he thought was a raging psychosis.

Doctor: "Well, Mrs. Olsen, we've talked about your high blood pressure and your medications. Are you experiencing any particular stress in your life?"

Patient: "Oh, yes! It's the Sunbeams. They're driving me crazy."

Doctor (very surprised): "The sun beams?"

Patient: "Yes. I've never had trouble with them before, but this group won't sit still. They bounce all over the room, and run out the door and down the hall."

Doctor (reaching for a pen): "Have you told anyone about this?"

Patient: "Of course. I told the president."

Doctor: "Really! What did the president tell you?"

Patient: "She said Sunbeams are like that. I'm just going to have to learn to deal with them."

Doctor (concerned that he may be missing something): "I know people who are sensitive to sun beams. Do they cause you a rash or anything?"

Patient (confused): "A rash? No."

Doctor: "What's the biggest problem they're creating?"

Patient: "It's the noise. They just won't quit talking."

Doctor (astonished): "The sun beams are talking to you?"

Patient: "Well, yes. But mostly they talk to each other."

Doctor (scribbling furiously in the chart): "I see. Can anyone else hear them talking?"

Patient (after a moment of stunned silence): "You're not LDS, are you?"