Tip: Read a good t-shirt this week!
Tip of the Week
08/26/13
Tip: Read a good t-shirt this week!
Over the years, I have seen some really amazing t-shirt slogans. There are some that are funny and some that are insightful. Of course, there are some that are rather crude and not worth reading, too. But, there are so many good quotes and sayings on t-shirts that it is almost worth carrying a pen and paper just to write down some of the great ideas you read.
When I was a school principal, one day I was outside standing on the sidewalk closely watching the children as they were leaving for the day. A short distance away, I saw that one of the moms had on a t-shirt with large letters on it that said, “Come closer!” followed by some other smaller words which I couldn’t quite read from where I stood. Since I knew that particular mom, I walked closer to see the rest of what the t-shirt said. When I got within a few feet of her, the smaller letters said, “That’s TOO close!” I thought that was funny.
Just the other day as I was having lunch in a local restaurant, I saw a man sitting at the counter wearing a t-shirt. Since I am always curious, I moved in his direction so that I could read what it said, and boy, was I glad that I did! It said, “When I look around and think things over, all of my good days outweigh my bad days. Thank you, Lord…I won’t complain!” Now, isn’t that a great saying to have written on a t-shirt? I wanted to comment to him about it, but since he was having lunch with someone else, I didn’t bother him. As I stepped away, however, I took out my little notepad and wrote down what was written on his shirt.
That saying made an impact on my heart and mind so I’d like to break it down and camp on it for just a minute with you.
“When I look around and think things over…” We really do need to stop from time to time and think about what is going on around us. Life can go by so quickly that we will miss it if we don’t take the opportunity to slow down long enough to enjoy and appreciate it.
“…all of my good days outweigh my bad days.” I have lived 64 years and I have had few REALLY bad days. By and large, my good days far outweigh my bad days. I suspect that is true of most of us. And, I don’t know about you, but the good days are the ones that I choose to focus on and enjoy. Truthfully though, even our bad days are good in the sense that we can always learn something new from them.
“Thank you, Lord…I won’t complain.” That was the clincher! We all have a lot to be grateful for, no matter what life has given us. And, honestly, what good does it do to complain? It only makes you feel bad and the people around you feel worse! Complaining, whining, and/or moaning and groaning don’t help anyone. Rather than complain, we need to rejoice in the fact that each day is still filled with a multitude of opportunities and a variety of experiences from which we can learn and grow.
I am convinced that looking for the good, the pure, and the positive in everything that we do actually does pay off in the long run. I believe that the good really does outweigh the bad when we choose to view it through the eyes of gratitude. And, I also believe that the truth of that t-shirt is something we should practice daily!
I don’t know if there are copyright laws for t-shirts, but if there aren’t, I may just have a t-shirt made with the same words on it as the one I read on the man at the counter in the restaurant. Then I could wear it and be a blessing and an encouragement to other people as well!
So, be on the lookout this week because you never know when you will come across a t-shirt with a great saying on it like the one I saw the other day. Ignore the bad ones and choose to focus on the good ones that add a little lift to your step, smile to your face, and chuckle in your heart. It will bless your life!
Tip: Read a good t-shirt this week!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
