Category Archives: gratitude

I’m not a big fat panda. I’m THE big fat panda.

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November Gratitude Shorts, Day 5

Thank the creative geniuses at Dreamworks for the “Kung Fu Panda” movies!

I appreciate the underlying philosophical messages in the cartoons, but oh, the humor!   “Shih Fu” means master in Mandarin–so Master Shifu is Master Master.  “Oo-gway” is the phonetic transliteration of the Mandarin word for turtle, and it just looks hilarious to see Oogway as a proper name, not to mention the toothless, dreamy, benevolent creature that Master Oogway is.

Really now, are these not the funniest movies ever made??  Maybe it’s just me?  No matter–that I have something this reliable to make me laugh and lift my mood, whenever I want, is priceless!  All I have to do is think of a quote and I’m happier!  Some of my favorites:

“There is no charge for awesomeness… or attractiveness.”  –Po, about himself, in his own dream

Master Shifu: “But who? Who is worthy to be trusted with the secret to limitless power? To become the Dragon Warrior?”  Master Oogway (after a pause, staring skyward, with a blank and awestruck expression): “I don’t know.”

“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”  –Master Oogway

“We do not wash our pits in the Pool of Sacred Tears.” –Master Shifu

“I’m not a big fat panda.  I’m THE big fat panda.”  –Po

Soothsayer (a sheep, foretelling): “If you continue on your current path, you will find yourself… at the bottom of the stairs.”

Po: “I just found out that my dad… isn’t really my dad.”   Tigress: “Your dad, the goose… That must have been quite a shock.”

Mr. Ping (Po’s dad): “So, how did it go, did you save China?”  Po: “Yep.”  Mr. Ping: “Well, I knew you would! That’s why I had these signs made!  ‘My son saved China – you too can save! Buy one dumpling, get one free!'”

*sigh* Aaaah, what a great way to start the day.  Maybe your day can be lightened sometimes, too, with a little children’s cartoon movie humor. 🙂

On the Kindness of Strangers

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November Gratitude Shorts, Day 3

Today I give thanks for the kindness of strangers.

As I approached the entrance to a building this morning, a young man held the door for me. I walked a good fifteen feet behind him, so I was surprised that he even saw me.  And it was one of those almost awkward moments when he stood there several seconds holding the door—he actually stopped on his way somewhere to be kind to me, a stranger.  I noticed what he was doing and felt happy and warm inside.  Then I panicked just a little—there were 4 shallow steps leading to the door—do I take them two at a time, or shuffle quickly up each one?  What if I trip and fall on the way up, then it’ll be even more awkward, he’ll probably feel obligated to come back out and help me up, maybe regretting that he stopped in the first place…I chose the shuffle option, made it to the door unscathed.  We exchanged smiles, “Thank you,” and “No problem.”  It was just so pleasant!

I love moments like this because they remind me how we are all connected, and how everything we do affects others, no matter how small. I first saw a Travelers Insurance commercial illustrating this in the 1990s. Recently Liberty Mutual (link to the YouTube video) made something similar.  One person shows kindness to a second, a stranger.  This act is witnessed by a third stranger, who later shows kindness to a fourth, which is witnessed by a fifth, etc.  The idea goes one step beyond ‘pay it forward,’ where the person who received the kindness shows kindness to another.  I think we can assume that.  But likely more than one other person witnesses each of these acts, and if they are all inspired to act more kindly toward the next stranger they meet, how brilliant!

Exponential spread of kindness, one small act at a time. Yes.