I was watching the movie “The Hobbit” today. A confused Bilbo Baggins greeted Gandalf with a “Good morning?” The tall and haggard Gandalf with his rustic cane, floppy hat, and bushy grey eyebrows replied, “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning, whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”

Many common sayings can signify different things by the intonation you use, sort of like “Aloha,” “Shalom,” or “Unbelieveable.” I began to ponder upon his comment. It really can be examined four ways.

1.“Do you wish me a good morning?”             

We need to acknowledge each and every person with a positive greeting and salutation. (Especially if it doesn’t require an answer. I.E.: Good day, hello, or Happy Holidays!) Don’t you just love a person who is smiling and makes eye contact and speaks to you even if it’s just in passing? (Maybe not on a busy sidewalk, but definitely at a door.)

I have found, being in wheelchair, there are two common personalities in people. One who figures I am a broken unseen obstacle in their way. I unsettle them. (Some are even scared.) They just want to escape with no eye contact. Then there are those who are very kind. Theysee me as a real human with hopes and dreams. People who venture far out of their way to greet me or hold the door or stop their car so I can cross the street. These second people are thinking of others, and they sincerely wish me a ‘good day’ free of problems. Now, I am not saying, “Be kind to invalids.” (Well, yes I am.) Everyone, wheelchair or not, yearns to be treated with kindness and respect. We all desire those who cross our paths to leave us with a smile. (It’s only human.) So let’s do the same.

2. “It is a good morning whether I want it or not.”

This part leads me to ponder the weather and one’s outlook of it. I am so thrilled to have an actual autumn. We, in the west, experienced a cold snap rivaling early winter recently. (Break out the coats and gloves.) It has warmed up a little. (Thank goodness!) I figured we were going to skip fall altogether. Autumn is that fabulous season of year when there’s a nip in the air, and the leaves turn yellow, red, and orange (Crunch, crunch.) It’s not too hot, and hopefully, not too cold. 

Sometimes, one person’s outlook on their surroundings can be very different from the other. (I won’t start on the Men/Hot, Women/Cold debate.) One may observe our season’s characteristics by grumbling, “I hate this! I can’t believe summer is over, here we go again into the dreaded frigid winter!” or another one happily states, “It’s so wonderful not to be so sweltering, and we can enjoy the crisp comfortable days ahead.” Attitude turns any situation around.

3. “That you feel good this morning?”

There are literally times when sickness takes over, and we feel rotten, physically and emotionally. (It’s called Soma-psychotic. Body controls mind.) But more often, our thoughts and hopes control how we feel physically. (You’ve heard of the medical description Psycho-somatic.) Especially if you have an exciting event in your near future, you can ‘will yourself’ to rise out of the bed (or ashes, like a Phoenix,) strive to feel better, and get to the business at hand.

During my school years, I would call my mom to go home from school sick. She called it “the blahs.” I was just bored, and had no interest in participating in the day. I know presently, I might feel like dragging on the floor each morning (figuratively,) but after I get active and some exercise, I feel positive and motivated. (Endorphins.) We can get enthused and moving if our brain says, “You can do it!” No matter the circumstances, we most surely keep telling ourselves, “It’s going to be a great day!” (Success is mainly in our heads.)

4. “Is it a morning to be good on?”

Choices and consequences. Every time we encounter a decision crossroad, (like constantly,) we must select our actions or reactions. It might not be easy to choose the high road, but the favorable consequences will serve as our reward. Before we choose in any situation, we should take a second and compare the possible results of our choices. (Use a flow chart in your mind.) If only, the people in the news would consider the outcome before acting, we might have ‘world peace” or enjoy a tad bit more happiness. (Our jails and court systems would not be as overloaded!) 

“Choose the Right” is my favorite song. I still sing it in my head as my own personal little Jiminy Cricket. Some people wear CTR rings as visual good choice reminders. Others wear “WWJD?” (What would Jesus do?) to point them in the positive direction. No matter what method you employ, “Choose the right way, and be happy.” 

Have a good morning! Love, Kim