1 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Here thousands of 2 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: hours of Dennis's lectures courses in classic radio programs. Had 3 00:00:27,880 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles. Go to Dennisprager dot Com. 4 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: The Happiness Hour on the Dennis Prager Show. This is 5 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager. We talk about happiness every week at this time. 6 00:01:20,039 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: The world is made better by happy people. So join 7 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: me America and around the world. 8 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 3: Yes it is. It's the happy, happy, happy happy er. Yep, yep, yep, yep. 9 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 2: I came to the conclusion, I don't know how long ago, 10 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: about fifteen years ago, that happiness is a moral obligation, 11 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: not just a selfish pursuit. Happy people make the world better. 12 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: Unhappy people make it worse. And that's the way it is. 13 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: And the unhappy are enabled often by the happier. They're 14 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: given more attention, they're given more compassion. Now, of course, 15 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 2: there are cases where there's deep pain and a human 16 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: being and they deserve all our compassion and love, obviously, 17 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 2: but I'm talking about the chronically unhappy and who act 18 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: it out. Alrighty, everybody, welcome to this edition, and I 19 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 2: have a great subject for you. Thanks to how old 20 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: was Zach? Thirteen was a couple of weeks ago. Last week? 21 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 2: Get out of here now, now it's a couple of 22 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: weeks ago. You know, you guys are no help. Now 23 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: what last week? It was? 24 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 3: Last week? 25 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: Yeah? All right? So I said last week? No, No, 26 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 2: Then I said fine, last week, and then you changed 27 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: your mind. No, I said, get out because you then 28 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 2: changed your mind. 29 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: It's time for the Jack Power Voice. Okay, here was 30 00:02:58,480 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 3: the call. 31 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 2: We're flipping out of the first minute of the of 32 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: the hour. Let's go to Jack thirteen years old in 33 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: Little Tin, Colorado. Hi, Jack, Dennis Prager. Hey, it's Jack. 34 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: Oh, it's Zach. 35 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: All right, one minute, one minute, Alan, you'll call an 36 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: even afterwards. 37 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 3: I go in, Zachy, Hi. 38 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 4: And I want you to know would you spend your 39 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 4: perfect day? 40 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,399 Speaker 3: What would be my perfect day? Yeah? 41 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: You want that's a very good question. And believe it 42 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: or not, Zach, you have thought of something at thirteen 43 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: that I have not thought of at four times your age. 44 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: I've never thought about what a perfect day would be like. 45 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 2: But it's a fantastic question. And so let me give 46 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: you a couple of answers off the top of my head. 47 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: One I consider a perfect day to be essentially a 48 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 2: day where I'm not worried about anything, where nothing is 49 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: troubling me. I don't have to have terrific things happen 50 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 2: to have a perfect day, I have to have no problems. 51 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: Then it's a perfect day. Beyond that, all right, that's fine, 52 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,839 Speaker 2: that's fine. Zach raised a question, this thirteen year old boy, 53 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: raise a great question, what is my Dennis's image of 54 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 2: a perfect day? And off the top of my head, 55 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: I gave him an answer which I stand by from 56 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: the middle of my head. That is That is it? 57 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 2: And I want to talk to you on this edition 58 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 2: of The Happiness Hour about the notion of aspiring or 59 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: even imagining a perfect day. What does that mean? 60 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 3: Now? 61 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 2: I realized that I had never really imagined a perfect day. 62 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: I never did. It was a brand new question for me, 63 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: and I wondered, did most people imagine what would a 64 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: perfect day be like? People do? That's interesting? I never 65 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: have never in my life did the idea of what 66 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: would a perfect day be like? And I am sure 67 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 2: that distinguishes me. I don't mean it makes me distinguished, 68 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,799 Speaker 2: but it makes me different than a lot of people. 69 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 2: And it's partially because I do follow my own advice 70 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 2: by at large on the happiness issue. Why and I've 71 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 2: been analyzing this, Why have I never Why am I 72 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: atypical in never having imagined a perfect day? And the 73 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 2: answer is that for me, a perfect day is a 74 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: problem free day, is a day of good health, good 75 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: inner peace. And then then now there are days. Look 76 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: is a perfect day on a cruise ship in an 77 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: exotic place with gorgeous weather. Yeah, that's what That's a 78 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 2: wonderful day. But I don't rely on that. It doesn't 79 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: it doesn't. You know how much I value our cruises, 80 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 2: the listener cruises with me. I value them on every level. 81 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: I love travel. I've been to eighty two countries, most 82 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 2: of them at least twice, and I have been abroad 83 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: every year since I'm twenty one years of age. So 84 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 2: these are very very dear things to me. But they 85 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: are for the experience, not for the per perfect day. 86 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: But putting that aside, I want to I want to 87 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: make the case to you that a perfect day may 88 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 2: well be today. That's my argument. And I'm not being philosophical. 89 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: I'm not I'm not being you know, clerical, you know, 90 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: not talking like a priest, minister Rabbi here. 91 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 3: And every day you shall regard as. 92 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: A perfect I'm being down to earth, realistic, and I 93 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: have felt this, by the way, I have felt this 94 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: since I am a kid. One eighth Prager seven seven 95 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: six is the number one eight p R A g 96 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 2: e R seven seven six. The perfect day, the happy day. 97 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: The happy day is the day that that you are 98 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: not transfixed by a problem. I I you see here 99 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 2: the reason that I have chosen this because I obviously, 100 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: as you know, I choose these topics very carefully. The 101 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 2: reason that his question resonated with me is that I 102 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 2: think that so many people rely on something exciting to 103 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: make life really worthwhile, an exciting day. 104 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 3: On vacation. 105 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: And by the way, I believe very deeply we need vacations, 106 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: absolutely deeply believe that you have to you have to 107 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 2: get off the treadmill of your work life and do 108 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 2: something else. But you may choose, by the way, for 109 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: your vacation. You may choose to stay home, you know, 110 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: and read and you know, sit in the backyard. And 111 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 2: I respect that choice totally as much as I advocate, 112 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: you know, cruising to Africa, which is our next cruise, 113 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: might as well. 114 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 3: Tell is it sold out? 115 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 2: It's essentially sold out, but there are a few because 116 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: they always assume that some people may get sick right 117 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: before or something. 118 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,599 Speaker 3: So folks, I never fool with you on this. We 119 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 3: sell out all the time. 120 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 2: And then I just stopped talking about it until I 121 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 2: come back from the trip and tell you what a 122 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 2: what a great trip. We're going to Africa, and let's 123 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: see Kenya, Zanzibara, Madagascar and the beautiful Seychelle Islands and 124 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 2: the Safaris as well. By the way, before or after, 125 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 2: it's unbelievable. Eight hundred and nine nine four five five 126 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: three eight ad. Here's my problem with the what's the 127 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: perfect day question? My problem is that we associate and 128 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 2: I don't know if this is new or older, and 129 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 2: that doesn't interest me here, but a lot of people, 130 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: especially kids, associate something euphoric, super exciting with a great day. 131 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 2: So you don't have a great day if something exciting 132 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: didn't happen. And a lot of people rely on something 133 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 2: exciting happening to make them happy. The problem with that 134 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 2: should be self evident. There are a number of problems. 135 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: One is what happens when the excitement dies? See if 136 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: your ability to have a great day. And I admit 137 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 2: that I am transposing perfect into great. And but let's 138 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: let's live with a great day because the question would 139 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 2: have been the same because it's and I'm even making 140 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 2: it a better question by saying great, because there's no 141 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: such thing as perfect. 142 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 3: It doesn't exist on this earth. 143 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: So so a great day if you define a great 144 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: day in terms of super exciting, wonderful things. 145 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 3: What happens the day after the great day? 146 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 2: That is my worry about a lot of it, excitement 147 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 2: in people's lives and relying on exciting developments. What happens 148 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:31,839 Speaker 2: the next day? Nobody talks about that. I wonder the 149 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 2: guys who the guys who win, you know, or anybody 150 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 2: who wins it, you know, gold medal at the Olympics. 151 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,719 Speaker 2: You know, there's a euphoria. What is it like a 152 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 2: month later? I'd love to analyze their happiness level, just 153 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: their happiness levels a month later, because what do you 154 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: do with the gold medal? Do you stare at it? 155 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 2: What do you win a gold medal in the Olympics? 156 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 2: What did do you do with the gold? Do you 157 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: stare at it the rest of your life? If you do, 158 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 2: it's pathetic. You know that everybody would acknowledge that happiest 159 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 2: stay in your life. X, Y or Z. I'll I 160 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: have a lot more to say, and I'll take your 161 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: calls one a prayer seven seven six. 162 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 163 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom. 164 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager here, thanks for being with me the Happiness Hour, 165 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 2: and I want to get through clearly here. A lot 166 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 2: of you are calling in to tell me what the 167 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 2: perfect day has been in your life, and with the 168 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 2: greatest of love and respect, that's not what I'm asking 169 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 2: you to call in about. We'll tell you a couple 170 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 2: of those, but that's not my point. My point is, 171 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: don't aspire to many perfect days. Obviously we all have 172 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: memorable days, of course we do. If you don't have 173 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 2: any memorable day in your life, it's very sad. It's 174 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 2: inconceivable to me that anybody goes around doesn't have one. 175 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 2: So this is not and I will share my most 176 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 2: memorable day with Dennis's audience hour. It is a much 177 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 2: deeper question, and that is due you aspire to a 178 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 2: perfect day? Do you think about it? And it was 179 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 2: raised by this thirteen year old who called last week 180 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 2: called on the third hour of my show, not the 181 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 2: Happiness Hour, to ask Dennis, what is a perfect day 182 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 2: for you? So I never have thought about it in 183 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 2: my life, but off the top of my head, it's 184 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 2: a day when I don't have anything to worry about, 185 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: I have no troubles. 186 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,719 Speaker 3: That's a perfect day. That's the best day. 187 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:44,319 Speaker 2: Most people are aspiring to something very exciting and imagining 188 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 2: some perfect day, and that's what I'm arguing against. We 189 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 2: don't We shouldn't need highs. This is the reason I've 190 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: made chosen this topic. You don't need highs to be high. Okay, 191 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 2: that's my topic. My topic is not what was your 192 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 2: favorite day? Let's go to Karen in Berkeley, Michigan. Karen, 193 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager, thank you for calling. 194 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 1: Hi. 195 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's probably something I used to think about. And 196 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 5: then a couple of years ago I got to hit 197 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 5: head on by someone who's got sleep and ended up 198 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 5: in a coma for six weeks and in the hospital 199 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 5: for five months and almost died. And so now every 200 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 5: day is a pretty good day. 201 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 6: You know. 202 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 5: It sort of changed perspective on aspiring to a perfect 203 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:33,959 Speaker 5: day and just enjoying the days that we're given. 204 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 2: Karen, I basically could end the Happiness Hour with your call. 205 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 2: You have perfectly, perfectly encapsulated why I chose this topic. Well, 206 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,959 Speaker 2: I want to repeat this basically. Now, every day is 207 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 2: a perfect day because you're out of a. 208 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:54,839 Speaker 5: Coma, because you're almost lost. 209 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 3: Yes, exactly. 210 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 5: And as an aside as I'm going through therapy. When 211 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 5: I'm in therapy and see people worse off than I 212 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 5: am and you're having a bad day, and you walk 213 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 5: by and you say how you doing today, ninety percent 214 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 5: of the time you get I'm great or I'm blessed, 215 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 5: and it really changes your perspective a lot. 216 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 2: Well, that's the old story of the mother who says 217 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 2: to the kid who's complaining, I'll whack you, give you 218 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 2: something to complain about, right, exactly, God bless you. That's right. 219 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: That's it. That's the call that I wanted you all 220 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 2: to hear if I could, if I could have imagined 221 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 2: the perfect call, that would have been it. Hey, I'm alive, 222 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: I'm functioning. That's my perfect day. That's Dennis Praeger encapsulated, right. 223 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: That's how I go around. I have never ever relied 224 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 2: on highs to get high. That's why. And the only 225 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 2: reason I'm talking about me is because I know me. 226 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 2: If I knew somebody as well as I knew me, 227 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 2: I would use them as the example. I'm not bragging. 228 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 2: There's no bragging here. What am I bragging about? Being happy? 229 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 2: I mean, it's a silly but I'm using me as 230 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 2: an example because I've always been blessed with the knowledge 231 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 2: of this. That's why I never went for drugs in 232 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 2: the most drug ridden generation in history, the sixty seventies youth, 233 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 2: because I never needed That was one of the reasons 234 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 2: I never needed a high to get high. I loved 235 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 2: life and enjoyed it without injecting, sniffing, smoking some illicit substance. 236 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: I always loved cigars and pipes, but the effect of 237 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 2: a pipe with good Ladakia tobacco is quite different from 238 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: a pipe with marijuana in it. There's no high effect. 239 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 2: It's just oral satisfaction with a yummy taste. Anyway, don't 240 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 2: get me started on that. We've already discussed that. And 241 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 2: Alan says that on my birthday coming up, as a 242 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 2: birthday gift from the staff, I can talk for an 243 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 2: hour on all the forbidden subjects. You know, the forbidden 244 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: words and broadcasting they mean nothing to me, but the 245 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: forbidden subjects, pens, stereo cameras. I'm salivating at the at 246 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 2: the at the possibilities. The hell does that have to 247 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 2: do with anything. It's very rare that Alan is in 248 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 2: a semi giddy mood. I think we have that date today, 249 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 2: which is fine. I enjoy it a lot. This is 250 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: a very significant subject. Thanks to you, Zach of Why 251 00:16:58,480 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 2: was he Colorado Springs? 252 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 3: Where was the guy? No, no, no, somewhere Colorado? Thank 253 00:17:04,639 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 3: you Zach. 254 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 2: Folks, if you find yourselves thinking a lot about what 255 00:17:09,360 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 2: what a perfect day be like, it ain't good. The 256 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 2: answer is today. Now give me that's today. That done, Littleton, Colorado. 257 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 2: That's the way you're supposed to think because after it, 258 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 2: in any event, you know what Ivy even knew early 259 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 2: on that after great highs come great lows. You can't 260 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 2: be at a ten every day unless you're on some 261 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 2: manic inducing drug. You can't be on a ten every day. 262 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 2: So if you have a ten that's the highest on 263 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 2: a one to ten scale, obviously of excitement and happiness, 264 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 2: what you're gonna balance out. It's gonna be a four 265 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 2: the next day or the next week, whatever. 266 00:17:58,359 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 3: Very tough, very tough. 267 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: I'd like to know. I would love to know. I 268 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: don't think it's knowable. You know, some of the most 269 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 2: important issues of life are never discussed. For example, after 270 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 2: a really great wedding, how is it for most couples 271 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 2: when they go to their hotel room. There is so 272 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 2: much pressure for it to be great, the love making 273 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 2: to be great, whether it's the first time for the 274 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 2: religious couple that waited or or not the first time 275 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 2: for another couple. But that's that's the you know, that's 276 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 2: the night that she has dreamed of. Every woman dreams 277 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 2: of being a bride at a wedding. I mean, that's 278 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 2: just that's a that's a female dream. And then for 279 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 2: the guy it's a high and and so so what 280 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: happens then? 281 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 3: I don't know. 282 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 2: I don't know the answer for for everybody, obviously, but 283 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 2: I suspect that there's a lot of pressure to have 284 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 2: to keep that excitement going. Ah, alrighty, and let's go 285 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 2: to San Antonio, Texas. Rachel, Hi, Rachel, how old are you? 286 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 6: I'm ten? 287 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 3: You're ten? And do you listen to my show? 288 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 6: Yes? 289 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 4: I do. 290 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 3: That's wonderful. All right, Rachel? What's on your mind? 291 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 6: I was talking about I was listening to you say, well, 292 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 6: your perfect day would be? And all my teachers have 293 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 6: asked me that question, and I've always said, my perfect 294 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 6: day would be a day where you didn't have to 295 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 6: think about things, a day where you can just relax. 296 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 3: Would you like to shit in for me if I 297 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 3: take a day off? Yeah, Rachel? 298 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 4: Yeah. 299 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 3: What do you do for a living? Nothing, Rachel, to 300 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 3: go to school. 301 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 6: Technically, that's all that I do normally. 302 00:19:58,359 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 3: That's right. That's very interesting. 303 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 2: You have brothers and sisters. 304 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 6: Yes, I have an older brother. 305 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 3: Christopher, Christopher. How do you get along with Christopher? 306 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 7: Not very well? 307 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 3: And how old is he? 308 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 6: Nineteen? 309 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 3: And and and uh, all right. 310 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 2: I would love to ask you more. You are wonderful 311 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: to talk to, Rachel. I want to call me again. 312 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 2: How does a kid at tend know the what most 313 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: people don't know? 314 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: What? 315 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 3: Fifty will be back at a moment. 316 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 317 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. 318 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 2: Thank you, Jimmy Durrandy. Dennis Prager here on the Happiness 319 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 2: Hour by the way a reminder about tonight, I will 320 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 2: be on Hannay and Combs, and I know a lot 321 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 2: of you like to see when I'm on a national TV. 322 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 2: So I was like CNN on Sunday and Hannay and 323 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 2: Colmes is Fox Fox News tonight. Ah, alright, Dennis Prager 324 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 2: here and this is the Happiness Hour. Subject is, don't 325 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 2: aspire to a perfect day. A great day may well 326 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: be today. And the woman who went through the Colma, 327 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 2: there's some terrific calls here. One eighth Prager seven seven six. 328 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 2: If you have I want you to call me if 329 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 2: you do think about that periodically. Gee, what would a 330 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 2: perfect day be like? Tell me if you do. I mean, 331 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 2: maybe there's nothing wrong with it, maybe you still appreciate 332 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 2: every day. But you can imagine that, as I've said 333 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 2: to you, I never imagine that a high is a 334 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 2: regular day, that there's nothing bad happening. 335 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 8: I have. 336 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: I don't have enormous expectations of life. I guess I 337 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 2: never did. And perhaps it's worth getting a little philosophic. 338 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 2: Here is the word, getting a little philosophic or getting 339 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 2: a little philosophical philosophic, No philosophical could be both I 340 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 2: love that. 341 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. 342 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 2: See, I'll tell you what it is, folks. I'm gonna 343 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 2: get super serious here for a moment. From a very 344 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: early age, I was aware about of how much suffering 345 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 2: there was in the world. I was never oblivious to 346 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 2: that fact. I also never assumed that I had a 347 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 2: guarantee of not being among those who would suffer. I 348 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 2: think most people begin life with the feeling, and maybe 349 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 2: you should. Maybe it's a good thing for a child 350 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 2: to have. I don't know that they, for whatever reason, 351 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 2: they have a pact with God that they will not 352 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 2: be among those who suffer. I didn't think that as 353 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 2: a kid, and I believe deeply in God. But I 354 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 2: never believe that I had this pact that they will 355 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,719 Speaker 2: be hundreds of millions of people who will suffer her 356 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:31,479 Speaker 2: horribly and I am guaranteed not to be among them. 357 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 2: So I never had that, and therefore, from a very 358 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 2: early age, I appreciated a perfectly fine, normal day if 359 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 2: I was if I wasn't down for some reason, then 360 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 2: it was a great day. I still feel that one 361 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 2: eighth Praguer seven seven six. Does that make sense to you? 362 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 2: Is this a different way of seeing life than one 363 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 2: that you're used to do you rely on getting high 364 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 2: to be happy? For example, I don't mean getting high 365 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: necessarily on drugs, just having an emotional high. Alrighty one 366 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 2: eight Prager seven seven six and San Diego, Tammy, Hello, Tammy, Dennis. 367 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 8: Prager, Hi, Dennis. I wanted to call and talk to 368 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 8: you about my son who he's six and a half now, 369 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 8: but I would say probably for the last two to 370 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 8: three years, he will spontaneously, at any time in the 371 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,640 Speaker 8: day sort of just look at you and say, Mom, 372 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 8: this is a great day. 373 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 3: Wow. How old? 374 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 8: He's six and a half now, but it's been going 375 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 8: on for a couple of years. 376 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 2: Does he know what? 377 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 7: You know? 378 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 2: What My first reaction is, he is so lucky. Yeah, 379 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 2: that he would have such a nature, because it's hard 380 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 2: to imagine. I mean, I'm sure you've had a role, 381 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 2: but it's hard to imagine that you taught him to 382 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 2: think that way by the. 383 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 3: Age of six. 384 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 4: No. 385 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 8: I think he's a very content child and he's quick 386 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 8: to see the good in a lot in a lot 387 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 8: of situations. And what's interesting when he says that my 388 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 8: husband and I always kind of look at each other 389 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 8: and we like think back over the day and think like, 390 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 8: what is that's making him say that? 391 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 3: And the answer is nothing exactly. That's that's the key, Tavvy. 392 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 393 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 2: That kid's lucky. I don't know if it'll you know, 394 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 2: if it'll last. You know, six doesn't predict sixty. But 395 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 2: if it does last, he's a very lucky human being. 396 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 2: And that is what this hour of the Happiness Hour 397 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 2: is devoted to the ability to say, on any given 398 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:52,920 Speaker 2: day with nothing spectacular happening, wow, is this a great day? 399 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 3: Back in a moment. 400 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 401 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. 402 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 3: Oh I love this song. We only have happy songs 403 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:24,160 Speaker 3: on the Happiness all right, everybody. 404 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager here, and we want to thank thirteen year 405 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 2: old Zach from last week on the Open Line Hour, 406 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 2: which follows this, for asking me, Dennis, what would a 407 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 2: perfect day be? And I just told him, any day 408 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 2: without problems, the perfect day. That's how I feel. Always did, 409 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 2: by the way, always did did not look to big highs. 410 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: I'm high on those days. Ah, righty, Let's go to Oceanside, California. Bill, 411 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 2: Hello Bill, Dennis Prager, thanks. 412 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 7: For calling hello, Dennis. Nice to speak to you. 413 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 2: Thank you, Dennis. 414 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 7: I was having what I thought was one of the 415 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 7: perfect days of my life. I was in Jamaica at 416 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:12,479 Speaker 7: a national convention with fellow business people, meeting all my friends. 417 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 7: That day, we had a golf tournament and I won 418 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 7: the golf tournament, which really gave me a big high, 419 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 7: and I was everything was going wonderful. 420 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 2: That evening we had. 421 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 7: Our our big Gayla dinner and during that dinner, I 422 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,719 Speaker 7: was presented with the award of the most Outstanding Distributor, 423 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 7: the best Growth, and all the accolades of my friends, 424 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 7: and it was just an absolute wonderful day. My wife 425 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 7: was celebrating a bit too much and when we got 426 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 7: back to our room, she passes out and I sit 427 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,119 Speaker 7: there with all this wonderful, wonderful day with no one 428 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 7: to share it with, and I was so down and 429 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 7: felt so bad and on a day that I thought 430 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 7: would be perfect. 431 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 3: That's a that's a very touching story. 432 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: Actually, I'm curious as yours your wife alcoholic? 433 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 7: Well, I lost her from alcoholism. Uh a few years 434 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 7: back from Mary from me A perfect day now with 435 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 7: just to be to sit in my backyard and had 436 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 7: no problems. 437 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 3: With your sober with your wife. 438 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely what a powerful call build good luck to you, truly, 439 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 2: good luck in your new life. The importance of that 440 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 2: call is to reaffirm exactly what was said. That's why 441 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 2: I always say, what happens in the hotel room, you know, 442 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 2: after the wedding, what happens in the in the when 443 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 2: you go back home after getting all of this praise? 444 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 2: Do these I always have the sense that the Hollywood 445 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 2: folks who go to party after party after party are 446 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 2: not happy when they get home. The need for these 447 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 2: exciting parties on such a continuous basis, I think reflects 448 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 2: on the fact that they're probably not all that happy 449 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 2: when they're not at a party. And the other thing 450 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 2: that his call reminds me of is the terrible effects 451 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 2: of those with serious psychological or other problems on their spouses. 452 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 3: Goes back to his room, wants to share with his wife, 453 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 3: and she's. 454 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 2: What's the word? 455 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:34,479 Speaker 3: Now? 456 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 2: I know, passed out? But they have a word for 457 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 2: or as a too vulgar for when you really get. 458 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 3: Is it stopped? What is the word? 459 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 2: There are a number of words, all right, Anyway, she's out. 460 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 2: Let's go to Alaska and Bobby, Bobby in Wasilla, Wasila, Alaska, 461 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager. 462 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 4: High, Good morning, Dennis, thank you so much. I cherish 463 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 4: this hour every week. 464 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you. 465 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 4: I just wanted to say you had said something prior 466 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 4: to the last break which truly struck me. And you 467 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 4: had said that you never had expectations of bad things 468 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 4: happening or good things happening. You were and I'm paraphrasing 469 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 4: here that you. 470 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 3: No, no, I know I said that. 471 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 2: I yeah, I never thought that I had a pact 472 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 2: with God that I would somehow be immune from tragedy. 473 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 4: And and you know, Dennis, it struck me at that point. 474 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 4: In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, it says our 475 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 4: serenity is inversely proportional to our expectations. And to me, 476 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 4: that's that's the whole, the whole focus it is. Yeah, 477 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 4: that's said for. 478 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 2: Me, that is exactly right. There is a chapter in 479 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 2: my book on happiness. My book is called Happiness is 480 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 2: a Serious Problem, and there's a chapter on expectations. You 481 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:04,560 Speaker 2: should know, Bobby, it is the only chapter that people 482 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 2: take issue with. They don't like to be told not 483 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 2: to have expectations. 484 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 4: And that's that's astounding because you know, to me, the 485 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 4: issue now is to reach a point of neutrality in 486 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 4: life where there aren't necessarily but there aren't necessarily low. 487 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I've always said people I have fun with people. 488 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 2: I go, so, how are you today on a scale 489 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 2: of one to ten? And they give me one answer, 490 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 2: and they said what about you? And I and I say, oh, 491 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 2: a seven point you know, six, two, four, nine, three, 492 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 2: And they go that's all. And I go, are you kidding? 493 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 2: That's all to be a regular seven and a half. 494 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 2: That's awesome. 495 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 4: Absolutely well, Dennis. I don't want to take up any 496 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 4: more of your time and cut other callers out, but 497 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 4: I so appreciate you and thank you for all that 498 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 4: you do for me. 499 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 2: Oh that's very sweet, very very kind. Thank you, Bobby. 500 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 2: I appreciate that. By the way, we have to work 501 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 2: on going up to Alaska to the listeners. It is 502 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 2: I know from almost twenty six years in radio when 503 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 2: you have a large listenership. We have one in the 504 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 2: Anchorage area one eight Praguer seven seven six, and we 505 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 2: also have one in this area, a large listenership. Tampa, 506 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 2: Floria to John, Hello John, Dennis Prager. 507 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 9: So this is darn near my perfect day, giving the chance, 508 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 9: I actively had to choose between two schedules and at 509 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 9: my job really extremely early or afternoon, and I have 510 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 9: to say it was actually your talk shows hours that 511 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 9: helped me decide to go to their earlier. 512 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 7: Wow. 513 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 3: Will you please get that on tape? That that's a beauty? 514 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 3: All right, go ahead. 515 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 9: I wanted to say that as a young man, I 516 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:50,520 Speaker 9: always assumed that my happiest day type thing would be 517 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 9: something that basically brought me great pleasure for one of 518 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 9: the more immortal reasons, you know, great money or whatever. 519 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 9: But I was my happiest day actually was with regard 520 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 9: to Hurricane Katrina. I was I volunteered for a hour. 521 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:13,880 Speaker 2: Oh, I have comments on that, don't go away. I 522 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 2: get such joy from him. Jee, it's Louis right, do 523 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 2: you know that as a very touching star. I was 524 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 2: reading a biography of him, and if I have it correctly, 525 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 2: he wore a Jewish star a necklace his whole life 526 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:36,479 Speaker 2: out of gratitude to the Jews in New Orleans who 527 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 2: helped him when he was a young man. And I'll 528 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 2: tell you something about that. I have said this so 529 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 2: many times. It's been a happiness our theme, but it 530 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:53,680 Speaker 2: is not just about happiness about character. The greatest single 531 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 2: human trait is gratitude. And that if I knew nothing 532 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 2: about Louis Armstrong except that I would, I would know 533 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 2: this man had had a good character. Gratitude is such 534 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:10,240 Speaker 2: a big deal Ingratitude is the worst. 535 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 3: On the other side. 536 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 2: Anyway, John was telling me about he was able to 537 00:34:15,279 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 2: help people in Katrina, and that was turned out to 538 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 2: be such a great thing. Look, I've often argued doing 539 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 2: good for others. What could be more meaningful or gratifying 540 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 2: and doing good for others, See, that's a happiness. By 541 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 2: the way, that's a thrill that lasts as opposed to 542 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,919 Speaker 2: parties whose thrill is over when the party is over. 543 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 2: And that's the difference between fun and and happiness, which 544 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 2: has been another subject of the show. Today's topic is 545 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 2: based on the question of a thirteen year old last week, Dennis, 546 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:52,839 Speaker 2: what's your well, how do you imagine a perfect day? 547 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 3: What would be a perfect day for you? 548 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 2: And I have never been asked the question, and off 549 00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 2: the top of my headset, I never in my life 550 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 2: have imagined the perfect day, and I still can't. 551 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 3: Because the quote unk. 552 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 2: First of all, there's no perfect day, but obviously, but 553 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:10,400 Speaker 2: in other words, the best day, the best day is 554 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 2: any day that I'm well, my loved ones are well, 555 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 2: and I don't have a big problems. That's it. It 556 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 2: doesn't have to be more. And that's what I'm asking 557 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 2: you to think about and reflect on. Tye in San Antonio, 558 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,120 Speaker 2: I wish I could have gotten to you. He's had 559 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 2: a lot of medical issues, so every day he says 560 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 2: it's a good day, but tomorrow will be a great day. 561 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:35,880 Speaker 2: That is exactly right, and ty that is what I 562 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 2: do wish to you. And now, my friends, it's the 563 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 2: time for you to call and say you can any 564 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 2: question politics, religion, about me, about you, about life. One 565 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 2: eighth Prager seven seven six. 566 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,800 Speaker 3: This has been timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager. 567 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:58,880 Speaker 1: Visit Dennisprager dot com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, 568 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 1: and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles.