Stephen Leacock, Canadian humorist, said it very well: “Life, we learn too late, is in living, in tissue of every day and every hour.”

Dr. Maxwell Maltz, author of “Psycho-Cybernetics,” observed that once mind accepts concept of conditional happiness one will never be happy. This is because once that requirement is met mind, being so conditioned, will immediately go to work to set up next prerequisite for happiness. Thus, an endless, futile cycle.

Maltz, therefore, concluded that if a person is going to be happy it will never be because of something – it will always be period! So, maybe there’s more to hokey pokey philosophy than we thought.

BARBER-OSOPHY: Mature people have a childlike, happy disposition Copyright 2003, Sumerlin Enterprises.

Terry L. Sumerlin, owner of J.B.'s Barber Shop in San Antonio, Texas, is known as "The Barber-osopher," and appears nationally as a humorist and motivational speaker.

Permission is granted for you to copy this article for distribution as long as above copyright and contact information is included. Please reference or include a link to www.barber-osophy.com.

As an adult, I still send thank you cards, not only for gifts but also for thoughts, actions, and caring. I am teaching my children that saying thank you is as important as occasion itself. As they learn to do it, they complain about it, and question it. During dinner, we often will tell each other things that happened during day that we are thankful for. Eventually, they will realize their lives are actually enriched by gratitude. As they learn to be thankful they will see wonder in their lives.

And as I write this I realize that I have forgotten to write most important thank you card of all. Thank you to my Mother for teaching me this special skill. It has brought much joy into my life and lives of those around me. Thank you for teaching me power of gratitude and giving me something to share with those around me. Thank You Mom.