To the Editor:

People ask, “How’re you doing, Tony? How do you feel today?”

My answer is always the same: “Haven’t got a complaint in the world!”

I always throw a joke in, right behind it, by saying, “I’m fine but my wallet is feeling poorly.”

My attempt at being cheerful is not just an opening conversation piece but a tone-setter for continuing the conversation.

Having an upbeat point of view isn’t hard to maintain if it’s genuine. It can be contagious but it is rarely unappreciated. A smile is like a bank deposit into somebody else’s account and almost always gains interest.

Frequently, when I go to the Veterans Affairs Hospital for medical appointments, I engage the staff in light-hearted banter. Silly jokes can be taken the wrong way so I always excuse myself for not being serious.

They reassure me by saying my attitude is a welcome change to their daily grind. Patients tend to be on the grumpy side so I am regarded as a breath of fresh air.

Fresh air is what I’m all about. Story-telling is my bread and butter. Given an opportunity to enliven a mood or conversation with a tidbit from my wealth of experiences and education, I will jump in adding a change of color to brighten up a topic. A gift of gab should have the accent on giving rather than gabbing.

Cheerfulness enters my body through our kitchen window every morning. My day-to-day begins with a panorama of nature. I sit looking out the window with my first cup of coffee, soaking up the view of grass and trees.

Rain showers fill my soul and my well. Bright sunlight on a blanket of snow can be more warming than a hug. Coffee doesn’t hurt either.

I haven’t got a complaint in the world! Yin and yang exist in my life as well as in everyone else’s. I accept the balance between ups and downs and choose to move through them. Reveling in the joys of being surrounded by family and friends, I don’t care how my wallet feels.

Tony Falese

Westerlo