boxed in

George Orwell penned, “A scrupulous writer in every sentence that they write, will ask themselves at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?”  I don’t do any of them soooo don’t have great expectations of what I write in this “It’s Saturday.”  If you have low expectations, then you won’t be disappointed.  And remember folks, you get what you pay for!

A classic set-up in old-time cowboy movies was to have the good guys be chased into a box canyon by the bad guys—steep canyon walls on three sides and no way out. Maybe it’s where the saying “He was boxed in!” originates. Of course, in the movies the good guys always find a way to escape and survive. I really liked those old movies when I was a kid.  I called an elderly friend the other day about mid-afternoon.  He asked if I could call him back as he said—I’m watching my old westerns right now; I really like them and don’t like to miss them.  Sooooo there you go. 

I have dreams where it seems I’m boxed in (i.e. no way out).  Then I wake up and say--Thank God it’s a dream.  SusieQ (i.e. who is who she is) says—I have things and situations in my life that are not dreams and are real life which I have the same feeling.  And I feel like I’m boxed in and have no way out.  Ouchy ouchy!  Not fun for sure.  GeorgeTheCrook, a grandstander at times, says—That can be a frustrating feeling; I don’t like it at all. Folks, I try to trick my subconscious.  It somethings works; well most of the time it does.  BUT I’m easy to trick sooooo it is somewhat easier than maybe for you. 

My Mom, Anna, would say to me—erv, always do what is right.  Of course I always didn’t.  I try but it just doesn’t work that way.  BobbyJames wrote—"Those wrong actions lead to consequences that cause people to ask, ‘How did I get into this mess?’ Usually the answer is, ‘I made some mistakes.’ I know. Sometimes, things happen outside our control. Sometimes we’re a victim of others’ wrong actions. But misfortune very often is our fault. We go somewhere we shouldn’t. We drink one more beer. We spend too much on the credit card. We ignore our kids. We eat too much. We drive too fast. We stay away from church. We choose anger when we could choose forgiveness. We delight in conflict when we should treasure peace. One day we’ll say, ‘I should have done better.’ Make that day today. As we pray, ask God to stir us up to do good now.”  Saturday question—Do you ever tell yourself this—Good job me, you did well.  Do it, you have and are doing well.  Now, don’t get tooooo cocky!!!!  You aren’t that good!!!! haha  AverageJoe says—I try to do good but sometimes it seems like doing good is all in vain!  Ya, AverageJoe, it seems that way sometimes.  But I suggest we still do it.  It’s better than doing bad, for sure! “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Included by John F Kennedy in a speech in 1961.

I read these suggestions somewhere that might help all of us get out of the “boxed in feeling”—Make room for joy every day—make a list of things that make us smile and write down what we will do to make at least one of these things happen today.  Get lost in something we enjoy! AND exercise outdoors which produces health benefits that can’t be duplicated indoors (i.e. positive emotions; lift your mood, self-esteem especially if you’re near greenery or water. It also let’s us connect with nature which is a great feeling). SusieQ says—erv erv, can’t you just give me some recipe for some desert that would do the same soooo I could just sit on the couch and eat a double helping?  I would like that a lot better!

LuckieEddie says--If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all. I golfed with a group of guys in Old Goats last week.  We play a 2-man best shot and play in a 6some.  Four of these guys were students of mine or I coached them years ago (i.e. they are about 60 now). Pretty neat.  This is humorous.  Some of you take things tooooo serious; you need to upsize your underwear a size or two and loosen up a little.  They stopped at the club house after a few holes to get some Coors Light.  They called it their “aiming fluid!”  I used to teach them but now they are teaching me.  I think we all aimed better! What a hoot.  Good guys with good hearts, my kind of folks. I really had a good time. This is humor too.  Did you hear about BettyCasino?  She got married for the first time, at least legally, at age 60.  Her husband tried to commit suicide during their honeymoon in Venice by diving into the Grand Canal, but he was rescued.  MissPerfect (i.e. she is better than some and not as good as others) says—erv erv, you shouldn’t make fun of women, it will get you in trouble.  It might create a protest. MissPerfect, can’t you just laugh once in a while! Well this joke has been around forever (i.e. like over a hundred years) and I think it’s still funny—If you were my husband, sir, I’d give you a dose of poison! The man looked at her. If I were your husband, said he, I’d take it. Folks, this is humor, don’t get all bent out of shape!  Humor makes us Happier! GOD BLESS AMERICA We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

A friend feels like he’s boxed in with his job.  He feels like he is at a dead end for advancement (i.e. no opportunity to get out of his situation).  It’s like he’s boxed in. For some folks that feeling is ok and for others it seems like they don’t like it.  Sooooo why is that do you think? Some folks are content in their situation and others are never content and always want something more grandiose.  Is that good or is that bad?  Does that attitude have anything to do with our genetics, our past or current environment?

Options.  Many of you, in fact all of you, have options.  Yes, some of you, it appears, have more options that others because of your financial situation, your health situation, your abilities, your desires, your attitudes etc.  I have been doing some serious thinking about my options of what I want to do with the rest of my life. Yes, my situation has changed now that Arlene has passed.  I have some options.  Soooo what do I want to do?  What will I do.  Those are good questions.  I am not really boxed in. Am I going to do some stuff that I have dreamed about?  I have no idea for sure what I will do short term or long term.  Now that is pretty exciting.  The other morning I went for an early morning bike ride.  I stopped at the drive-through and got a hot fudge sundae for my breakfast.  Seeee, I have options.

My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—erv, in negotiating a deal, if you don’t need it you have way different options than when you need it.  Soooo I was thinking about that when I read this recently—In any relationship, if you need the relationship it is way different than when you don’t need the relationship.  Or when the other person needs the relationship and you don’t or if both of you need the relationship or if neither one of you need the relationship.  All those different scenarios produce different negotiating options.  For sure!  JoeBlow says—It’s a good deal when it’s good for me and good for you!

You ever feel like you are boxed in a.k.a. being bullied by a person or a few folks (i.e. intimated)? They try to teach against bulling in our schools.  BUT maybe many folks feel like they are bullied by a few folks or even just one (e.g. maybe the large majority are scared to express their opinion as they are scared of retaliation of a few).  Maybe that is why folks are becoming individualists more and hunkering down in their houses, campers, basements, lake homes, etc.  They are tired of all the bulling going on. It’s easier to just separate themselves from the conflict (i.e. the bulling of a few). What do you think? I really don’t know, for sure.  Some might think this isolation ain’t all bad! I was walking home from church when a friend stopped and talked and told me that he is an introvert soooo this isolation doesn’t affect him.  On the way to church, a long-time acquaintance asked me if I wanted a ride. We talked and he asked how I was doing.  I asked him the same as he has been divorced for some time.  He said that he isn’t a very social person soooo being along is hard for him. He said, I’m basically a loner.  I think he basically thinks he’s boxed it.  Maybe he needs something that will give him a fresh perspective.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. A friend asked me what I do for eating.  I explained my eating habits and told him that I don’t eat out much; I just don’t.  He said they don’t either; I’m an introvert and would rather say home; I’d rather be with my dog than with other folks.  George Washington said—It’s better to be alone than with bad company!

Help me here, please.  I don’t know what to think of what I read in the paper.  I need you to be my GPS to tell me if I’m going in the right direction or I need to turn around as I’m going in the wrong direction. I read—Busyness prevents us from remaining focused on the most important work that we need to do.  Busyness crowds out self-reflection.  It keeps our minds and feet always scurrying from one thing to another and never allows us to sit quietly in our thoughts to determine if the next opportunity is even something we should be engaged in.  A busy life is an unexamined life.  And an unexamined life is rarely worth living.  It may be full, but it is rarely fulfilling.  Sooooo GPS, give me my direction. I was a care giver for Arlene for 9 years.  I was busy with her.  Now my caregiving is over and I’m not busy plus we are in this virus isolation.  I’m not busy.  I sorta kinda like it.  But how busy should a person be?

I asked a friend, who is an avid reader, which book I should read.  I want to try to start reading again as I seemed to have lost my interest in reading since Arlene died (i.e. I have no idea why).  She suggested three books and I selected John Grisham’s new book, Camino Winds.  I have read all his books and enjoy his writing.  I seemed to enjoy reading again and enjoyed the book.  The book, no, the fictitious characters, gave me an exciting thinking, sorta kinda an idea to get me out of my boxed in feeling.  An idea for an adventure for me maybe.  We will see now won’t we.  Time will tell me if I pursue my idea or not.  BUT I have a spark anyway.  It will be fun to see how and if it plays out.  That is an example what reading can do to a person (i.e. my opinion).  Maybe it will be part of my “rebuild.” I golfed with a friend the other day.  He told me that he and his wife are reading the Bible in a year (i.e. they read out loud to each other).  I asked him how much time does it take—anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes a day—when do you do it (i.e. they are busy folks)—in the evening.  I was impressed.

When in CO, the night before I left I had a little talk with Erin who is developing into a neat young lady.  I told her to always do good.  She said back—Grandpa, I try--Erin, if you continue the direction you are going, many good things will happen to you--You think soooo Grandpa—yes I do Erin. Isn’t that wisdom from a 12-year old—I try. "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”  Robert Frost

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says—Remember the years but forget the tears.