identity

I would be careful in believing anything from a guy who wears two different kinds of flip-flops.  The guy was me (i.e. man-oh-man) soooooo proceed with caution.

Ya but, there are ways to sell yourself even though a person has deficiencies.  Oh ya.  A grocer put up a sign that read, “Eggplants, 25 cents each.  Three for a dollar.”  All day long, customers came in exclaiming, “Don’t be ridiculous! I should get four for a dollar!” Meekly, the grocer would agree and package four eggplants.  The tailor next door saw what was happening and finally asked the grocer, “Aren’t you going to fix the mistake on your sign?” ”What mistake?” the grocer asked. “Before I put up that sign no one ever bought more than one eggplant.” JoeBlow says—There is a sucker born every minute! 

Why do folks know you? There are folks who know you, yes there are. Yes, someone knows each one of us.  But some folks get their identity by someone else promoting them (e.g. most everyone heard of Paul Revere. Yet few of us have heard of Sybil Ludington because Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: “Listen, my children, and you shall hear / of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” And there are some that promote themselves. ha ha Such is life.

When you die, you will have an identity. Your obituary might say one thing, but folks know you as snooty, egotistical, loving, a game player, sweet, obnoxious, something is wrong, greedy, respectful, belligerent, showy, hardworking, crabby, negative, kind, positive, helpful, self-centered, self-glorying, bitchie, etc.   Does it really make a difference what others think of you and does it really make a difference how you lived your life?  Maybe it does and maybe it doesn’t.  Some think soooo and other don’t. 

Phil Knight in his book Shoe Dog says in the end of the book (i.e. when things worked out and he was worth a huge massive amount of money)—When it came rolling in, the money affected us all. Not much, and not for long, because none of us were ever driven by money. But that’s the nature of money. Whether you have it or not, whether you want it or not, whether you like it or not, it will try to define your day. Our task as human beings is not to let it.  

I think money changes folks if they say it doesn’t or if they think it doesn’t.  I think It does no matter what folks say. My life is different because I made some money (i.e. more than some and less than others meaning not extremely rich but comfortable for our life style—soooo far anyway).  Folks who say it doesn’t are just blowing smoke.  Now there are folks who handle money differently, but it still changes their life.  Quit kidding yourself.  Country club folks are different than Walmart folks (i.e. it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out—quit pretending).  Even in our churches, money affects the system—quit kidding yourself folks! That is maybe a struggle of Christianity or is it just the folks in the churches.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. Money changes our identity.  Com’on, quit kidding yourself.  Everyone gets sick of folks saying it doesn’t change them when they get money (i.e. fake evaluation).  Folks try to not to let it affect ‘em but it does.  Just look around. 

“A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash” (Proverbs 15:14 NLT). BigHitterwithanunorthodoxswing (i.e. a golf buddy who can hit it a mile), told me that he had the same job for 25 years, but he said he learned something new every day. "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” - Benjamin Franklin

WorldClassLarry says--Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. AverageJoe says—It seems like it is soooooo hard many times for folks to have a high esteem of themselves.  Why is that do you think?  ItchieBitchie says—It’s ‘cause we compare ourselves to others.  Like I’m not included in that crowd cause I’m not a high roller, not educated enough, not in with the click, don’t play the part, not part of the elite holy huddle, I feel like folks look down on me, not smart enough, not the right race, don't have enough money, not religious, not from the right family.  These thoughts can cause problems for some folks.  I think comparison is hard on folks.  CadillacJack says—That is why a huge massive ego really works; it takes the pressure off (i.e. 'cause no one is better than you).  MissPerfect says—For me, I just get in my little world. “I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have” (Ecclesiastes 4:4 GNT).

I went for a ride yeasterday on my Yamaha XT250 to another town.  I have some friends who live there and was just poking around on a warm summer day. Soooooo I drove into their housing development and was curious where one friend lives.  I sorta kind know where they lived soooo I go down the street.  There is a lady putting up flags for the 4th sooooo I would ask her.  Well, it was their place. Theguyfullofwisdomthathitsitinthemiddleofthefairwayeverytime was not home.  Soooo this is where you live--yes, I really like it--I hear you really like FL in the winter--I sure do.  IT"S A  GOOD LIFE!

And then there is the comparison of how much money folks have.  Oh ya! I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it was written by RickyRick—“As a pastor for nearly 40 years, I can tell you that the number one reason couples get a divorce isn’t adultery. It isn’t abuse. It’s debt! At one time, 54 percent of the divorces in the U.S. were related to financial pressures.”   I think many abuse debt (i.e. it’s American).  Many of you disagree with me. I think giving is good, saving is good and spend the rest on living.  BigWalletEd says--Only fools spend everything they make. BigWalletEd, many think you don’t have a clue how to manage your money and others think you are right on the mark! Comparing can even give folks high blood pressure!

"Now I will tell thee an unusual truth about men and sons of men. It is this: That what each of us calls our 'necessary expenses' will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary." - The Richest Man in Babylon

I had breakfast with an old college friend recently.  He started as a teacher then became a realtor, developer, general contractor, entrepreneur, and business person.  He said that many fellow business folks who took a similar route, made a little money, acted like they had a lot of money (i.e. got a big head and cocky) and most of them ended up broke (i.e. statistics does prove this to be true).  I asked him how come—they run out of bullshit!  Wow, now that is a change of identity! 

A friend sold his bulldozer to another contractor.  He didn’t pay him for a year.  Sooooo he contacted him again in which he said he didn’t want it; come and pick it up.  My friend told me that this guy is rather sleazy and takes advantage of folks (i.e. it’s his identity—everyone knows him this way).  Sooo my friend picked up his bulldozer. He told him that he thinks a fair amount for the use for one year and some damage to be $12,000.  The guy didn’t say anything but didn’t pay him.  Sooooo one day my friend goes to his office (i.e. he knows he is there).  Talked to someone in the office and said he wanted to talk to Joe.  He was told that Joe is here but they don’t know where he was.  Maybe you can come back another day. My friend took a chair and went into his office and told the person that he would wait for Joe. My friend sat there for 45 minutes; then Joe came out of a closet!  Crazy!

Several of you have mentioned to me recently that your world is shrinking (i.e. becoming smaller and you are ok with that).  You only care about your small world and a few who are on the fringes and the rest you don’t really care about anymore.  It’s maybe a change in our culture.  I have to admit that my world is a lot smaller and I’m ok with that.  I’m tired of arguing and being around folks who are weird compared to my believes and values.  It’s easier to not be around them.  I think this is magnified because of Arlene having Alzheimer’s and our age.  But, you guys tell me you are no different. I don’t know if this is good, but it appears that there is a change in our culture and society. Our identity is changing. No question! MissPerfect says—I really don’t care what others think or say anymore; most of is just bull!

I learn things in the craziest ways! I was riding my Yamaha XT250 up ‘er in ‘em hills the other day and ran into a friend who lives in those hills (i.e. he is in his mid-70s).  I learned that some things seem to change, and some things seem to stay the same.  He told me that when he was dating his wife, they would park on the hill which he thought was really a big hill.  Now, he said, the hill doesn’t appear to be very big at all any more (i.e. some things seem to appear to change).  Sooooo do teenagers still park?  When teenagers park, they look at the stars, talk, listen to music, watch the fireflies, hold hands, kiss, hug, make out, maybe pet, and maybe even have sex (i.e. some things never change—hormones are always active).  Have any of you ever parked on a hill? That is what I thought! 

When I exercise, it seems like my body doesn’t always like it at first.  I mean like I can start running and it says—erv, why don’t you quit and go and sit on the couch and eat chips.  But after about a mile it adapts and another half mile it seems to like it.  It seems to identify with what is going on and adjusts.  I wonder if that principle applies to life.  It seems like with sooo many projects, the hardest part is getting started.  At least for me it is.  I did a project that I have been putting off for several days.  I finally did it yesterday.  Once I got started, I enjoyed it.  And when I got done, I felt good.  It wasn’t near as bad as I thought, and it was sorta kinda a sense of accomplishment.  Bingo.  Can any of you identify with me?

I mentioned to a friend, Les (i.e. anybody can be a Les), the other day that I really like your pastor.  He said—Everyone does, and you aren’t telling me anything new; it’s no surprise to anyone.  Maybe just maybe a quality that he has is what is written about in Micah 8:6 (i.e. maybe that’s his identity) -- But he is human, and I bet he has to have some “feet of clay.”  Or as my mentor would say to me—erv, everyone has warts; it’s just that you just can’t see them.  All said, that could be but I still like him as does others it appears. Such is life. Byetheway, Micah 6:8 says—He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Now this is a “first world problem.”  Money changes things! Many of my golf buddies have range finders (i.e. GPS devices of different kinds to tell them the distance to the green or pin).  I never had one but sorta kinda wanted one.  Garmin has an Approach S20 wrist range finder that some of my buddies have that I like.  I had some “speaking gig money” soooo I thought I would buy one (i.e. they are just fun, but they probably won’t make a difference in my score—and really, does my golf score really matter).  Soooo they are $199 and are usually not on sale (i.e. toooo much I thought).  Well, they were on sale for $139 soooooo I bought one.  When I use it, it says—erv, you can’t hit it that far or erv, don’t kid yourself, you need more club than that at your age!  I hate that when it tells the truth (i.e. my identity).

I occasionally will stop at garage sales and look for cheap stuff for the grand kids (i.e. crazy stuff).  I get a big kick out of it.  I also enjoy visiting with the folks who are selling. This sale I stopped at while coming home from playing pickleball the other morning, was a sale of their mother's stuff.  She was going into assisted living.  I really liked this very nicely framed piece that was for sell for a ridiculously low price.  Here is probably the deal.  I looked on line and it sells for about 80 to100 dollars depending on the frame from Mohr's studio.  Their mom, probably paid about that amount as she liked what it said and believed in what it said.  Maybe the kids do not believe in what it says and wouldn't pay 2 cents for it.  That is why I bought it for $10.

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

erv

MyFreindJean says—A kindness done today is the surest way to a brighter tomorrow.

P.S. “You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be." - Napoleon Hill