ax to grind

I read this well-worn truism—"You can’t control what you can’t control!”  At times, I like to be in control and even think I should be able to control others or situations.  I admit it.  I even think I should be able to change other folks (i.e. it ain’t going to happen, I know).  Soooo why do I let other folks’ actions and thinking stress me?  It’s like I have an ax to grind. JoeBlow says—Get it out of your head erv; your life will much more enjoyable when you do!

Paul Newman liked to race cars and said this—It is useless to put on the brakes when you’re upside down.

I just ground my ax that I use it to split my firewood for our fireplace for kindling.  It works a lot better to have a sharp ax.  My friend, whose grinder I use to sharpen it, reminds me to be careful erv that you don’t chop your toes off with that sharp ax.  To have an ax to grind means to have an ulterior motive, to have a private reason for doing something or saying something. Someone who has an ax to grind has a hidden agenda. Do you or have you ever had an ax to grind?  Do you know or think you know of others who have an ax to grind?  ItchieBitchie says—"Some folks that can cause a lot of problems are folks who have an ax to grind and are given power; they also like guitars, megaphones, and the nightly news!  Yikes!  It happens many times in elections for city councils (i.e. which we just had the election for) or other government bodies that sometimes folks aren’t really excited to run for.  Usually folks who have a personal agenda, are not good folks to be in leadership positions.” You could be right ItchieBitchie, you could be right. 

Soooooo do any of you know any battle-axes?  The dictionary says a battle-axe is a term, generally considered pejorative, for an aggressive, domineering and forceful woman. I would guess if you get a battle-axe with an ax to grind, you have your hands full (i.e. particularly if they get power).  AverageJoe (i.e. who is humble but confident) says—I know men who are male models of battle-axes who have axes to grind who aren’t very much fun to be around and who cause a lot of problems, especially if they get power.  Don’t kid yourself. 

Soooooo here is my question I ask myself—Maybe I’m not right and only think I’m right about somethings.  Now that could be, especially if it cannot be proven but basically, it’s just my opinion or my interruption or another person’s thinking who tries to influence me.  How much pressure should we put on others if we aren’t sure it is true.  Maybe we should let others decide for themselves.  In many cases folks do decide for themselves.  I am soooo glad to live in America that I have all the freedoms.  I enjoy all the freedoms but am now thinking about the freedom of religion.  The state or no one else tells me what I want to believe or have to believe (e.g. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior; some of you don’t; and even Christians don’t believe in the same rituals or laws or believes or interruptions). Does any one person know that they are right (i.e. some think they know everything)?  I personally doubt it. Such is life.

I think I’m starting to make the turn and it feels good sooooo far.  Maybe anyway!  My turn is that I going to reduce my association and time with folks who always have an ax to grind.  Actually, Arlene has taught me this; she doesn’t like folks who aren’t sweet, kind and compassionate. It’s just not fun for me to around folks who are always agitated about something. I don’t need this in my life, especially now (i.e. it's not my cup of tea any more).  I just don’t need more stress.  This is harvest time for farmers.  Growing up a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN this was a busy time.  I have a lasting memory of my Daddy, Chester, at harvest.  My Mom, Anna, didn’t work in the field but surely did a lot of work around the farm.  But, during corn picking, she would help in the field.  My Daddy would always buy her a gift (i.e. usually some jewelry) to show his appreciation to her.  She was always soooooo appreciative of his gift.  That is a good memory of his compassion and kindness. MissPerfect, who is both humble and confident, says—I really enjoy folks who abound in love! MissPerfect, you might be on the right tract.  I read somewhere that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.  CrazyMarvin says—Wow! I know some folks who love themselves a whole lot!

It appears that some folks have a huge massive chip on their shoulder.  It seems to just continually gnaws at them.  They might have been this way for ever; they just can’t give it up.  They always have an ax to grind; always.  CadillacJack says—Most “chips on shoulders” comes from a past experience in which someone thinks they have been treated unfairly; and maybe they have.  GeorgeTheCrook asks—Is anger learned or is it inherited?  Good question.  I know families in which anger is passed on several generations.  Some folks even know they have this issue but still can’t control it; they just explode at times. I think the courts even force folks to attend anger management classes.  I have no idea if it helps.  Maybe it’s a mental disorder. These folks can be difficult to be around.  Maybe you are married to one or were or maybe you have a child that is this way or had a parent this way.  It appears that anger tendencies are hard to change.

This is from John Gresham’s new book The Guardians.  I like his writing and have read all his maybe 35 books. The Guardians is a book (i.e. fiction) about exonerating innocent folks who were found guilty.  Here is something about having a chip on your shoulder.  

 Now isn’t that something like a sinner wanting to have salvation.  All anyone has to do is humble themselves and confess their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior.  But if folks have a chip on their shoulder, they might say—no way, I won’t do that but still want salvation; it ain’t fair Jesus; you aren’t treating me right; I have been treated wrong and won’t do that. I will show you; I won’t believe in you, God.  Jesus will say--Sorry, I can’t accept you my friend but if you change your mind, you are always welcome; I will always love you.  I wish and pray that you may get through that if you feel that way. 

LuckieEddie says—Some folks seem to always run folks in the dirt! Why is that LuckieEddie?  Are you ever around some folks who always think it’s the other person’s fault but never theirs?  They never cut anyone any slack; they are always critical of someone else; they are always right.  I ride with a female friend occasionally who always complains about how other drivers drive but she is never wrong.  I think that has to come from some past environment experience she had, and she can’t get over it.

A friend has a sports car.  He tells me that it is sooooo interesting how folks react to him when they see him driving it.  Some are all smiles and give him a thumbs up sign.  Others will drive rather bizarre around him like cutting him short or doing things to be negative (i.e. and do it with snarl on their face).  Why the difference do you think?  It has to be something in their past environment that creates this positive confidence or to have some negative ax to grind.  I don’t know.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. Sooooo is this a form of road rage I asked him.  I said I just haven’t seen much road rage.  Guess what, this last week I saw road rage twice.  Crazy!  I was in one of our communities at about 8 a.m. and there was a car in front of me that was driving erratic.  It appeared it was driven by a high school kid who had a sibling as a passenger.  He was really jumpy and acted nervous and crazy.  It appeared he had a mental disorder or was on drugs, but I don’t know.  There was a car in front of him who was going to make a left-hand turn into Kwik Trip but had to wait for a car coming from the other direction.  The car made the turn and the kid flipped the driver off.  Guess what—The kid is going to school and the school has to deal with him all day.  My second experience this week of road rage was when I was heading to see Arlene.  There was a tractor with two huge massive wagons of corn that was moving into the right turning lane to turn onto a county road.  I saw that there was a car waiting to turn on the highway and I thought I better slow down; this could be dangerous if the driver doesn’t see me because of the tractor and wagons.  The driver didn’t and made a left-hand turn in front of me.  I slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop about 15 feet from this 30 some year-old female’s SUV. She continued her turn but flipped me off.  Guess what—Probably her ex and the kids need to deal with her on a continuous bases.

Compassionate folks are neat folks (i.e. my opinion).  Some of you are very compassionate; my hat goes off to you.  I know you are.  It’s easy to see.  And there are folks who can’t or won’t see the big picture but just the short-term results to make them feel good or satisfy their egos (i.e. they are really not concerned about others but just themselves).  It has always been this way and probably always will be this way. SusieQ asks--What is compassion? The dictionary says--Compassion is a combination of love and understanding. Can compassion be learned?  I think it can (i.e. my opinion).  Again, compassionate folks are much more enjoyable to be around (i.e. my opinion). 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--It is those small daily happenings that makes like spectacular.