it is what it is

ItchieBitchie says—I have never found the perfect quote. At best I have been able to find a string of quotations which merely circle the ineffable idea I seek to express.  ItchieBitchie, it is what it is!  Such is life.

I have said to a friend recently—You are one smart person; you see the big picture.  Smart folks see the big picture and just not the minimized picture a.k.a. the itsy bitsy short-term picture—my opinion.  TomSmart says--There are folks who are big picture folks and there are folks who can’t see past their nose.  We hear “it is what it is” a lot from caregivers (i.e. it might take them a little while to figure it out, but they do—it is called reality).  Why?  Because it is what it is.  We can’t do a thing about the diseases our spouses and family members have.  It is what it is. Now that is seeing the big picture.

LuckieEddie says--I knocked on wood for good luck in 2020…and I got a splinter instead! CadillacJack gives you this tip for 2020—Write down everything you want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is you wrote down, you can spend the time looking for the paper you wrote it down on.

OneSmartPerson says—I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are going.  Saturday question—How do we know we are going in the right direction (i.e. got the ladder up against the right wall)?  Good question, good question.  It appears to me that if we are doing something good for others we might be going in the right direction (i.e. it’s more than preaching, it’s doing).  GeorgeTheCrook says—Talk is cheap, but it takes money to buy whiskey.  A cousin (i.e. a semi-retired financial advisor) who is a real person with a good heart—my kind of person) sent me this text--Got a new job. $10.00 an hour and mileage. I will be working for compassionate care. If someone needs help shopping or going to the Dr. or whatever they call me. Can’t wait to start.  Coach says—Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.  LuckieEddie says--That makes sense to me!

2020 is going to be what it is.  Sometimes we can’t do anything about it.  The only thing we are in charge of is our attitude.  For some, 2020 will be a super time, some it will be an ok time and others it will be not sooooo great.  That’s just the way it is.  There are many many factors that come into play.  Each of our factors are different.  That’s just the way it is.  Here is a suggestion—If you are going to have a great 2020, maybe try to share a little of your great 2020 with someone whose 2020 might not be sooooo great.  It will even make your great 2020 even greater (i.e. also a great teaching opportunity if you have children or grandchildren).  Another suggestion—If your 2020 is going to be ok or less than great, do something to make someone’s 2020 which probably is ok or less than great better; then you will both have a better 2020.  Just an idea.  BigHeartBetty does more than brings someone some food, she brings someone some food and sits down and eats with them (i.e. now that is a big difference).

AverageJoe says--Two of most powerful things in the U.S. are the government and the media.  It is what it is. We, as average citizens, probably have no idea how powerful the government and the media are.  They are sooooo good at it that we don’t even know how they affect us. LuckieEddie says—I think there is a third powerful thing, especially at Christmas and New Years.  That is advertising.  Well LuckieEddie, it’s sorta kinda part of media.  Advertising media is sooooo powerful.  For business, it’s a must to make money and for the public, it’s a curse.  It sorta kinda reminds me of a medication Arlene takes; the nurse tells me there is a trade off with the medication—some good effects and some not soooo good; erv, you need to understand that. It’s sorta kinda how a friend describes his sister—She is a bit of a mess and an amazing person all at the same time. I guess maybe we see some of those qualities in our family members and friends.  CrazyMarvin says—What do you mean other family members, that is the way I am!  Ouchy ouchy! It is what it is.  Such is life.

I complimented a friend/pickleball buddy on a good shot.  He said—It happens once in a while; it is what it is! Yes, once in a while it happens.  Sooooo I would like to have you think of the best family Christmas parties that you can remember.  They do happen once in a while and for some of you a lot.  Now I want you to think of the worst family Christmas parties you remember.  They happen once in a while toooo.  I remember many fun Christmas parties with family and friends.  I do remember a couple that weren’t as much fun.  Now I want you to think why some parties were sooooo much fun and why some weren’t as much fun.  Why is there such a difference?  Ok, if you will recognize why some weren’t sooooo much fun, then remember those things.  Why do you want to have a unfun party?  Put them in your brain for next year. Ok, maybe somethings you can’t do anything about (e.g. like you father-in-law’s new girlfriend—wow, she is something else).  BUT once in a while you can.  Here is a fun Christmas tradition; watching Elf and then eating spaghetti with syrup on it!  It is what it is!

Jimmer was soooo proud of his robot he made from cereal boxes.  I thought it was quite innovative.  I told him I was proud of his effort instead of just doing Xbox.  I believe it’s a great gift when parents encourage their children to use their minds and less screen time (i.e. my opinion).  After skiing on Copper Mt., we stopped at the Animal Rescue Shelter in Frisco.  Erin decided to use $20 of her Christmas money as a donation toooo adopt a Guinea Pig named Copper.  FYI guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they biologically related to pigs (i.e. and you think I'm confusing).  I don’t think I ever saw Erin sooooo excited.  I think this is a great experience for her.  Probably a Christmas she will never forget.  

Got this email from an AZ wintering friend------I think of you guys often...........and manage to keep up with your sometimes rambling thoughts on your blog. I hope that you are coping well, and that Arlene is beginning to experience God's mercy in a manner that none of us can understand. Give her my love!  Regards..........Jim PS: Attached are a couple of photos from 2012 and 13. Happier days! His statement about Arlene is just amazing; that is why I enjoyed his company sooooo much during our winters in AZ.  You have to be an engineer with a lot of pens and pencils in your pocket to have that wisdom. It is what it is!

My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—erv, test it against the worst possibility and if it passes that, then it’s a good deal. It is what it is. 

You might not agree with this and I’m not certain even if I know what I’m talking about but it’s me.   Soooo there.  I believe and feel that all of us need encouragement (i.e. except those who know everything and have no heart and are sooooo much into themselves a.k.a. self-centered like DuaneTheWorm).  We especially need encouragement to do the right things in life (i.e. whatever the right things are or whatever you decide the right things are).  Maybe coaches of some form are very important to help us; I believe they are.  Coaches can be many different folks (e.g. friends, family, religious leaders, business associates, mentors, the person down the street, the person north of town, etc.).  Negative motivation doesn’t work very well for me and it appears that it doesn’t for many others.  Folks back away from this approach if it’s the total approach (i.e. we gravitate to something more positive and uplifting).  It is what it is.  Think through that folks. Recently a gal talked to me about how she left her old job as the management was sooooo negative and discouraging and took this new job that the management was just the opposite even though she took a pay cut.  It is what it is. AverageJoe says—Folks get tired of eating dirt!

It was 1974, the year I quite teaching and coaching to start my business carrier.  It was New Year’s Eve and I was invited to a businessmen’s New Year’s Eve party at John Hippen’s car dealership at 5. I was a 29 year old rookie businessman starting a pretty big risk in going into a business opportunity.  I was the youngest person there.  Why they invited me I have no idea. I remember Ivan and Karl Harken, Gerrit Vandenberg, Jonny Cuvelier, Dave Longnecker, Irv and Wayne Diekman, Eddie Lindaman, Gerdes, John Bakker, Henry Groenveld, Les Frey, Dale Voss, Ted Stubbe, and maybe more that I don’t remember.  We had a few drinks, ate some chips and laughed a lot.  Most of these guys became my friends who I really liked and enjoyed.  They are all died; I’m the only one alive.  ANYWAY, this New Year's Eve morning I was up early cleaning the drive of snow as my friend, The Professor, was picking me up for breakfast. I thought about this party and more sooooo the conversation I had with Johnny Cuvelier; why, I have no idea.  He told me that he was in, I think the battle of the Bulge (i.e. been fighting for 4 years), and saw soooo much blood shed and death that one morning when he was shaving with his mirrow on a tree, he prayed that he would get killed this day as he could not take any more death and bloodshed.  Then some troops came by and one of the troops was from Aplington and they talked briefly, and he ended their conversation with—I will see you back in Aplington.  Then John’s pray changed to—God, please let me get back home.  He did of course.  I told this story to my friend, The Professor, who I had breakfast with.  His Dad was one of the guys who was at that business party and also was in WW II.  Happenstance, na, I don’t think soooo.  Sooooo that afternoon I was getting groceries in Cedar Falls and decided to walk in the mall.  I ran into Tom, who was John’s son-in-law.  I told him this story about his father-in-law that I remembered this morning while cleaning the drive.  He said John never told his family anything about his experiences in the war.  He said he would tell his children about this.  He asked me why he told me this—I had no idea.  I have no idea why I remembered it and why I remembered it this day some 45 years later.  Happenstance, na, I don’t think soooo.  Is this crazy or what!

“Get a life!” MissPerfect says--It’s what we say to people who are obsessed over trivial matters, like chronic nitpickers. I read what DrJ said while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—"The myth of overnight success has ruined a lot of people who expected fame and fortune without work and exertion. It takes time to develop a quality life. And for that matter, fame and fortune are myths too. That is, they don’t bring the peace and joy we crave. What we need is godliness with contentment. That doesn’t come overnight either. It’s something that develops within us as we walk with God over time, seeking His face, doing His will, learning His Word, serving His people, and singing His praises.” Soooooo I think DrJ is saying—Get a life! 

Coach said--Many times we may make some rather insignificant decisions that are defining moments. These decisions can change our life.  And they are not major decisions but attribute to major change in our life (e.g. decide to get up at 5 every morning to mediate and pray).  erv, you said Coach said insignificant, that would be a major change in my life. Ok, how about doing 10 minutes of exercise each day when you get up and mediating and praying? Can you handle that?  Ten minutes! MyLateFriendPaul said to me—Decisions have consequences and guess who gets to make the decisions.  Another thing I remember Paul telling me when I went and visited him when he wasn’t in very good shape--I told him I was happy to see him with such a good attitude—he said--if you don’t have a good attitude, no one will come and visit you! Folks, it is what it is!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations.