I've...before

A nephew-in-law says--The Boss told me that as a security guard, it’s my job to watch the office. I’m on season 6, but I’m not sure what it’s got to do with security.

It appears to me that there are two sides to a conflict. But for the very radical folks there is only one, they don’t see the big picture which makes them uncompromising; it is very hard to almost impossible to solve a difference of opinion by compromise with a radical soooo that leaves only one way for it to be settled—one has to defeat the other. I read somewhere that there will be wars and rumors of wars forever. JoeBlow says—Experts from the universities are sometimes brought in to analysis the situation but the experts can’t even agree (i.e. they are skewed by their past environment or current environment—can’t seem to be objective or neutral to understand the whole picture).  And many of you folks won’t even agree on what I have just said.  Sooooo, that is why I don’t try to tell any of you what to do or think; you need to decide for yourself. I think it’s good to think about stuff! Can we be totally objective? I doubt it! ItchieBitchie says—I’veseenandheard all this before. Nuttin changes. Or can it? My friend, The Secretariat, and I have discussed several times that the only way radicals can change is to have a major event happen in their life and sometimes that even won’t do it (i.e. that is our opinion).

I enjoy reading the dialog between Job and God.  Job keeps asking God, WHY? Then God responds to Job in asking him a series of questions which basically are about—Job you know soooo little, you are man and I’m God.  Job realizes that and humbles himself and realizes it and responds--“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me . . . I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:2-3, 6). I sometimes think I know a lot (i.e. it's just my ego talking) but in reality, I don’t. Once I understand that AGAIN and humble myself, I think I’m a much better person (i.e. I realize I’m just another bozo on the bus). I know very little soooo take that into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.”

Holy shagbag! I’vebeentherebefore! I’vedonethatbefore! I’veheardthatbefore!  I was telling a friend that she is much more knowledgeable about art, music and literature than I am.  She said—I’m not brilliant but have been around.  Make no mistake about it, she is brilliant but just is humble (i.e. both of those qualities are very good let me tell ya). I’veseenthatbefore! Well chop and dice those vegetables! I heard my golf buddies say—I just can’t perform like I think I should; I think I just try tooooo hard I think.  I’vheardthatbefore! It seems like we try to make things happen toooo hard sometimes which seems to make it worse.  Maybe.  BUT it is a lot of fun when things just fall in our lap and go our way. Why do they just fall in our laps? I have no idea.  Do you?  That is hard to explain.  I wonder if sometimes, I’m just blessed. BUT I have found out this year with my golf game that I have played better than I have for years a.k.a. bounceback. Why? Well, maybe I have known what I needed to change but just could not make myself change before. Well, I did, and it really has made a difference.  If I don’t doooo the new changes but revert back to my old ways, my game goes back in the same rut. If I stay with the correct way, things go way better. Sooo, you can think about that! I think the conclusion is quite simple folks! BUT I might add, I’m very happy which might make a difference toooo. Does being happy affect our attitudes?  I think it might! Does that seem toooo farfetched for you?

Do you ever say—I never thought this is where I would be in my life?  Soooo are you thinking you are in a bad spot or a great spot?  For me, I would have to say, I never thought I would be in this great of a spot in my life at this time and what has happened to me. Sooo, maybe when things are not going the way we want and are in a spot that we don’t like, maybe, just maybe, our life is “not the end” yet! I can testify to that.  Do you think life is risk reward sometimes? My mentor said to me many times--erv, it's never as good as it looks or as bad as it looks! YaBut when I'm in the situation, that is hard to understand!

Saturday question--Do you and I really want to get well; I mean well from something that is not well in our lives? I have a friend who asks me many times when he sees me—How ya feeling today, erv? Maybe he thinks I look bad. I don’t know! I’vebeenhereanddidthatbefore! Oh ya!  If I really want to get it done, I get it done; I will find a way no matter how I feel or what time it is. If I don’t want to get it done, I guess I really don’t want to do it!  When I want to really get it done, I can get it done no matter what, and if I don’t want to get it done, I can find many excuses (i.e. every excuse in the world) to not do it.  Soooo, I guess I must first decide if I really want to do it or if I’m just blowing smoke. Talk is cheap but it takes money to buy whisky. Sooo maybe I really don’t want to do somethings!  Ouchy ouchy! I have a friend who gets buggy and bored (i.e. has a big motor).  He is thinking about forming a new hobby including a couple of his buddies who have similar talent and interest.  This new hobby would help others (i.e. that sounds like a win-win situation). Hip hip hurray!  Now we will see if he gets it done or not! Sooo how ya feeling today my friend--Excellent! I still wonder if I want to get well!

Ihaveheardthisbefore!  Bronnie Ware’s The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Ware used to work in palliative care, caring for patients in the last weeks of their lives. In the book, she shares the most common regrets that the people she had cared for had expressed to her. Here's a short overview of the top five regrets:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. “This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.”
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. “This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. “Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. “Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. “This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

I had a conversation with a friend who works in A’town before I left on my trip and that conversation keeps coming up in my head.  She told me that her and her husband decided to sell their horses (i.e. change their life style—we feed them all year and only rode them maybe 5 times). Why? Timing is good!  The price is high for horses now and our oldest child is entering jr high and we want to spend more time with our children. My husband has a good management job but has a lot of pressure and has to put in many hours.  He has become a self-employed person. I have a good job that has the insurance and we are stable financially.  We have prayed about it and decided that the timing is right. erv, there is more to life than money. Ihaveheardthisbefore but few really act on it. JoeBlow says—I just will keep doing the rat race; I don’t think I will ever change. It’s all I know. Besides to live our lifestyle, we need the money! Such is life.

We are having a wonderful time in the Great NW, just a wonderful time. We are doing many simple things like enjoying a lot of the beauty of the state, seeing and meeting friends and family, a lot of talking and laughing, etc. It’s really great to enjoy life, especially with someone who we really enjoy being with (i.e. very compatible). Pretty simple folks, pretty simple!

We hiked up Beacon Hill overlooking the Colombia Gorge.  We decided that we were the oldest folks that we saw who were hiking it. We talked to a couple who were maybe 65 and were sooo proud that they completed it and said--We are going to do this once a year until we die! Soooo when we completed our hike, we shared a picnic table to eat our lunch with a guy and a gal who were rock climbers in their middle 20s. They asked if we share a pillow? We asked them if they do. They said--No, we are just rock climbing friends but we share the rope that probably takes even more trust! What a hoot! We had soooo much fun.

We are with friends at Lake Pend Oreille in IN this morning, home of the famous Idaho Classic Russet potato! As MyFriendDean says--erv, when you are IN I'm sure your sweet potato will only have eyes for you!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—If you never seem to reach the goal of your dreams, blame the alarm clock.