a different world

A friend had lunch with a friend, and told me that this friend lives in a different world. Soooo how did you interpret that statement? What kind of world do you think they live in? What kind of world do you live in? I think some of you folks live in a different world than I do!  Or I live in a different world than you do (e.g. I had a conversation with some artists recently; it appears that their world is different than mine)! That is not good or bad, but we just seem to live in different worlds to some degree it seems. It appears to me that different worlds could be many different things.

You’ve got to be kidding! I’m not folks! When two folks are polar opposites, they have a hard time understanding each other. Those poles can have many different, opposite thinkings. I was reminded recently that folks can have different kinds of humor, and some seem to have no humor at all. We just don’t understand each other at times. Now that is funny. hahaha We can be in way different worlds. And my opinion, that difference sometimes can be hard to reconcile; we just won’t get each other if the difference is radical. ItchieBitchie says--Some folks are really funny funny to me but not to themselves (i.e. they are just funny folks)! We seem to be in different worlds.  ItchieBitchie, I’m a funny funny person tooooo many folks; they think I’m in a different world than them!  And I probably am. Such is life.

They are in a different world. I read this soooo it must be right-- “It appears that top-level adult experts practice at the highest possible level that can be sustained for extended periods without burnout or injury. Hence, it may be extremely difficult to consistently practice harder and improve faster than these individuals do.” In the study of expert violinists, the top two groups averaged five hours more of sleep per week than the lowest performing group, mostly by taking more time for afternoon naps. Sooooo there, as I get older, I’m getting better at part of that equation (i.e. the nap part)! Practicing harder, not soooo much! hahaha

I asked a couple of the guys who I drink coffee with if they have any minority race friends. One said that half my work colleagues were minority and the other said—I have many friends who are minority; I grew up in the Los Angelos area and I was the only white kid in my class.  Wow! That is a lot different than my life. I have a goal to make a Hispanic friend. The Yakima Valley is about 60% Hispanic. We are looking for a church and have visited several. Some churches seem to have a lot of old white folks and are struggling. The one we like the best soooo far is a church that has a lot of diversity in many ways and is really hopping (i.e. many kids and the folks are joyful)! The difference seems to be a different world! But flip the pancake, many Hispanic folks like to have their own churches as well that only speak Spanish! Many are Catholic as that is the way many were raised through generations in Mexico (i.e. that is where they came from). I grew up in rural Kandiyohi County MN and lived most of my life in Butler County IA. I grew up in a way different world than they did!

I got a response from an old friend who I imitate and sent him an example of how I copy him in how he encourages his family. He sent me this remark—"Yes, I still do it, however, my responses have dwindled somewhat, but I continue to do it anyway.” He was referring to what he does to encourage his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren but they don’t respond near as much as they used tooooo. I guess he is saying that their worlds have changed.  ANYWAY, I like how he responds to their actions (i.e. he doesn’t get discouraged or say, I’m done encouraging them even though they don’t respond). Some older folks will just give up with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren sometimes! But flip the pancake, many times children, grandchildren and great grandchildren don’t pay much attention to their older parents or grandparents. Such is life.

I read what King Soloman, who was reported as the wisest man that ever lived) said (i.e. of course that was in a different world he lived in as he didn’t have a smart phone soooo you might not believe him)—He said--"I know there is nothing better than for folks to be happy and do good while they live.” SusieQ says—I don’t know if he knows what he is talking about as in my world the saying is—The folks with the most toys win; it has nuttin to do with happiness or doing good! But did you know that King Solomon sorta kinda went bad the last part of his life? He got in a different world. He didn’t finish in the same world that he lived most of his life. Why? I have no idea! Some nicknamed him the Half-Hearted Guy!

Remember I told you I played golf at the little city course, par three for $8 green fees. Now that is a different world than at a country club that might cost more than $100 to play. But it’s a why different type of course and environment a.k.a. different world. Of course! At the church that we attend some, it is a way different world than not being in church. I really like the feeling I get at this church. It’s very good for me. Maybe you wouldn’t get the same feeling, but it sure works for me (i.e. it is unarguable). I like it! My world might be different than your world. I understand that. Nineteenth-century British politician John Dalberg-Acton is credited with the maxim, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” I was really humbled last Sunday at church; it’s a way different world as I understood once again that God is God and I am erv! I really enjoy being around humble folks! Arrogant folks, well, not soooo much! It’s like what a businessman told me—What changes low markets is low markets and what changes high markets is high markets!  RickyRick says--God gives many promises in the Bible to those who seek him:  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face . . .  then I will hear from heaven” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

YakimaAlice says--A couple here in Washington look like they are from Iowa.  Soooo what do folks from Iowa look like to you? They must have a stereotype look (i.e. they must be from a different world maybe). Soooo what do folks from Washington look like to you (i.e. pic is of YakimaAlice at the grocery market hahaha)? Really! I was invited to play pickleball with a group of folks here in Yakima. One of the group sent me this text later in the day—" Thanks Erv for coming to pb. That’s the most I’ve played this summer. It is a group I think you’ll enjoy. Laid back, a little sassy. And a lot of laughter.”  Is there a difference in pickleball groups? Maybe! IowaHawkeye says--Of course there is! BigWashingtonWow says—There is even a difference in the climate of folks from the east side of the Cascades compared to the folks from the west side of the Cascades right here in Washington! A flight attendant told me that folks from different geographic areas have different cultural personalities. How could folks be different do you think? Jeanne noticed that folks from IA use some verbs differently than folks from the Pacific Northwest!

CoachB says—We most often have a defining moment at some point in our life. It’s like a turning point. Sometimes we don’t even know what it was or when it happened and sometimes we don’t know until we look in the rear view mirror. It changes our world. We could even have many or several defining moments. I think I might have had one the other night. I’m not sure but it feels that way. Or maybe it was those beans that I ate for dinner! Time will tell! A guy that I spent some time with recently told me that he likes Abraham Lincoln as well and he would quote him often in his business presentations. Here is one of Abe’s quotes that if taken to heart could be a defining moment (i.e. just maybe)—"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

VelvetElvis says—The problem is that the image of God is deeply scarred in each of us, and we lose trust in God's version of our story. It seems too good to be true. And so we go searching for identity. We achieve and we push and we perform and we shop and we work out and we accomplish great things, longing to repair the image. Longing to find an identity that feels right

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--Sports don't build character--they reveal it.

PS The-MI-Engineer a.k.a. TheGreatShedlowsky as Mike calls him says-- As I've grown older, I’ve learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake.