You might compare me to some ol’ shoe,---good for nuttin…and
soooo rotten that nuttin can be done with me!
Take that into consideration but give me a change and please read on! And then decide!
When I was a 5-year old living with our family a mile and a
quarter south of Roseland, MN on our modest farm, I was content. I really
didn’t know any different. Then I learned as I got older to be discontented; I
wanted more stuff and the world taught me to compare and be envious and greedy
a.k.a. human nature. I have learned that those worldly desires are what makes
capitalism really thrive. I also learned that I really like to learn; I enjoy
learning. Learning is really enjoyable to me. Now, I think as I age, I am becoming
more content; more like being that 5-year old again (i.e. most of the time but
not all the time—hahaha). I think I learned this through practice, instruction,
and experience. But reality is, I have my moments when I’m dissatisfied,
impatient, and discontented. Now that is a paradox!
Kareen Abdul-Jabbar says—"Older people are happier…no
one wants their young mind again, filled with…anxiety, bias and selfishness.”
Well ya, I have learned to be careful about what others say, don’t
trust them always; if they seem a little shaky or make me nervous, I need to be
even more careful. I learned not to get in over my head. I learned If it’s too
good to be true, it’s probably not true. I have learned to error on the
cautious side. I learned to try to make good decisions. Maybe test it first or
observe first (i.e. look into it). Find different sources of information. Don’t
believe everything that everyone says, everyone has an agenda which many times
is not for my benefit but only theirs.
In purchasing businesses, the buying company will do “due
diligence” on the company they are buying. They go through many processes to
make sure all the information is correct (i.e. spend big bucks to do that).
They don’t want to buy a lemon! We were at a dinner party recently when the
folks talked about running credit checks, background checks and just googled a lady
that their brother was dating (i.e. they didn’t want him to get in a mess as
they thought he was vulnerable). Hey, don’t shoot the messenger!
Stubbornness. Are we unwilling to
change the way we do things? Did you know it is said that the greatest enemy of
tomorrow’s success is yesterday’s success? Folks just don’t want to change! I
was talking to a young man recently and he told me—“That some extremely talented
folks become lazy and don’t work and many times are overtaken by less talented
people who are over achievers.” I have learned that there are folks who are
very talented in a certain area but in other areas of their life they fail (i.e.
they need someone to take care of them hahaha). I have learned I can change my
mind and I do it a lot (e.g. I’m going for a hike, well I changed my mind, I’m
going to take a nap instead)! I have learned it’s a good characteristic to be
able to change our minds. Oh, OneSmartPerson says--There is no limit what a talented person who really works hard can accomplish!
Well ya, I have learned that I like the odds in my favor!
Well ya, I have learned by listening to folks that what they believe
results in how they live and that is many times based on an emotion or emotions and not
facts. They seem to have had something happen in their life that makes them
think like the way they do (i.e. it could be something good or something bad or
it’s a long process of being taught something that has really affected them).
An example that could be: I think I see some folks who have a strong opposition
to welfare and others who have a strong support of welfare a.k.a. government
support. That might depend a lot on who is getting the welfare or the support
check. I have learned that it all depends on how it affects ME!
Abraham Lincoln said—Better to give your path to a dog, than
be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog wound not
cure the bite!
I have read this that has been written by Donald, soooo it
must be right: “In today’s fast-paced world, we must be ready to deal with
complex situations that require a variety of different approaches. In some
cases, it might be necessary to make quick decisions and take risks so as not
to miss important opportunities. In other cases, a patient and conservative
approach might be necessary to thoroughly research the venture. In many ways,
mastering decisions is no more than having good common sense.” That is Donald’s
opinion. What is your opinion? That is what I thought!
What did I learn! When I was maybe 12, I had a muskrat
cornered in the corner of the silo room and the barn. He had no place to go; I
had him dead to the world. I had a stick and was jabbing him and Blacky my dog
was at my side barking at him. All I had to say was, get him Blacky and he was
dead. It was hopeless for the rat. Just then my Daddy, Chester, came out of the
barn and saw the situation and told me that it takes a big person to give that
rat or a person an exit and let them live once again and then he left. I
thought for a while and grabbed Blacky and let that rat get out of the corner
and he ran around the silo to live another day. Blacky surely didn’t understand
me!
Well ya, I have learned that no one likes to be told what to do.
No one likes to be enslaved to another (i.e.
under their thumb). When I started my first job as a business teacher in high
school, we had a superintendent who liked to be in control a.k.a. his ideas. He
would talk to me about new business equipment. I would always down pay it and
say we are getting along but we need to try to keep up with new equipment if we
can afford it; then changed the subject. Then about a couple of weeks later, he
would approach me and say—I have been thinking and have this idea that we need
to get some new business equipment. What do you think?
I told him I thought he had a great idea.
Some teachers hounded him, but they never got any new stuff. I learned that if
we don’t care who gets the credit, we can get a lot more done.
What did I learn? Well ya, I have learned in my life to live a
quality life it is good to always have gratitude; always be thankful and
appreciative. No matter what, have an expression of gratitude. It just changes
my life and seems like everything else falls into place. Pretty simple but it
works for me. What’s important is important. Saturday question—Who do we give
thanks to?
I recently read this little story:
Two men were talking, and one said, “I don’t
mean to brag about my financial skills, but the bank calls every week to tell
me my debt is outstanding.” The other said, “Well, I don’t want to brag either,
but my psychologist says I have the biggest ego he’s ever seen.”
Who likes to be around braggers; they are a
pain in the butt (i.e. my opinion). Who likes to be around humble folks;
everyone! My Daddy, Chester, told me—
erv, if you are good, you don’t have to
tell anyone, everyone will know! BigHeadBill, are you really better than
everyone else or do you just think sooo! Da!
What did I learn! Well ya, I
learned that when I got rid of all my stuff in our house in IA to move to WA, I
learned that my stuff was worth a lot less than what I thought it was worth.
Used stuff of mine I thought was soooo valuable, others didn’t even want! Da!
Saturday question—Sooo what is valuable in my life anyway? I learned what is!
Ouchy ouchy!
Soooo what was your critical evaluation of this “It’s
Saturday?” Your evaluation reminds me of a story Abraham Lincoln told to his
Cabinet after he read the first draft of the Emaciation Proclamation and let
his Cabinet critique it: “Gentlemen, this reminds me of the story of the man
who had been away from home, and when he was coming back was met by one of his
farm hands, who greeted him after this fashion: ‘Master, the little pigs are
dead, and the old sow’s dead, too, but I didn’t like to tell you all at once.’”
Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:
erv
MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Always keep learning. It keeps you
young.
