options and opinions

Sarah, anybody can be a Sarah, said this—“Our limited human perspective and the condition of our body, with its mercurial variations, distorts our evaluations.” Now that is a deep philosophical opinion, but I agree with it, that’s my opinion! You have the option to agree or not! Pop! Goes the weasel!

Right now the United States spends about a trillion dollars a year on its military, followed by China with more than 300 billion, then Russia with 150 billion. That amount of money produces a lot of options and opinions!

I like options! I guess we all have options but maybe of different degrees and of different types. And maybe some folks have more options than others, but we all have options I think. I guess options are sorta kinda choices, at least they are related, maybe. BUT as a friend thinks—When the Bonger bongs, there are no more options! Saturday question—Is that fair! The only thing that's fair is the Butler County Fair and that's in June! Another one of his statements is--Life is like playing Monopoly, when the game is over, it all goes back in the box!

Sooo how do we determine our point of view a.k.a. opinion? Is it our genetics or environment or both? Maybe it’s determined by which family we are part of, or what country we were born into or which part of the U.S. we were raised in, maybe. Maybe by our education, the folks we are around, what we read, what news we listen to, experiences, who we marry, who are parents are/were, what kind of job we have, what kind of lifestyle we choose, how much money we have, if we are believers or not, if we are bipolar, or depressed or develop a physical problem, etc. Sooo then what gives us options?

Poof moments! Now think of this, what stuff causes us to change our viewpoints and our options that we can’t control. They might be death, stroke, dementia, cancer, inherit a large amount of money, divorce, have a certain ability that is outstanding, a family problem, a major change in our culture, a financial loss, a lifestyle, have an accident or get a bad disease, have a conversion, have something really good just fall in our lap, marry a person, get a bad knee, have children, etc. Now all those can change our life, our opinion and our options real fast; we have no choice, they just do. One day we are a certain way and next day we are way different. We act and see things differently. Our options and opinions immediately change without choice. There will undoubtedly be "poof! moments" when change surprises us and we need to adjust, we have toooo, we have no choice. ItchieBitchie says--And that can happen at the speed of light which is 186,282 miles per second!

It didn’t snow in Yakima last winter and it usually gets snow. Our drive wasn’t cleaned once. All the folks who made money cleaning the parking lots of snow had no income. They had no control of that. A friend owned a gas station for years and worked very hard for years. He planned on selling his business when retiring and using the money for just that. Guess what, it was unsalable because of culture change when he retired. He had no control of that. Flipthepancake! Some IA farmers bought land for $2,000 per acre and in 40 years it’s worth $20,000 an acre. It just happened. JoeBlow says—If I would have known I was going to live to 95, I would have saved more, but I was planning only to live to 72! That was bad planning! Besides, I never thought the average price for a new car would be $50,000. My options are changing!

Sometimes our opinions are proven wrong and we have to accept we are wrong and move forward no matter how bad we don’t like to admit it and still want it the same as it was. We even need to adapt to change if we like it or not (e.g. technology and the many related changes). We say that it will never work and it does. Go to the moon, that’s crazy! Fight a war with drones, come on that will never happen. Those changes change our options probably.

I think about the Bible characters such as Peter who believed in Jesus but thought Jesus was the savior/king who would save the Jews from the Romans, an earthy savior/king. And probably make the Israelites the most powerful in the world. That was his opinion and viewpoint. Then Jesus told him he was wrong, he was a Savior/King that would save him and the world from our sins and give us life forever and forever (i.e. His kingdom was not of this world). Peter didn’t’ get it until events had to happen for him to understand that. Then bingo! He just plain couldn’t understand it at the time. Maybe we are that way at times. We just don’t get it at the time but…. Something like this can change our opinions and options.

CoachB says—"In 30 seconds using AI we can have the most advanced knowledge about any subject. BUT knowledge does not give us wisdom.” If we had the option of having knowledge or wisdom, which one would we pick? AverageJoe says—erv, I live in the 2026 world, I would rather have the option of money! Money talks to me and I understand it and it's widely accepted! Besides, it's obvious that I like stuff! But, that is just AverageJoe's opinion! Knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone, this old man came rolling home.

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--It is never easy to admit how foolish we are.

change 'em, accept 'em, or leave 'em

There is this business sign here in Yakima. They might know their stuff but I always don’t soooo take that into consideration in reading this “It’s Saturday.” The people I quote probably do but me, maybe not soooo much. Remember, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN.

We are in Waukee, IA for a few days at our son, daughter-in-law and our two grandkids. I really love all our family with all my heart and am very proud of all of them; they all have been a blessing to us. And I get along well with all of them (i.e. they are good people) but I have learned that they all are nearly impossible to change soooo I accept them and after a few days in their homes, we go back to Yakima! hahaha That attitude works very good it seems! I'm a "silly goose on the loose" if I think I am going to change them; and besides, they probably think I'm the one who should change! hahaha MyPreacherManFriendFromNW-IA tells me this--"Arguing with anyone really accomplishes very little, if anything." 

Change ‘em, accept ‘em or leave ‘em are choices we have if we struggle with folks we are around that we don’t agree with. We have choices now don’t we. Change someone seems almost impossible if they don’t wany change, accept them is something we can do but it is not always easy, leave them is maybe the easiest but is it the best? I would guess most of you did all three or are thinking about doing one of ‘em right now. If not, maybe we should!

Naval Ravikant in his book, The Almanack of Navel Ravikant, says: “It's easier to change ourself than to change the world.” I think that means it is easier to change ourselves than someone else. I think he is saying we should think about changing our attitude, but I don’t know for sure. I read his book and found it interesting. The first half is about how our current culture is making big money and the second half is about being happy. I suggest you read the second half. I think it’s pretty good. The book is free online and on podcasts.

Naval also said,” If folks don’t have the same core values, there will be problems in understanding each other (e.g. if a person has a core value of honesty and the other doesn’t, it probably will cause problems in the relationship). It is better to dissolve the relationship early if that’s the situation as it will always be a problem.” He is a a big-time business guru who ends relationships immediately if the other party is not honest. He said, “It just ain’t going to work as honesty is one of my core values “ What do you think? Soooo what are our core values? Personally, I don’t want others to tarnish my life more or possibly corrupt it even more. And let's be honest, who we hang around with will affect us.

It works every time! OneSmartPerson said--It takes contrition and humility to find peace. What are contrition and humility? They are not innate qualities, but extrinsic. We can learn them. I guess we can decide to change ‘em, accept ‘em or leave ‘em. As an old, deceased friend said to me—erv, decisions have consequences and guess who gets to make the decisions!

My mentor would say to me--erv, When things are good we think they will always be good and when things are bad we think think they will always be bad but this to shall pass. I woke up the other morning feeling exceptional good. I have no idea why why I had this thought. I didn’t want it to change; I wanted it forever. But reality is, it will change as it never stays this good. I don’t know why I feel this way, really. I want to put it in a jar and keep it forever! I’m going to really enjoy it. I went to bed that day and still had the feeling. Hooray! I have the feeling that something really good is going  to happen to me (i.e. a great opportunity a.k.a. a divine surprise). Yes, I do and think it will. I can’t wait! Be patient erv, be patient! And when it does, I need to recognize it and have the courage to act on it. 

On my early morning walk this house made me think about the American Dream being a maybe a couple in a $450,000 house in suburbia, boat, camper, two cars in the drive as there is probably no room in the garage as it’s full of other toys and stuff, probably two kids and two dogs. Both have adequate jobs to support this lifestyle (i.e. with a lot of debt maybe) but it’s stressful. At the end of the day and week, they are really tired, but they are living the American Dream. The world tells us on TV that it is the way!

It appears that we in America seem tired and worn-out folks who are living the fast pace a.k.a. the rat race. Some even say they have had it, I’m burned out!  They are shot! And to me, many folks look that way. Sooo, I guess we can change it, accept it or leave it. My life is pretty simple by choice. I have to admit it, I enjoy it. But guess what, I still get tired! The ageing process does that to me, I ain’t 28 anymore. I just don’t have as much energy as I use to. The old body ain’t what it used to be! I need to accept that. It’s partially worn out and tired. But it has a little "get-go" left. Yours does too. Let’s not waste it. Let’s enjoy life and use it for good. Let’s ring the bell! I guess we can change our live, accept it or leave it!

Sarah says—“Every person on this planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty. The only antidote to this poisonous threat is…!”  You decide folks.

I just read the book Reach For The Sky by Paul Brickhill about Douglas Bader who lost both legs and became a top flying ace in the Battle of Britain. It was a good read for me as it’s soooo positive in that it shows how attitude is soooo important in our lives. I know that and have been reminded many times, but this was another positive real story. CoachB says—"We are shaped by what we conquer"—“It is not the easy things, not things we are given, it is the things that we overcome that that truly define us. Those things define our character, our personality, our spirit and our ability to become better people.” Again, I can change my life, accept it or leave it!

When my life gets out of whack, I need to cut it down. I need to guard myself in not having an overload of negative situations and negative people around me. I need to have people of my values, beliefs and lifestyle along with positive attitudes around me. I need to guard myself. It’s my choice! That is something I can control. I can change it, accept it, or leave it! I believe we all should! What do you think?

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriend Jean said--Red shy at night sailors' delight.

keep showing up

Our forefathers on July 4, 1776 threw a big dance which we still celebrate. They called it "The Indepen---dance!"

Dr. J says--"It has been said that people don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care. No matter who we communicate with, the way we speak or write has a lot to do with how others hear us. We must know what to say; equally important is knowing how to say it." I have no idea what you will hear in this "It's Saturday;" I guess some will hear more than others or different things than others; that's just the way it is. I ask that you cut me some slack! Remember, I'm just another bozo on the bus! A new acquaintance and a possible new friend told me--I got hearing aids soo now I can hear but now I can't remember what I hear!

"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth—only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair." — C.S. Lewis

James, anybody can be a James, says--"So much of what we believe is the residue of someone else's thinking. Sooo pause and question things for a moment. Is this really how it has to be? Is this really what we want?" I heard a lecture about our culture chances from generation to generation. The speaker said—“We now live in an ‘I’ world and no longer a ‘we’ world. It’s all about ‘I’. We don’t hardly listen to anyone any more as there is nuttin authentic anymore (i.e. everything is a scam to get our money) so we just believe what ‘I’ wants to think. It’s all about getting the money!  The world just cares about themselves (i.e. how does everything affect me; that all that counts).” That is what the speaker said. Do you believe that?

We keep showing up every day but….  CoachB says—“We have three options with our lives, we can make the world better, make the world worse or be neutral. It is our choice.” Saturday question--Who are/were the shining stars of our universe?  You know, the ones that kept showing up for us! The ones who are/were firecrackers in our lives!

A speaker touting Young Life, an organization working with youth said—“We go to their world; they are not going to come to our world. We just have to keep showing up in their world, be persistent, we just hang around. We need to build relationships; that is what is needed to help young folks. We just have to keep showing up in their lives. They live in a way different culture than adults do. Their environment is way different than an adult environment. It is hard to understand; we try to force them into our environment or our past environment when we were kids. It doesn’t work. Our stories aren’t even relevant to them. They don’t make any sense to them. It’s just a way different world. We can’t hit 'undo'!" You believe that?

I called a friend from Western Illinois (i.e. about 17.5 miles East of the Mighty Mississippi River) who is a retired farmer who with his wife still live on the farm. He told me that he can’t do much anymore but I still teach Sunday School at church each Sunday and has been doing it for 50+ years. I just keep doing it a.k.a. showing up; it’s still something I can do. He’s 94 and his wife is 93. My wife makes the coffee and the goodies for each Sunday and I do the teaching. We try to get there about half an hour early as that is when the folks come to talk; it’s when we hear the good gossip! Those folks are loyal and just keep showing up soooo I keep teaching!

I heard another speaker say--… that to correct the accelerating generation changes we have three choices: we can try to revert it back to what it was, we can adapt to the changing world, or we can do our best and let God be in charge. I mentioned this to a friend and he said—erv, you mean we don’t do anything, just sit on our hands, and just let God take it from here like whatever will be will be! What do you think?

We had dinner at TX Roadhouse and the manager came by our table and asked how our meal was. It was good. She was about 32, had three children and another on the way. She works 55-60 a week, her husband is a carpenter and works 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Now that is quite a family. We asked her what her biggest problem was as the manager—workers not showing up on time (i.e. we wonder if she was gracious but instead it being employees in general). JoeBlow says--"Talent is a gift. Reliability is a choice." What do you think?

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it: "Getting what you want out of life largely boils down to (1) the story you tell yourself and (2) where you direct your attention.” It appears to me that it sounds like it is very important as to what our attitude is! Our minds are something else let me tell ya! What do you think?

A friend told me this story about his adult son. He was raised in the church but in his adult life didn’t seem to believe.  We take his young daughter to church with us (i.e. kept showing up) and she touched his life (i.e. Jesus just kept showing up) and know he has accepted Jesus as his Savior and he is a way different person. Wow! Yes, that is a wow! That is really a great story, my opinion. God's ways are mysterious, even to those who know him intimately. What do you think?

 

'The times, they are a-changing' is an expression made popular in a Bob Dylan song that expresses some of the social and moral change experienced during the 1960s and '70s (i.e. do you remember the song). If we like it or not, we live in a time of change that strikes at the roots of our everyday life. SusieQ says--I think life on this world has been changing every day forever, it ain't nuttin new! AverageJoe says--YaBut, I still don't like it! I want everything to stay the same!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriend Jean said--Forget yourself and think of others, you'll quickly find joy in your life.