I have always loved wise quotes. Now that we have social media, I see them everyday.
Yesterday I saw one of my favorites from Maya Angelou:
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
We all have our favorites, and quotes are a cool part of checking out Facebook….that and the videos where someone falls on their face while showing off
I have mentioned several times that I am getting older. I know that some of you reading this have 20 or even 30 years on me and will be thinking….”Oh, young pup, if you only knew what is coming.”
But some of you are 20 or 30 years in the other direction, and so I want to point out a few things I have learned by the ripe old age of 52.
You really do get older and wiser.
Wiser because you know the paths that are not very satisfying and you should not spend a lot of time there. Relationships are the ones that are big here….ladies, if you are young, and you have a project man (one that needs constant work, but you can see so much potential)…dump him now. Everyone else, give me an “Amen” on that.
Work is tricky too. Find something you like to do and again, if you aren’t there, dump the current job and move on. Don’t complain about it to everyone. You are right, it sucks, move on.
No telling me why it doesn’t apply to you. I don’t know your specific situation. I’m talking wisdom here…you can’t argue with wisdom. Its bigger than me and you.
Sometimes many years ago, when I gave fatherly advice, I had to tell the kids I am not making the rules on this, I am just telling you about them. For instance, people will treat you approximately equal to the way you treat them. Not always… but usually. I didn’t make that one up, I just figured it out along the way. Treat people well and you will generally be treated well in return. Be mad at the world and they will be mad right back at you.
I also learned that you forget the things that you figured out sometimes. They come back up and they look a little different, so you don’t recognize them.
Again, ladies, dump the dude…a second time if you have to. If you are in a good relationship, go over and kiss him for no reason. Tell him he is a good man.
Gentlemen, take my advice and do the same. The time we put into relationships is very big. Make it count. And also gentlemen…listen and don’t fix.
Just listen.
Gotta remember that one myself…and if she is not messed up in the head, go over and kiss her too and tell her that you love her.
Send her some friggin flowers every once in awhile.
Holy mackeral, do I have to tell you everything?
And for the 50% (estimate of a new employee a few years ago regarding Kindred Spirits demographic) that are gay or bi and are reading this, change all the pronouns and pay attention to what I am saying.
My mom told me one time that the funny thing about aging is that you don’t feel any different on the inside. You look different, but you still feel like you did when you were 19. I definitely see that better now. I sure look different, I will give her that. This weekend we chopped down trees and chipped wood in a huge chipper. I am so sore, and it is not even 24 hours later. Maybe my head says I’m 19, but my body is definitely saying at least 52.
I have a friend who once wrote (paraphrasing) that you start life like a perfect painting. Then things happen to you and it is like someone threw a tomato at your painting, or splattered some poop on it . Eventually your painting looks a little rough around the edges. The guy didn’t come out like you wanted….Plop! Got cheated on? Splatter!
In my veterinarian metaphor, as we get some years and experience, we are like an old tom cat. You get a torn ear, a little scarring around the neck. Patches of hair fall out….but you still like to lay in the sunshine and you have a certain contented look that comes from experience and having weathered it all.
There isn’t much you can throw at an old tom cat that will upset him.
Well, unless you come and pee on his stuff. Then you might be in trouble.
I wrote a blog entry on being 50 a few years ago. I pulled that up yesterday. Its only been a few years, but I have learned more already.
I guess that is how it goes.
If you have one line wisdom that you have learned the hard way, I will post this on Facebook and you can put it in there. We should tell everyone what we figured out. Its good stuff. Of course, they won’t listen, they have to learn it their own way. That is an unfortunate part of wisdom. You usually don’t recognize it until you mess up.
Yup, you should have listened.
I didn’t either.
So this week I will keep it short. I would like to open the floor to other wisdom. After all, we are community …. a Kindred Spirits community–and we should learn from each other. Write short things that are helpful, not long stories. Everyone hates long winded, self righteous stuff.
OK, gotta remember that too.
Then people will see short bits of wisdom they can actually use (or ignore) and it will be a welcome relief from the posts about Hiliary or Trump or some long winded anonymous thing about people who should be more considerate, or watch their backs, or some other bull#$%t
If you have things to say to people, you shouldn’t put it on Facebook anyway. Everyone will think its about them. If you are having conflict with someone, sit down with them or give them the courtesy of a dialogue, not a rant on facebook.
Note to self. No more rants on Facebook. Also no more 2am emails.
Listen to me
My ears are falling off and I have patches of hair missing.
I’m wise dammit.
Have a great week
Mark
