Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Blogger's Note
Nothing against Wordpress, but I've moved to Blogger.com because it integrates better with Gmail and it seems easier to connect with other people. Contrary to the date on the first four blog entries, I actually started posting in May and hope to increase my output (even if some are brief). Stay tuned.
Deja Vu Blues
Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve done “this” before and it’s not something that you enjoyed the first time (or second or third ) or you just didn’t like the result?The older we get, the more that seems to happen. Sometimes we recognize it and avoid going any further for that very reason…the paralyzing fear that things will turn out the same each time.
Frequently, this can occur in career and relationships (not just the romantic variety). We put these life experiences into categories (or boxes) and sometimes make faulty hypothesis based on those. If we get frustrated, the boxes just get bigger and more general. We discount God’s uniqueness and the details of every individual or situation and just say “been there done that…not again”, when maybe we should be giving it a little more thought (or prayer). When we get stuck, it’s like we have a decision tree with no branches. Maybe we should consider that Company G may just be a little different than Company A and perhaps Susie isn’t JUST LIKE Sally.
This does not mean that we need to discount common sense (or God’s wisdom) and people, in particular, can sometimes disappoint, but I’m not sure that simply avoiding is ever the right answer. We should be able to learn from our mistakes and still find something “fresh” in similar circumstances. None of this guarantees that the outcome will be overwhelmingly positive, but if we look for the subtle uniqueness of each circumstance, perhaps we can (to use a tired quote) “make lemonade out of lemons”.
Frequently, this can occur in career and relationships (not just the romantic variety). We put these life experiences into categories (or boxes) and sometimes make faulty hypothesis based on those. If we get frustrated, the boxes just get bigger and more general. We discount God’s uniqueness and the details of every individual or situation and just say “been there done that…not again”, when maybe we should be giving it a little more thought (or prayer). When we get stuck, it’s like we have a decision tree with no branches. Maybe we should consider that Company G may just be a little different than Company A and perhaps Susie isn’t JUST LIKE Sally.
This does not mean that we need to discount common sense (or God’s wisdom) and people, in particular, can sometimes disappoint, but I’m not sure that simply avoiding is ever the right answer. We should be able to learn from our mistakes and still find something “fresh” in similar circumstances. None of this guarantees that the outcome will be overwhelmingly positive, but if we look for the subtle uniqueness of each circumstance, perhaps we can (to use a tired quote) “make lemonade out of lemons”.
The Pitfalls of Planning
(I am still intimidated by my prolific blogging and writing friends, nevertheless I am broadcasting my two cents.)
The responsibilities of life dictate that we can’t live spontaneously from one moment to the next, but there is a danger in overplanning and, in particular, planning too far ahead. I am not talking about lack of goals or financial irresponsibility, but there are areas of life that we can overplan for and regret it later. I know I have done it, and when expectations come crashing down, it can take anywhere from a moment to months to completely recover.
I would suspect that the number of college graduates that don’t follow their major surpasses those who do (don’t fact check me on that). From my experience and all of the accounts I have heard, marriage and relationships rarely follow the perfect intended plan, even when successful. These changes can be good and even unexpected hardships can result in greater satisfaction later in life.
In the third world, the lack of planning is apparent (not to mention the lack of economic security), but their joy of simple pleasures is hard to ignore. It is not a model to replicate, but there is something to learn. We are a culture of fear and we sometimes equate our happiness to how prosperous we are (in a number of areas). In tough times, the overworked and underworked can be just as dissatisfied…their only difference being economic security.
I just bought my first smartphone and I am tempted to schedule away, but I still like using my feeble brain as my calendar and even in the busiest of times, I want to keep some room for spontaneity. Living in “the now” is not always a bad thing, especially when it allows for opportunities that you might not have otherwise.
I choose to embrace the surprises of life. God brings plenty and I want to make sure that I don’t plan over them.
The responsibilities of life dictate that we can’t live spontaneously from one moment to the next, but there is a danger in overplanning and, in particular, planning too far ahead. I am not talking about lack of goals or financial irresponsibility, but there are areas of life that we can overplan for and regret it later. I know I have done it, and when expectations come crashing down, it can take anywhere from a moment to months to completely recover.
I would suspect that the number of college graduates that don’t follow their major surpasses those who do (don’t fact check me on that). From my experience and all of the accounts I have heard, marriage and relationships rarely follow the perfect intended plan, even when successful. These changes can be good and even unexpected hardships can result in greater satisfaction later in life.
In the third world, the lack of planning is apparent (not to mention the lack of economic security), but their joy of simple pleasures is hard to ignore. It is not a model to replicate, but there is something to learn. We are a culture of fear and we sometimes equate our happiness to how prosperous we are (in a number of areas). In tough times, the overworked and underworked can be just as dissatisfied…their only difference being economic security.
I just bought my first smartphone and I am tempted to schedule away, but I still like using my feeble brain as my calendar and even in the busiest of times, I want to keep some room for spontaneity. Living in “the now” is not always a bad thing, especially when it allows for opportunities that you might not have otherwise.
I choose to embrace the surprises of life. God brings plenty and I want to make sure that I don’t plan over them.
Dog Days
What goes through the mind of a dog? They are temperamental creatures (why can’t you play NOW!?), but also very forgiving (oh NOW? OK!) They are apparently bipolar, nevertheless, pretty easy to read (if only everyone had a tail to wag…ahem…not going there!). Dog psychology aside, it’s amazing how much conflicting information there is about dog care and training. Nobody tells me what’s good for my dog! Luna and I sit on my deck smoking cigars (and playing poker?) and laugh and laugh about all their silly theories.
No dog is stupid, they work at different levels, but they conspire just the same. They are so sneaky…setting the bar low so we are impressed by everything. ”Sparky didn’t poop on the living room floor today…give him a treat!” They got us under their thumbs (so to speak). Even the smartest dog owner is getting played. Don’t kid yourself and think you have the power because you have the food bowl!
It doesn’t matter. They have needs, but they are also more than happy being your personal slave, however, I don’t recommend teaching them to cook Chili (don’t you know onion powder is lethal to dogs?). They are friends who are always loyal, even if they rip your arm off, lunging after a stray rabbit. When they return with your severed limb clenched between their teeth, make sure you pat them gently on the head (with your working hand) and say “good boy(girl)!”
Note: I’ve never owned a cat, due to allergies, but under certain circumstances I think I might get the shots, transfusions, a new identity or whatever is required for adoption. If they are half as entertaining as dogs, it could be worth moving to New Jersey.
No dog is stupid, they work at different levels, but they conspire just the same. They are so sneaky…setting the bar low so we are impressed by everything. ”Sparky didn’t poop on the living room floor today…give him a treat!” They got us under their thumbs (so to speak). Even the smartest dog owner is getting played. Don’t kid yourself and think you have the power because you have the food bowl!
It doesn’t matter. They have needs, but they are also more than happy being your personal slave, however, I don’t recommend teaching them to cook Chili (don’t you know onion powder is lethal to dogs?). They are friends who are always loyal, even if they rip your arm off, lunging after a stray rabbit. When they return with your severed limb clenched between their teeth, make sure you pat them gently on the head (with your working hand) and say “good boy(girl)!”
Note: I’ve never owned a cat, due to allergies, but under certain circumstances I think I might get the shots, transfusions, a new identity or whatever is required for adoption. If they are half as entertaining as dogs, it could be worth moving to New Jersey.
I Think Blogging is Fake Too!
It occurred to me that much of this time consumed with Facebook status updates and Twitter tweets could be devoted to something equally as fascinating (the wonderful world of me…that guy, what a narcissist!). I know what you are thinking, “Keith, you are so on the cutting edge.” Ok, I’m a little behind, but what else is new? (Do you think I should get an earring?)
The other night I was watching The Wrestler when I realized it was the independent version of Rocky Balboa. It was a good movie, but definitely had that independent vibe that has become just as cliche as “mainstream” fare. Despite the gritty vidcam-like footage, the unglamourous settings, the heavy-handed symbolism (”piece of meat”= deli counter worker…ok we get it!), and ambiguous ending (fade to black), the acting by Mickey Rourke and Rachel Evan Wood was pretty outstanding. Marisa Tomei was ok too, but it’s too bad that after all that talk about her biological clock “ticking, ticking, ticking”, things didn’t work out with Joe Pesci (I hope he gets to see the kid!). I couldn’t relate to the situations (apart from the “ juicing” and tanning), but I could relate to the emotions (keep in mind that the sibling rivalry and temporary reconciliation in Wolverine nearly brought me to tears, so what do I know?).
Then again, the cliches were much more tolerable than those of drivel like Righteous Kill with Deniro and Pacino. Did Taxi Driver do it? Who really cares? All I can say is don’t mess with The Godfather…wait, that’s both of them!
The other night I was watching The Wrestler when I realized it was the independent version of Rocky Balboa. It was a good movie, but definitely had that independent vibe that has become just as cliche as “mainstream” fare. Despite the gritty vidcam-like footage, the unglamourous settings, the heavy-handed symbolism (”piece of meat”= deli counter worker…ok we get it!), and ambiguous ending (fade to black), the acting by Mickey Rourke and Rachel Evan Wood was pretty outstanding. Marisa Tomei was ok too, but it’s too bad that after all that talk about her biological clock “ticking, ticking, ticking”, things didn’t work out with Joe Pesci (I hope he gets to see the kid!). I couldn’t relate to the situations (apart from the “ juicing” and tanning), but I could relate to the emotions (keep in mind that the sibling rivalry and temporary reconciliation in Wolverine nearly brought me to tears, so what do I know?).
Then again, the cliches were much more tolerable than those of drivel like Righteous Kill with Deniro and Pacino. Did Taxi Driver do it? Who really cares? All I can say is don’t mess with The Godfather…wait, that’s both of them!
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