While you won’t find today’s bonus word here, what you will find is several minutes of time that you’ll never get back, especially after reading the following.
I recently celebrated another year of getting older and if was I a tree, you’d have to pull a Paul Bunyon and count the rings to determine my age but fortunately, I am not an oak and have devised an extremely un-accurate means of counting how many moons old I am. It has little to do with the amount of grey hairs I own nor does my age reflect the amount of kidney and back hair I possess but rather the life lessons I’ve learned over the last few decades and then some, of which I’d like to share.
Live in the Now.
Hindsight is 20/20 and dwelling on the past never did any good for anyone, except for Mr. Tate, my history teacher. Learning from your mistakes is fine and securing your future is also commendable but stewing on that gaff when you threw out the wrong name during a passionate moment will only increase your Rolaids intake. Apologize profusely, max out your plastic in a means to make amends and move on because hauling around that suitcase of mental luggage will only detract the amount of time you’ll spend on Planet Earth.
Give’em a Reason to Smile.
Maybe it’s a small town ism or possibly how I’m amused over the little things but I get a kick out of waving to strangers when I’m cruising the Gas City Streets, or any street anywhere for that matter. Instead of looking away when that gnarled up, leathery trucker gives you a sneer for tailgating him; it’s been my experience that a smile and wave almost always generate a similar response. Life is too short to offer up a smorgasbord of middle fingers; save that digit for archery lessons. We’ll have all sorts of time to be miserable and crotchety at the bingo hall so flash those pearly whites when you can and to quote Stanley Gordon West, ‘Smile and the world smiles with you’.
Go with the Flow.
If you’ve ever canoed down the South Saskatchewan, you may have noticed it’s easier to float that boat with the current instead of paddling against it and that attitude also has served me well in the river of life. Sacrificing pride to save face can be tough on the ego but it’s still not nearly as tough as getting into a heated discussion with the Lawdy Mama. I completely agree that you need to pick and choose your battles and by choosing to not pick a war of words has more than likely saved me from many a evening spent on the couch.
Luck Has Nothing To Do With It.
Now I don’t own the fanciest Pinto on the block and I’ve been on the receiving end of a collection agency phone call more than once and I may have not seen my toes in a number of years but life can always be worse and I think that’s something worth remembering. Life is a mindset and ultimately it’s up to you to choose to see it through a half empty glass or one that’s half full.
