The Origin Of Things

Tagged as: Rant, Seen-Around, Tip-For-Life Jan 14

Given enough time, we rather forget about the origin of things. That reminds me of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy where the novels are set thousands of years in the future, and the things that we know about now have by then become so far removed so as to be thought myth. They could not fathom the planet that we live on, and they could barely remember that they had originated from Earth.

Even when we are not so far removed from the origin of things we begin to see disagreements about the facts. As time moves on, opinions diverge. Sometimes no opinion even leads to the truth. Sometimes people become fanatical about their opinions. In any case, we can see this phenomenon here and now.

Give a new idea a couple of years, and it will be as if they had always existed. Nicknames just need time before they become the preferred way of referencing things (case in point: not too many people could tell you that “blog” is actually just a chopped up version of “web log”). Games are invented and taught to others with no regards as to why certain things are the way that they are. It is amazing, really, to think of how much information we pass on without even stopping to think about where that information comes from.

It seems to me that the most important aspect would be the origin of information. I know that I want to know if I can trust the source of information before I willingly pass it on.

Oh by the way, Lean On Me is a song by Bill Withers. You cannot use it for worship.

Word Up

Tagged as: Seen-Around, Tip-For-Life Sep 16

I don’t really find it too difficult that people can easily say one thing while doing another. While everyone thinks that they’re right, it seems like it’s getting easier (in this increasingly relativistic society) for people to change their mind after committing. They think that they’re right even when they go back on what they have previously said. They just rationalize away the facts.

A man is only as good as his word

This saying is often used, and it is one that has stuck with me over the years. Let’s face it, nobody appreciates someone who backpedals when the going gets tough. Neither friends, family, or employer will ever enjoy someone whose word is unreliable.

If you find that you’re in an untenable position because you overextended, perhaps you should have thought about it before you extended. When you are out there, you have to deal with the consequences. Next time remember to calculate the cost before giving your word. You just might be a better man (or woman, obviously) for it.

It seems like it is time to man up.

Pay Me In Silence

Tagged as: Seen-Around, Tip-For-Life Jun 25

Silence is golden at the movies. How much is it worth everywhere else? It’s usually trouble to dispense knowledge and wisdom to everyone around.

People don’t like to be told what to do. Have you ever noticed that it is sometimes harder to tell those that are close to you about something compared to telling those that are not as close? Why is it that a close friend or family member can tell you something that will cause a negative knee-jerk reaction when the same opinion from a perceived detached and objective party will be received well?

It seems to me like part of wisdom is knowing when to be quiet and give others a chance to succeed. Surprise, surprise maybe other people don’t want me to solve all of their problems, even if I could. Perhaps maybe a little more love in all things, without which I am nothing even if I am the wisest person in the world.

See, Do

Tagged as: Seen-Around, Tip-For-Life Mar 11

Not watercraft!

Everyone who is alive has probably gone through this. Unless you’re Paris Hilton or some other well-heeled person (perhaps even if you are), you will come across things that need to be done. You will see dishes in the sink, clutter on the table, or tasks that need to be accomplished at work, and trash that needs to be picked up.

In the past I have had the conscious thought that I want to be that person who will do what needs to be done. So I work at it. I am by no means great at it. In fact, I am probably not even that good at it. But I can see where I want to be. I want to be the person doing it.

But there are so many people who do not even care. People will say that it is not in their job description or figure that someone else is going to do it. At times there are even people who do not see the things that need to be done because they are so intent on caring about themselves. How revealing!

Do you think that doing what needs to get done is natural? Today you can choose whether you want to be someone who gets it done or someone who cannot conceive of doing more than what is required.

Mementos

Tagged as: Tip-For-Life Sep 24

In the journey of life, we have our ups and we have our downs. How insightful of me to say, huh? But along the way we each have the chance to collect little mementos that remind us of the stops along the way.

While some people don’t have a care in the world for things that remind them of the past, others like to keep them for those occasional times when they’d like to wax nostalgic. Some like to show them off to everyone, and others enjoy the opportunity to pull out ugly pictures, sappy love notes, and the like in order to have a chuckle or two even if it’s just by themselves.

I bet you can guess which I like to do. Because oh do I do enjoy it.

Anyways whatever the reason, I like to tell people to at least keep a box of the good stuff. Even for those that want to clean up everything, the chance to look back on the path that you’ve traveled is a chance that you don’t want to miss. Trust me, it’s fun.