Waiting

Waiting is something people do alot. I spent many hours waiting for my parents to pick me up when I was a small boy. When I went to high school I waited for the bus to take to me to school 45 minutes away from my home. People wait for phone calls, for people to call them back, for people to return things borrowed. The list goes on. Unfortunately most of the waiting is excruciating. The time spent waiting is perhaps the worst time I've ever spent. It is so unrewarding. It is time that is often spent in vain because  not all things get returned. There is one type of waiting I really enjoy. I hate shopping in stores. I love to buy things online. I really look forward to waiting for the stuff to arrive at my house. I like the emails giving me tracking information. I track the package, estimating time of arrival. Should I be there to sign or will Fedex or UPS leave it int he mailbox or at my door. I like the mystery of seeing what I bought. Does it live up to my expectations of it. Was it worth the money. I now understand why the original Sears ad Roebuck catalogs were so hugely successful. The catalogs were sent to rural areas where few or no stores existed. If they did exist they didn't have all the wonderful gadgets and tools that the catalog contained. Imagine waiting for a tractor to replace your horse drawn plow. That new icebox sure sounded better than a block of ice. What a great time to live. Gee I get excited over a cellphone case or a cheap ipod speaker. I don't mind waiting for things through the mail because after they get to my house I can look for something new to wait for.

The Price

All things have a price. Cost is a synonym for price. Both words connote that someone is going to pay sooner or later. Unfortunately it isn't always the one who performs the act. On the Price is Right one gets to choose between door One or Two. In life we get to choose but we know what is behind the doors. Our choice will affect someone and there will be a cost to them. We choose to do things that all have costs. The price could be missing important events, forgetting important dates, poor time management, not dealing with financial issues or the biggest price of forgetting who the really important people in our life are. People get consumed with themselves. They put their interests above others. They forget that it isn't always about them. In a nutshell, they are extremely selfish and self centered people. The main concern of a spouse is their spouse. A parent's main concern is their children. No other issue should divert one's attention from their happiness and welfare. Everyone deserves to have time to themselves to enjoy diversions. It's when these diversions infringe upon the time that should be spent with wives or families or spent in other income providing ventures that will make people pay the price.  The highest price there is, being alone, so now they can devote all their time and attention to themselves.

The Mulligan

A Mulligan is a mythical second chance. Most often associated with golf but relevant to all aspects of life. The origin is up for debate. I have my favorite story about a locker room attendant in Britain who gave a golfer a second chance on the course. Regardless of the story Mulligans aren't mythical. I do believe we all are given a Mulligan if life. I have had a Mulligan in my life.  I think I  made the most of it. Mulligans are strange creatures. Some are not as obvious as others. This maybe because we  tend to ignore them. There they are right in front of us. A second chance to set something right, a new beginning, an opportunity for a new path in life.  When the Mulligan is given to you it is there so you do not make the same mistake as before. Choose a new club, make a different shot, make that putt. Use your Mulligan wisely and you will never regret it. 

Giving up a Gift

Chanukah and Christmas have just passed and many gifts have been exchanged between friends, family and loved ones. Some gifts even may have been given to strangers. Gifts don't have to be given for any particular reason or occasion. One gives a gift because they are generous and considerate. The problem with giving a gift is that some people can't let go of the gift. They think that they still possess the gift after it has been given  away to someone. They pine over what the person will do or has done with the gift. The idea that the receiver of the gift can do whatever he would like to do with the gift is oblivious to them. They keep tabs on the gift. They ask about it. They can't let go. The solution. Don't give gifts to people that you think will misuse or abuse your gift. Use common sense in the choice of your gift. Usually the past history of a person is a good indicator of what will become of that gift.  Give and forget about it. If you do see the gift again and it has been misused or abused remember It's not yours anymore. Move on. Learn. Don't make the same mistake twice!

A Person's Best Quality

I observe people everyday and see all the qualities that an individual has. I know the popular ones, compassion, honesty, generosity, trustworthy, witty, playful,and considerate. I think the quality that I think everyone has and  is the most special is Dignity. Dignity has many meanings and can mean different things to  various people. Dignity, to me, is the self respect people have. No matter how old and sick a person gets that dignity to try to look their best always shines through. I remember my three aunts would even on the way to the hospital make sure that their hair appointments were set. I see older men and women, here in Florida always dressed in style. The homeless too have dignity. Their carts or bicycles are neatly packed and ready to travel. You see Dignity is deeply inside all of us and should never be overlooked  when interacting with anyone. I know that losing one's dignity is probably one of the most mortal wounds that can befall a person. I have on occasion lost some Dignity and nothing hurts more.  It makes you question your value and how you are perceived. It does however make you stronger with more resolve to never have any of it lost again. No one deserves that and should never be subjected to that behavior.

My love affair with Jobs.

My wife and I have had our share of jobs in our lifetimes. We have spoken with many of our friends and it seems we all have similar experiences with employment. My relationship with a job has changed as I grew older. When I was young I was glad to have a job, any job. It was fun to meet new people. It was educational to see what other people did for a living. Then I went to college and was lucky to get a teaching job. Nirvana! Love at first paycheck. That lasted for thirty years. One of my longest relationships. Unfortunately, like all love affairs it ended in divorce. You see, I had aged  and became much wiser. A job is like a pair of shoes both are meant to wear out. Then you get a new one. All jobs, regardless of what type they are all are the same. Same people, same Peter Principle executives and managers running  the show. We see the paychecks and the security of the relationship and miss all those red flags our mothers told us about. You know the ones, lack of respect, bad communication, playing one against the other, seeing how much the other person can get from you, taking all the credit  for your ideas. Well that's where being around the block a few times is important. I never knew what right to work meant until I moved to Florida. It means that an employer can terminate your wonderful relationship at a moment's notice with no prior warning like you were today's trash. I guess we owe that partner the same regard. I like to think that now when I take a job I go into the affair with eyes wide open and I control how I'm treated.  Breaking up isn't hard to do, it's just a reality of life.

There is Karma!

Karma is alive and well in the world today! Recent headlines have confirmed that sooner or later Karma catches up with up you. Quite a few individuals at Penn State have anted up with severe punishments. Financial and emotional losses have been dealt to them.  Payback for the losses to all those Innocent boys. Michael Vick has had multiple injuries the past few years in the NFL. Announcers attribute it to his never stop trying attitude. I attribute it to retribution for all the pain he inflicted on his maltreated dogs. Politicians and political pundants say and do ridiculous things leaving themselves open to more scrutiny and eventually karma catches up with scandals and physical maladies. Serena Williams is such a gifted athlete. Under that calm veneer lurks a loose canon. Her tirades at officials portrays her real demeanor. The result is an injured foot and other complications that keep her out of competition for many months. Sort of a real foot in mouth disease. The last group that needs to be wary of Karma are all those athletes who live, train, earn a living and love America but represent other countries in International competition. Selling out and being ungrateful to the nth degree. Word to the wise, keep an eye behind you because Karma is going to bite you in the tuches.