Not Getting Much Practice, Are You?

Ever watch the average person when someone bestowes something unexpected on them? You’ve seen how shocked and embarrassed they are, right? They stammer and hesitate, searching for they proper form, the proper words to use for a reply. It’s cute in a sad way!

You’d think everyone would learn how to accept gifts gracefully, wouldn’t you? Either a lot of parents are doing a horrid job of teaching the proper social forms, or we’ve got some other thing working here. Honestly, I suspect that people are so beat down, that they have come to expect little from anyone, other than more grief and abuse!

It is pretty sad, if an act of kindness seems astounding! Clearly most people don’t get enough practice at receiving nice things from others. Part of that likely comes from not giving much to others either, but that’s another issue. People do get better at receiving, if they get more opportunity to practice, and it can be a lot of fun doing this to others. Just don’t give them too much; way too many people take generousity as an invitation to get lazy. We’ve got too much of that as it is!

Jack

What Things Define Your Life?

You’ll probably think I’m crazy when I tell you this, but here it is anyway. You should feel the urge to dance in abject joy at least once each day! You think I’m a moron, don’t you? Sure I know life is hard, and it’s filled with crappy, tiring things. But is that really all it’s filled with? You’re telling me you can’t see the sun rise or set, can’t view the stars? You have no chance to hear a child squeal in delight, have no one’s soft lips to kiss?

You should understand that likely your life isn’t going to be filled with mountains climbed, heroic deeds done. No one will build a statue of you, to commemorate your incredible life! But your life certainly has the ability to be incredible! It will just be a compilation of small things, acts of joy and love that weave together to make it so!

The little things of worth and beauty define the common life, and give it both purpose and meaning. Having one or many to kiss, hearing I love you, being touched by soft warm, bare skin…these are the joys that, piled upon each other, give meaning and substance to your life. Do you have them in abundance, or are you impoverished? Climbing Everest is pricy and difficult, but finding someone to be bare with, someone eager to touch and kiss is quite doable! But you can’t just sit and complain! You’ve tried that, and it clearly doesn’t work!

Jack

Know any of these?

You’ve likely noted that teens tend to be a bit impatient about life. They can’t wait to grow up and experience all the things forbidden to non-adults. Sex, driving, college, a job (well a few are desperate enough for money to want one!). Many are too much in a hurry, and don’t bother to think, plan or get ready in a wise, meaningful way. Usually, smacking their face into life’s concrete walk will make them a bit more cautious!

But not all of them! A bunch become addicted to the thrill of risky, crazy stunts or dangerous activities. Riding a bike off a barn roof. Using a sheet as a parachute to jump five stories. Skateboarding on the freeway. You name it, one of them’s done it. If they don’t die from one stupid stunt, they’ll look for an even crazier one to try!

Now parents suffer much from this, especially when they have high deductable health insurance! Hospitals and doctors don’t work cheap. The good news is this; eventually, if they don’t die, they get so beat up and stiff, they stop trying the worst stuff!

The sadder group is comprised of the ones who smack the ground once, and become so terrified, they won’t even cross the street with a light! These ones retreat into a shell, afraid to risk being hurt, and it isn’t just being hurt physically that cripples many. Lots of people risk liking someone, or loving another, and once they get crapped on, they’re done! They go hide, and avoid even the least trace of risk in their personal lives. Some of the worst daredevils are otherwise unable to try loving another, but will jump off a skyscraper for fun.; go figure!

The people too afraid to risk anything are the ones needing the most help and sympathy, but it can be a chore to do so. The risk takers mostly need good medical insurance and a first aid kit. They don’t make emotional first aid kits, and that’s a real problem. Are you willing to be one for someone? Then bless you; you’ve found one of the ways to grow your soul!

Jack

Teach Your Kids To Make Lemonaid

Some parents go to absurd lengths to try and protect their kids from the slightest disappointment. They yell at teachers, scream at coaches, bully and abuse people who won’t acknowledge that their precious little child is anointed by God to be only the best, the one in first place. If it wasn’t sad and disgusting it would be funny!

They are of course, being terrible parents, refusing to prepare their offspring for the enevitable disappointments of life. Oh, yes, they will all get crapped on in due time; everybody does. The wise parent teaches their child that life isn’t always fair. The world is full of disappointment and abuse; some will find even their precious little tike.

Being unprepared, they will be outraged and shocked, will likely be crippled and sent into a funk of defeat. The properly taught child will merely brush the dirt off and get back into the game of life! Why does this seem so hrd for some to understand? How many do you know, who’ve never tasted defeat or loss? There aren’t a lot of people running around with a silver spoon sticking out therir rear!

You have a duty to your child, to teach and prepare them for real life. You want them to be optimistic, but not stupid foolish. Having your butt kicked as a child is a way to promote growth and character, if it’s coupled with some honest guidence. That is what you’re supposed to be doing, since you volunteered to be a parent! Stop abusing the teacher and the coach, and acting like a pushy lunatic; you’re only hurting your child. Set a good example, and show them how to stand up against losing or defeat. You’ve undoubtedly had enough yourself to learn something, haven’t you? Or were you not paying proper attention. Opps!

Jack

Some People Don’t Fix Easily

The egotistical bore is certainly a drag. You can’t stand working with one, likely never would go on a second date with one and you hate being cornered by one at a social function. But even worse is the  person at the opposite end of the social spectrum. The person who is so clingy and desperate, so self effacing that they seem in danger of killing them selves in despair in the next three minutes is a lot harder to deal with!

First, they seem cute at first in their shyness and timidity, You’ll feel sorry for them, their emptiness and lack of confidence. Beware! They will attach themselves to you like a barnacle on a boat! There’s a huge difference between a shy person, who lacks confidence, and a pathologically desperate person, who will make you responsible for their emotional life or death!

This one uses your sympathy as a crutch, an excuse to be dependent, threatening to wither and die emotionally if you neglect them. They will be devoted, in much the same way a tape worm will stay with you! If you married one of these crippled ones you know all too well what a pain it is. It will be exhaustive trying to fill up their constantly empty emotional reservoir. You can help someone like this, but it will be a life long undertaking. They don’t fix easily. Just a word of advice; don’t try if you aren’t crazy willing to make the long journey; tossing them aside when you tire will only damage them more. You won’t get a gold star for that either.

Jack