When was the last time you heard someone complaining about something? Ten seconds ago? Thirty seconds ago? A minute ago? I'm officially adding 'complaining' to the death and taxes discussion. Too many people spend too much time looking for their next fight. Baseball? I am beginning to think that complaining is America's pastime.
Whether we realize it or not, we are in a large part, a product of every single experience that has been a part of our life up to this point. The good, the bad, and the ugly. All of them. Most of them we probably don't even remember, but put them all on the table and roll them in to one big ball of experiences, and what you get is; well, you.
Rarely has there been a time in my life when a situation hasn’t been made better by writing my ideas down. There is something about putting the pen to paper that helps sort things out, and brings a certain clarity that would be elusive if those same thoughts were just floating around in my big, empty head.
I was watching a TV show last night when one of the characters said to the other, "I can take care of myself, I need you to take care of you." That works I suppose. Of course, there's another approach too. One where you never have to think of yourself, or worry about your own best interest. That would all be taken care of.
If you’re waiting for your ship to come in, wishing you’d win millions in the lottery, or hoping for that perfect job to come along; I’ve got bad news. The ship’s not coming. Your numbers are not going to be drawn. The perfect job will not magically appear. In fact, there is no ship. (Don’t worry, I’ve got something better.)
I see it all the time. Someone in the world drops the ball, and doesn't do something they most likely should have. Didn't do their job. Didn't finish a task. Did something incorrectly. You name it. Someone else comes along and does the job, finishes the task, or corrects the mistake. They could be the 'hero,' but too often they're not.
We all make mistakes. Occasionally things go wrong. Sometimes it’s our fault. Other times there’s nothing we could have done to prevent it. Now I’m not one to often compliment the airline industry, but this weekend Delta impressed me on my trip back from Memphis.
Our minds are a lot like computers. Every now and then we need to restart our machines. Clean out the clutter, delete old unused files, remove viruses. Whenever a computer in our office is having a problem, the first thing our IT Director will ask is, "Did you reboot?" And yes, that actually work most of the time.
I love Southwest Montana. It is my home, and I want the very best for it. It is unique, beautiful, and full of good energy. Great people, schools, businesses. Really, we live in one of the truly special places. There has been a big push here in Bozeman for the past few years to 'Shop Local.' I get it. The thought is that locally based businesses care more about our community and employ local people.
I was having a cocktail with a friend the other night, and we were talking about life stuff. He was asking some questions about my medical adventures of the past eight years, and commented that he was amazed at what a positive attitude I had about it all. I told him that there had been a few days along the we way when he wouldn’t have categorized me as positive. And I took a sip of scotch.
A lot of what I do has me communicating on a daily basis with people in other parts of the country. From New York and Arizona, to Billings and Missoula. Phone calls, email, text messages, internet, webinars, (and yes, still faxes from time to time).
I needed to get my oil changed this weekend. Actually my wife needed to get the oil changed in her car, but I owed her 40-bucks, so I took her car in and paid to get the oil changed. Now we’re even right? (Actually, we’re even financially, but she owes me an hour and a half of my life back.)
