“Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want – and their kids pay for it.” Richard Lamm
I guess it is only fair that we get our kids what they want for Christmas, after all, they will be paying for us heavily in the long run!
“Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.” Confucius
You would think that with the way the world has progressed, we would have increased our ability. Not so! Why recently I broke down someone’s script. I received a cold call regarding my phone and internet system. I questioned them to ensure they knew I was not in a country they operate in. They were aware and yes they still wanted to talk to me. Then they asked me what my monthly call costs were… I did not know offhand and said I didn’t know. A few emms and ahhs from the caller then suddenly “Thank you for your time, Goodbye”. HUH??? The fastest way I have ever got rid of a cold caller (and not even intentionally). Apparently, he must not have had what to reply in the event that I did not know what I was spending. He could overcome the fact that I was in a different country to where they provide services but not overcome the fact that I had no idea how much I was paying (yet I was happy to be paying). Did I miss something here?
So honestly forget what Confucius said, because the truth is Ability doesn’t stand a chance!!!
“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” William Shakespeare
Let’s be honest, if you have a friend like this, you have a soul mate and not just a friend. True friendships are rare and very special. Today, sadly, friendship has become almost as disposable as the rest of our life! I am still young and my childhood feels like a lifetime ago. We never had expiry dates on anything (let alone non food items)! Friendships spanned a lifetime even if people crossed the Atlantic (and this was at a time when Internet did not exist freely and calling abroad cost more per minute than the average hourly wage). And yet today, I will walk past someone I attended school with and they will simply walk past me without even a blink of an eyelash. So if you have a friend who meets Mr Shakespeare’s definition, then treasure them, for they are a rarity indeed!
“If only I had a little humility, I’d be perfect!”. Ted Turner
Ted, don’t mind me saying so, but you need bucketfuls of humility and not just a little. And this is just by your quote and not by anything else!!
“Would those of you in the cheaper seats clap your hands. And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewelry”. John Lennon
Ok, perhaps times have changed slightly, however even back in the 60′s I cannot think that mens jewelry rattled much. Mind you, I suppose if they wore a couple of peace signs???
In the spirit of Christmas, I thought I would share an Irish Proverb…
“A turkey never voted for an early Christmas”.
“The pride of youth is in strength and beauty, the pride of old age is in discretion”. Democritus
I must still be young, for I still have not learnt to use discretion!! Mind you I am not sure I have either strength or beauty!!
“Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they’ve told you what you think it is you want to hear.” Alan Corenk
Democracy! I think Alan Corenk’s defination is pretty spot on!
“Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality.” Victor Frankl
Love is the most intense of emotions and sometimes it is true that you can only grasp someone’s true being through loving them. However, Love is Blind is also known to be true!
“When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” Japanese Proverb
Sometimes people can fool you into making you think they are different to what they really are. I find that if you are not sure what to make of someone, you can easily form an opinion based on their choice of friends. I find that family also says alot about a person. But you know the saying, you can choose your friends but not your family. So personally between both their friends and family, you can easily asses a persons true character!