Good Sense – 365 Days of 60

It’s Questionable

Margaret Thatcher was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. The Falklands War highlighted her most significant international relationship, which was with Ronald Reagan. Thatcher and Reagan, who together made the 1980s the decade of conservatism, shared a vision that the Soviet Union was an evil enemy who deserved no compromise. Their partnership ensured that the Cold War continued until the rise to power of the reform-minded Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985.

In 1976, Margaret Thatcher, in keeping with her strong anticommunism stance, gave a speech which earned her the nickname “Iron Lady” in the soviet press.

She was quite an impressive woman.

One of Thatcher’s famous quotes is this “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” I love that so much.

Today when I was shopping for mousetraps and toothpaste and vitamins, I walked through the clothing section and ran smack dab into this T-shirt. It brought to mind Margaret Thatcher’s famous quote.

Though I appreciate the ideology of the message and that “woman power”, “don’t think you can push me around” mentality, I’m still not a fan.

If you have to wear a T-shirt that announces the message to not underestimate you, your value and admiration may already be in question.

Occasionally Never

I read a little saying today. Part of it I knew—Never reply when you are angry. We all know this is true. It is wise to never reply in an angry state, whether that be an email or a phone call or even a sharp little spat with your spouse, which can be a stellar tour de force.

The other two sentences in the saying, I am less familiar with. One is this; Never make a promise when you are happy.

That is a tricky one. My first thought is why not? Being happy is a good thing, right? On the other hand, after I mulled over these sayings, I get it.

Occasionally we have those moments of delirious bliss when we believe that we are walking on sunshine and, as my friend once said, unicorns are pooping out rainbows. In those rare times we may falsely believe this is real life. And in that delirium may make a “cross-my-heart, hope-to-die” pledge to someone.

By the next morning we may be back in the tunnel wondering if that glow at the end is a way out or a train heading toward us. We will most likely at least be back to normalcy. Those famous last words may be haunting us by then and all we can think is “What have I done?”

The other is Never make a decision when you are sad. Basically the same concept, reversed. When we are in a dark place, frantically reaching for a rope to hold onto, we will do anything to find light. Desperation and hopelessness are definitely not the mindset for making sound decisions.

If complete honesty were a reality, every one of us would admit that we have been in all three of those places – angry, (jubilantly) happy, and so very sad. These are delicate places that must be held lightly as if cradling a tiny bird in our hands.

However, there is one thing about this little saying with which I take issue. We have also been taught that the word never is to be used only in the literal sense. In fact, we have all muttered the phrase “Never say never.”

So perhaps there is indeed a time to reply when angry, pledge a promise when we are happy, and make a decision when we are sad.

On that note, always be discerning. This time, that word truly fits.

Interpretations

I passed through the baby section of a store while en route to the restroom. Of course I have to find a bathroom while shopping. Doesn’t everyone?

This little onesie caught my eye.

Here is the question. Do you really want your child growing up thinking he runs the roost? I certainly understand the needs of a baby. The struggle that this tiny little human is calling all the shots is real. It is non-stop care and sleep becomes a true luxury.

But that time passes. One morning you awaken and that baby is eight years old. The next morning you awaken and that baby is 17 years old. You do not want an eight year-old and definitely not a 17 year-old believing they run things. Not that they will still be wearing a onesie that states “I run things” (God forbid), but they may be wearing it in their brains. The thought should never be there.

It’s a subtle thing. It is insidious. But the mindset you develop with your little one is a hard habit to break when they are 10 or 20 or 30.

And along those same lines, I am not a fan of telling little girls that they are princesses. Of course, every little girl is daddy’s princess. I get that. Perhaps we need to define princess.

Princess-ness should be thought of as a lovely flower that needs protection and care in order to grow healthy and strong, or as the protecting of a royal gem. A real princess does not kick and scream in the store because she cannot have a new tiara.

A true princess is kind and generous. She knows that she has been blessed and is willing and eager to share those blessings. She is gentle and loving and humble in spirit.

There are not too many things less attractive than a pretty 16 year-old who believes the world revolves around her. It’s plain ugly.

So at the risk of sounding like a cranky old lady, don’t buy the onesie. For one, Nike does not need any more of your money, and two, your baby does not need to believe he runs the show. You do not need to believe that, either.

After all of that commentary, the little onesie could be completely innocuous. It is entirely possible that the little circle with the slogan means “I RUN things”, things like 5Ks, The Great Pumpkin Run, marathons, etc.

You decide.

Keeping at It

As a general rule, people admire steady performers. However, we are drawn to sensation. We pay to see unpredictable entertainers or players.

It is part of our human nature to welcome erratic adventure. Yet, we need leaders who stay the course and keep true purpose in view.

If I am on a boat in a stormy sea, I do not want a captain who is adventurous and daring. I want a captain who can find the destination and get me there.

I once read that most medical breakthroughs do not come from charismatic individuals who stumble upon a cure then party like it’s 1999.

Instead, life-changing research often occurs because people stayed with their business.

Steadiness by itself is boring. We often link it to complacency. Steadiness also occasionally connotes old age. Tsk!

*Steadiness with purpose is what makes all the difference. That purpose, however, must be true. Steadiness with pure purpose always requires a discipline to keep us from meandering.

When faced with the uncertainties of life, I want to look to one who is steady and I also want to be that one.

Steadiness + pure purpose – complacency x discipline2 = a calm as we follow truth.

The key word there is follow, insinuating movement. That is not a passive plan.

My math skills have never been strong, but that is one formula I get.

*Inspired by When True Simplicity is Gained

Oh Deer!

I just read an article in USA Today about a 14 year old girl in Springfield, Missouri who mistakenly shot an elk, thinking it was a large white tail deer. Her father immediately called the Conservation Department upon realizing his daughter’s mistake.

Apparently there is no elk season in Missouri, so free ranging elk are protected.

As of yesterday, conservation officials had not finished their investigation or decided whether warnings will be issued.

The young teen’s (Abby) story went viral, with hundreds of people posting comments about her mistake. Her father stated that he was upset by some of the comments that he felt were close to bullying his young daughter. Some people actually suggested she be “locked away”.

Wait…what?

Let’s break this down. A dad and his daughter are spending time together doing something they both enjoy, hunting. She makes a very honest mistake. Research it yourself, there are glaring similarities between the two animals. Her (also honest) father does the right thing by contacting the authorities to report the incident. The dad takes full responsibility. He willingly offered to pay any fines or “ground” his daughter from hunting for the rest of the year or do whatever it takes (within sensibility) to make this right.

Here is a dad building into his 14 year old daughter. They are away from electronic devices and work and school and parties and less than stellar influences. And boom! They get in trouble with the law and have to deal with cyber ignoramuses. That word is so completely appropriate here and I’ll show you why.

According to the urban dictionary: Ignoramus – someone who doesn’t know how the world works and doesn’t care to know.

The history of the word is this. Ignoramus is the title of a farce written by George Ruggle in 1615. The title character (Ignoramus) is a lawyer who fancies himself to be quite shrewd but is actually foolish and ignorant. The word ignoramus in Latin literally means “we do not know.”

With recent INTENTIONAL shootings of HUMANS, are there actually people in this world who think a child should be legally punished for ACCIDENTALLY shooting an ANIMAL?

Oy vey.

In the prophetic words of Gilbert Gnarley: “Wake up Amurrica!” (misspell intentional).

Bumper Stickers

I have a slight disdain for bumper stickers. I believe that began when I was a child. We grew up modestly and simply, though I did not know that at the time. I have no memory of my parents disagreeing about money, nor discussing it. That is a good thing. However, we always had a nice, dependable car. My father made sure that my mother was safe and even a bit proud to drive the family car. Our cars were never Cadillacs or Mercedes. They were late model Buicks and Chevrolets that he always kept clean. For a short period of time, we had a shiny, black VW Bug. We were years ahead of our time.

My father prohibited bumper stickers. He didn’t want things on there that his six kids thought were cool, for him to have to scrape away with a razor blade when the coolness wore off. Message received.

That mindset stuck. Occasionally I will see a bumper sticker that I think I could live with but I hear my father’s voice…and I change my mind. We often cannot outrun those voices. Most of the time, they are wise.

This morning I was loading up groceries in my trunk. I glanced over at the car parked next to me to see the above bumper sticker. I’m all about love and living a passionate life but there are some passions and loves that do not need to be announced. I’m guessing that this person is not listening to that wise voice in his/her head. Obviously, that head is somewhere else.