“Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box. Religion is the smile on a dog. I’m not aware of too many things. I know what I know, if you know what I mean, d-doo yeah. What I am is what I am. Are you what you are or what? What I am is what I am. Are you what you are or what?” Lyrics excerpted from “What I Am” by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians circa 1988.
“I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam!” — Popeye the Sailorman (1933).
“I’ve gone out to look for myself. Should I return, before I get back, keep me here.” — American literary critic Barbara Johnson (1947-2009).
“There I am… get me!” — Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man; X-Factor issue #73, Marvel Comics 1991.
“Remember, no matter where you go… there you are!” Pig Killer (Robert Grubb) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
Wow! That was a lot of random quotes compiled together. Seems like trying to assure you that I know exactly what I’m talking about, or have no idea what’s going down. Waxing philosophical or waning psychotically, you be the judge.
It’s still early, so for now let’s just see where this goes together…. I’ll drive. Just sit back, enjoy the ride, watch me for the changes and try to keep up. It’s like they say, prepare for the worst, hope for the best and have the wisdom to know the difference.
Hold up! That’s all wrong! That quote’s supposed to be from the serenity prayer — “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can change; and wisdom to know the difference.” American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971). Egad, another quote! Later to be adopted and utilized as the opening prayer for all AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings… seriously.
Yes, but now you’re confusing “prayer” with “prepare”. Given you could prepare to pray or pray as part of the preparation process, so that still works. Still, knowing the difference between the best and the worst is what’s important here. Gotta know when to hope and when to prepare.
It’s truly a matter of personal perspective. Prepare for the worst? What’s truly the worst? Should we begin making funeral arrangements and checking life insurance policies? Hope for the best? Is it time to decide how we’ll spend our Powerball winnings… on our private island… where we’ve discovered the Fountain of Youth? See — perspective. For some of us the worse is much worser and the better is more so bestest… imagination pending.
Inevitably, for better or for worse, it’s never what you’ve expected. In truth we only hope and or prepare to kill the interval of time prior. Trying to assert some form of control beyond our means. This is how we cope, everyone does it differently and no two methods are the same, nor foolish if they work for you. Unless you’re only fooling yourself.
“Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” — politician Anthony Weldon (1650). “Fool me a third time… then I guess I’m a fool.” — freelance FOCUS writer Chainsaw; circa just now.
There does come a point where hopeful preparations become ludicrously foolish. When all attempts and efforts have been exhausted and are nothing more than redundantly repetitive coping mechanisms. It’s not working for you or anyone else or annoying everyone else. And yet you prepare to hopefully push on like it’ll be different next time. It won’t be.
Always remember the old adage- “If at first you don’t succeed… quit.” (Side note: this is great advice for anyone who is considering taking up smoking.) Yes, you can try… try again, if you like, but if it’s proven not to succeed aren’t you just setting yourself up for foolishness, failure and disappointment? If you must try again, go a different route. How many times must you fall off the ladder before you discover the stairs? Hell, there could be an elevator if you look hard enough.
In the end we are who we are and deal with things in kind and according to our nature. Preparing and hoping as we see fit and deem necessary. And whether it works, or leaves us a fool, is by our own definition, destination and destiny.
I welcome almost all questions, comments via FOCUS, or E-mail me at [email protected]. Hope to hear from ya until then try and stay focused! See ya.
