A Direct Reprint From A Like Mind

Here, dear readers, is a reprint from my friend David Cameron Anderson.
It deals with thoughtlessness in the face of beauty and nature and I wholeheartedly agree with his words and intent.

I've been fascinated by plantlife for as long as I remember - I've come to be quite protective of it.... There are people who walk down the street haphazardly, grabbing leaves or flowers of whatever plant is in reach, then they lazily drop them to the ground as if these plants were simply something to keep their hands occupied while they walk. Those folks will always get a dirty look from me (they either don't see it or ask me 'what's your problem?') There is little that drives me crazier than people who don't understand the concept of a garden. People who have no idea how flowers got into the planting beds...as if they just showed up...I was walking along the periphery of Central Park when I saw that a pair of preschool teachers had brought their classes into the park and onto a large lawn. Twenty or so of the forty children (ages 4 and/or 5) were running around and rolling in a tulip/daffodil bed (the plants were 6 inches to a foot tall with buds already, due to the warm weather)...crushing a good many of the flowering bulbs...I leaned over the railing and got the attention of one of the teachers and said, 'Excuse me - this is a flower garden - where you're standing and the children are playing.' She said, 'Oh, I don't think so.' and turned away... Of course, as Policeman to the world, I continued ...eventually convincing her that these were flowers that were actually planted by the Central Park Conservancy and that the HUGE HUGE lawn adjacent to this garden was a better place for the children to play. She took a few children and exited the garden...and I walked on...turning back a few moments later to see that she had called ALL the children over to play in/crush the plants... This world is inhabited by some odd folks is all I can figure. Something tells me that she came to the same conclusion after meeting me...

 

David Cameron Anderson

February 25, 2012

I hope all take this in the manner in which it was meant...and those that need to learn from it do just that!

- SSG

Another Time, Perhaps

Dearest Readers, Followers, Friends and the Occasional Complete and Total Stranger,

It's always amazing to me when people think so little of the (supposed) common courtesy of being on time.
I was raised to understand, believe and live by the rule saying that timeliness is next to godliness and that you are NOT the only person that your lack of punctuality is going to adversely effect.

Now, I must admit, my situation is a bit different. I always say that I am on "P.H.R.T." - Pre-Hip Replacement Time.
Before I had bi-lateral hip replacement surgery (yup, that's both at once) it used to take me a heck of a lot longer to get wherever I was headed and so I used to schedule up to an hour of extra travel time so that I wouldn't be late.

But, here's the thing...I still feel the need to give myself a time buffer - perhaps not quite as large a time anymore but a buffer nonetheless.
So, what's the deal with those people who seem almost proud to say that they are "habitually late"?
It's not a habit, folks, when it is just as easy to make the choice to be on time or early and not put everyone out while ruining your own reputation...it's a fault. Pure and simple.

Did you all catch that slightly judgemental comment about "ruining your own reputation"?
Well, I hate to break it to you all, but being late all the time doesn't merely tell everyone you're late all the time, but that you're not trustworthy, thoughtless regarding everyone you deal with and probably not as productive a worker as you should be either.

So what's to be done about it? Be an adult. Change your ways! Make it clear to yourself and others that it is somehow important to you to make a good impression and not waste anyone's time - including your own.
If your time is important to you, these changes can work wonders.

• Don't try and "trick" yourself by re-setting your clock or watch. It rarely goes off without a hitch. Just make a pact to start earlier and stay focused.
• Try to remember that there are a lot of people that manage to be on time or early as a general rule in their lives and that most of them are no more intelligent than you. Their secret is simple. Organization.
• The less you allow yourself to lag behind your time, the less stress there will be once you get where you're going. Your stress and the stress levels of those for whom you have the responsibility to be on time.

Maybe you still don't think being punctual is important. Maybe I haven't convinced you that people judge you by standards that include whether or not you keep them waiting.
Well, to you, I have one thing to say.....



....wait for it.....


                         ,,,,,wait for it.......


                                                     ......wait.......

                                                                        ..........for..........


                                                                                                  ...................


- SSG

Resolute Resolutions

Dearest Followers, Readers and Folks Who Got Here Purely By Accident,

It is now a new year.
And, of course, I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, prosperous and, above all, courteous two thousand twelve.

Now, with that folderol out of the way, I am begging you - yes BEGGING you - to make this the year of living courteously and toward that end I have some suggestions of resolutions we could all take to heart.

• Beginning with me, I will make sure that if I'm wearing a hooded coat or parka I will PAY ATTENTION to those around me because my peripheral vision SUCKS.
• Starting today I will stop getting in other people's way because I've got ear buds in my ears or am texting on the street or in crowded places and then giving THEM dirty looks when they bring it to my attention.
• For the good of all man- and woman-kind I will leave my young children with Grandma or a sitter when I choose to go to the theater or any movie racier than a G rating.
• In a large movie theater that has less than a dozen people attending the showing, I will not choose a seat DIRECTLY in front or directly behind anyone who arrived before me. And in any theater I will try to avoid sitting behind anyone at all if I am going to be coughing and sneezing throughout the film thereby endangering the other patrons' health.
• This year I will be supremely aware that I am not the only person in the world. I'm going to remember that I may be the most important person in MY world but we all have worlds of our own and should respect people's feelings, space and time.
• Life is not fair. If I begin to think that life is fair that is the best that I can hope for my life to be....not excellent, not brilliant, not wonderful....just fair.
• People do not owe me anything. I am an adult and I am responsible for my own happiness, wealth and reputation. Nobody can give me anything that I can't and shouldn't get for myself. I am NOT entitled to special treatment just for being me. Unlike pee wee baseball, I am not entitled - nor should I receive - accolades for just showing up. This is the real world and I'm going to have to remember that.
• Stay the hell out of my way as a pedestrian and I promise to stay the hell out of yours. (Yes, I know that was sort of a repetition of an earlier one but let's face facts it's a big problem here!)
• If and when I come to your home town, I will not sit on your front lawn without an invitation or congregate in front of your door only to get pissed off or offended when asked by the residents to move out of the way...how about you afford me the same consideration in my home town?
• While walking around your town I promise to try to be aware of the people walking around me - such people to always include folks on their way to or from work, appointments and other normal day-to-day responsibilities - and I promise to NOT walk six abreast with my friends or family at the slowest pace imaginable all the while remembering that THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE and just because I'm on vacation and have nowhere pressing to be, the locals most likely are not and do!

I don't want to overwhelm you with my list but if it inspires you to write - and in turn live by - one of your own then my New Year's Work is done here!

Have a happy, healthy and prosperous one!

- SSG