Archive for category TV
Reach
Ever want to be that guy?
Of course, and why not? That guy has everything, the Land Rover, a statiscally healthy American family, $1.2m in assets, 25% liquid, and a four digit credit score. Who doesn’t want to be That Guy?
That’s the problem. Happiness and success is not setting for yourself the goals of others. You can’t look at Steve Jobs and Wangari Muta Maathai and think: I want to have what they have. They didn’t.
No two entities are exactly alike. That Guy has problems of his own because he has his own aspirations, not likely modeled after somebody elses. And if so, then That Guy just wants to be His That Guy. Living in somebody else’s shadow leaves little room for sunshine.
Here’s where I’m going: Pick a goal, heck, pick five goals and make 2 of them completely unreasonable and 2 that are attained with simple discipline. The third goal is the in between, say 2 years worth of promotions or reduced debt, etc.
Reach the first one! Get accustomed to the feel, savor the victory as if it is something to be proud of! The aftertaste is hunger and unique to each individual. That hunger for the small victory can be overwhelming and the quenching more satisfying than the luxury passed on to attain the victory. Wanna prove it? Make two statements (outloud) and determine which hold more satisfying (true): “I want to wake up with a clean garage (attic, back yard, office)” and “I want to go out for a few beers and a steak tonight”. There is no accomplishment in the second statement but there is no denying that a great steak can be deeply satisfying.
I’ve watched the political news over the past couple of weeks and noticed something about each of the indivduals behind a podium. Obama set his own agenda because he saw a need and was determined to make a difference. Palin was compelled to service because of those who let her community down. McCain wanted to fly planes and found himself in so uncompromising a position that he could only give his blood to the enemy and hope to his companions. None of these people had a handbook. There is no secret sauce or formula passed discretely in a tunnel on the other side of town. It’s hunger and it manifests itself through accomplishment and is unique to each individual.
In Bruges
I suggested that a friend watch “Super Bad” and she made me promise to watch “In Burges”. The movie was described as brash, eye opening (sort of), dark movie. Also described as “sooo underground” that I couldn’t possibly find it on a download. Well, it’s available for download but I use Block Buster!
Anyway, I was surprised. Thinking it was going to be some knock off of “Train Spotting” was a total mistake. Colin Ferrell always plays a sniffeling wimp of some sort (even Alexander was weak in the end) and this was no shocker. In this one, I must say, Ferrell was genius.
Each time I thought I had the movie figured out, each time I thought that the predictable ‘Transporter’ type ending was around the corner, I was just impressed with a magnificent twist or turn.
Unfortunately, this is not a quotable movie. The dialog is so full of colorful language, none of it can be actually put into print. However, when you reach dialog ending “… I retracted that” - go back and rewind because it’s hysterical!
To be continued…
Shoes
I haven’t had the best of luck recently, with my job situation, some financial management, etc. After a while, I found that I felt very sorry for myself thinking that I’m at a dead end with very little to look forward to and I’d have some serious problems.
My corner of the office looks at a stairwell between two buildings and occasionally, there is trash littering the stairs, bottles laying around and now and then, a person takes a nap in the middle of the day. I don’t mind sharing the office, I won’t be there for much longer as this contract will expire in a week.
Working for my current organization is a fine job but I am not the fit for them nor would I enjoy a position in a year or so. It really is best that we move on.
But, I couldn’t get out of the mind funk. I mean, I was really feeling sorry for myself and I drifted back to see who was sharing the corner with me. I made it to the window and made it close enough to the window to see a pair of Timberlines slowly drifting back and forth while the napper was trying to get comfortable on the stairs below.
We both have problems. I don’t imagine that he’d want my employment issues any more than I would want his. I can’t imagine what is going on in his or her world. While I have woken up on the street at times, I always had a home to trudge to. In my twenties, I trudged into my thirties.
The shoes didn’t match, exactly. Probably the same style and size but one was covered with mud. I looked down at my own shoes and realized that I now shine them every few weeks or before each important meeting. Prior to a few months ago, I hadn’t shined my shoes in years.
Two people, both feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders and both with nowhere to go, and yet, a world apart. At my brief time at the window, I had a longer conversation with him than I have had with anybody recently and not a word was spoken. I left the blinds with gratitude. Not that I am not him, but that I don’t have to be they same guy I was who never shined his own shoes.