“If I had it to do over, I’d do it differently.”
Sayings that many of us have used, heard, or thought and yet we, the Baby Boomer generation, can do exactly that, create a whole new life using our experience as the basis for creating a long, active and productive future.
Many of us are in the process of trying to figure out what we want to do when we grow up (or as some people call it, retirement) and we are beginning to realize that unlike previous generations, we have health, vitality, intellectual curiosity, and little interest in watching “Friends” reruns. We have gleaned a lifetime of knowledge from both formal education and practical experience and are looking for a way to make use of it.
I know 2 couples who are spending part of their year in various parts of Africa volunteering and trying to make a difference and another couple who are setting up a “micro loan” program in Guatemala. Just two ideas in a world that needs us and our talents.
Here’s a sentence that came into my mind the other day:
This generation of Baby Boomers is getting the chance, on so many levels, to live, play and work with a lifetime of experience to guide us and a toy box full of technology to make it possible.
What’s possible – anything, including a complete “do over.”
Tag Archives: keeping me awake
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
The other day I had to tell someone that a cheque for $62,000.00 they were anticipating would take 18 weeks to process. The work to approve this amount had been done but the checks and balances system, the layers of bureaucracy needed to make the money appear in his bank account, would take an additional 18 weeks! I didn’t want to tell him. I totally expected him to go nuts on me and why shouldn’t he? After a heavy sigh, he said that he appreciated my honesty because he had been told numerous times that the money would be available “soon.” At least knowing the truth would allow him to make his own plans accordingly, whether it was the answer he liked or not. He actually sent a note of appreciation for my honesty – not what I expected at all while I was summoning the courage to tell him.
I was chatting with my neighbour yesterday about something similar as he and his family endure the wonders of a home reno and struggle with the same issue. He was told that the work would be completed in April, and then May, and then June, and for sure, mid July. The latest is mid August. Meanwhile they are living in their basement, eating most meals at restaurants and trying to contain their anger. The truth is not setting him free.
I feel that, politically, we are facing this issue all the time – we are being told what the speaker thinks we want to hear rather than what we need to hear. Every political campaign is full of platitudes, over simplifications, trust-me-I’ll-fix-its, fear-mongering, exaggerations, and promises we could never afford in a million years. Whose fault is it – does it really matter?
To a very great extent we all must accept responsibility for allowing people to over promise and under deliver. Every time we “go nuts” when someone gives us information that is different than what we want, we encourage them to alter their story so they don’t have to disappoint us. Sure it’s not totally our fault – some people are simply dishonest or afraid to present the truth. They are fearful that they will lose our business, our friendship or our vote. Naturally, we don’t need to accept poor service, inadequate workmanship or a lack of caring about our needs but on the other hand, we do need to exercise a bit of understanding and common sense about limitations that may prevent us from receiving instant gratification.
Right now, the political landscape seems to be overrun by people promising the impossible and the impractical, offering solutions that appeal to the fear in us rather than the ambition and courage and willingness to extend a helping hand. Instead of having us step UP into a better world, they would have us step DOWN into a quagmire of mediocrity, anger and resentment. If this disappoints us, then we need to look inside to see if we do the same thing in our own life. Are we afraid to disappoint the people around us and so adjust our story as a parent, spouse, salesperson, contractor, medical professional, teacher, coach, and friend and offer what the other person WANTS to hear instead of what they NEED to hear?
If we expect better leadership then it starts with us by being willing to hear the difficult, disappointing and unpopular realities with a degree of understanding and common sense and yes, maybe even a sense of humour. It is a two way street – to hear the truth, we must be willing to speak the truth, or suffer the consequences of disappointment and worse. It’s never easy to tell someone that they are going to be unhappy with the answer but the courage to do so is what makes us all human. It is time for each of us to do what we can in our own lives so that we can expect the same honesty in our business and political lives. Let’s stop being fooled by fear mongering, scare tactics, over-promising and letting people tell us what they think we WANT to hear instead of what we NEED to hear to make better decisions, live better lives and go forward with a sense of joy and peace.
BOXER VS. BRIEFS
I originally posted this piece on January 22, 2008 on my old blog, Mindgass but for some reason feel compelled to reveal it again. If you are sensitive to certain sexist comments… well I apologize… sort of. Perhaps it was a degree of discomfort while sitting at my desk yesterday that has encouraged me to re-share this age old dilemma in the male world. For whatever reason, I offer this for your reading comfort and joy.
Well, sometimes we just have to take on the major issues of our time. We can’t get our shorts in a knot, become frustrated or shrink from our responsibilities. Ladies, this here is man talk and we must ask you not to read any further. We will be revealing feelings, confronting age old beliefs, and uncovering situations far too sensitive for your delicate eyes and ears. Thank you for reading no further.
OK, guys, now that it is just us, let’s get to business as we confront the age old question of mankind, “Whether ’tis nobler in the hind to suffer the slings and horrors of outrageous skivies, or is it better to cast aside our constrictions and embrace a modicum of independence.” Shakespeare said something like that until his editor insisted on a rewrite – really! I had thought about adding a poll to this blog to discover how many of us wear boxers and how many wear briefs, but I figured some of you would use a different spelling of the word “poll” and then we would degenerate into a series of bad puns, short jokes and all sorts of word mayhem would ensue.
It seems to me that there is a time and place for both voluminous boxers and form-fitting briefs alike.
Let’s face it, the women have it easy – they can wear almost anything, or better still nothing, so long as whatever they choose is combined with a garter belt and high heels – job done, the perfect outfit for any occasion. We, on the other hand, must give careful consideration to so many factors like colour, size, comfort, “dressing” preference and of course the potential for some kind of exposure. As you know, some things are just not right, for instance, while sitting on the patio in a pair of shorts, boxers are so inappropriate when your legs are akimbo and we can’t help but notice a significant degree of discomfort from those sitting across from us. In this case, briefs keep the package wrapped and there is little risk of sunburn as an added benefit. If the colour you choose is close to the colour of your outerwear, then a certain degree of mystery can heighten the curiosity of the opposite number (hopefully, they are also the opposite sex, but who am I to judge?). This is very important gentlemen, white briefs, sometimes referred to as, tighty whiteys, are only appropriate on two occasions – when you are playing tennis at a conventional club and if you are in the U.S. Navy and going on parade. 
Boxers also present a few issues that need to be discussed. Because of their excess fabric, we find that they often cling to our trousers and after sitting for any length of time, a certain adjustment is required to release their folds from our folds. This can be awkward in restaurants and other public places. I also find it dangerous to be hurtling down the highway and requiring a massive shift of undergarment in order to return my voice to its usually dulcet basso tones. Also, we need to address the manufacturers of said garments; the type of material you use is very important. Too often, we have found that boxers with funny sayings, beer signs and sports team logos are made of a very stiff fabric thus causing excessive chafing and discomfiture to the nether regions. And one more thing, is it too much to expect a button on every flap – for God’s sake, I’ll pay the extra 5 cents to avoid the feeling of helplessness when the boys are accidentally set free! This usually happens as I address a room full of people expecting wisdom and no lectern in sight.