Ok, I Get It

Hit me over the head with a hammer, I get it. Some lessons I pick up pretty quickly, it's a breeze. Other things, like the big things, not so. And once learned, I need refresher courses, or I slip back into my pre-lesson ways. Why is that? Just another question that has no apparent answer.
So if you want advice, although you may have figured this out already, take it from someone who is persistently trying to figure out if there's an easier, faster, better way.


There are no mistakes- I learned this from Kung Fu Panda. If you mess up, it's probably a direct or indirect result of some action you took (see above) trying to take the easy way out. You can never say, "I really didn't mean to do that," because what you really meant is, "I didn't think before I did that."

There are no short cuts- See above. A short cut means taking the easy way out; and not experiencing what you were meant to experience taking the full blown tour. Like taking an exit to avoid a traffic delay and getting to a dead end. Like taking steroids.

No cutting corners-The corners are the best part-that's where all the details lie-if you cut corners, then really you are not square any more, you are a circle. And we all know what happens when you start spinning inside a circle, there is no way out. This is almost like no shortcuts, but not really.

Actions speak louder than words-this has been around forever, and its true. Enough said.

The Journey is the Destination- It really is. It's all about the journey, not getting there first. If you don't slow down, you are going to miss what' s hiding out in the corners of that square. It is truly all about slowing down and living each moment the way it was meant to be.

Live on the edge-A life with no edges is a circle, and even though life is metaphorically a circle, it is also about edges. To experience all life has to offer, you must take it to the edge, without going over the edge. It's called working out, not wimping out. It's called getting to all 4 corners. It's called occasionally slipping over the edge, but working your ass off to climb back on and do it all over again.

Life is hard-taking the easy way out may seem like a good idea at first, but it brings you right back to where you started, quickly. .Like going to the gym and cutting out with 2 crunches left; or stopping your run with 30 seconds left on the clock. No pain, no gain, remember that?
Life is hard because of the lessons we have to learn. Life is hard because the consequences of our actions sometimes mean starting over again. The good news is, you always have the ability within you to make it happen if you trust in yourself.

So remember this when you are preparing to cook your Thanksgiving meal:
Nobody likes cold mashed potatoes-heat them thoroughly; nobody likes pumpkin rolls sans sugar- slow down and read ALL the ingredients before popping something into the oven; nobody likes runny whipped cream-whipping cream takes patience; but most of all, truly take the time to enjoy the table, the food, the family, the friends, and the day-no matter what happens.

For those of you who cannot be with your families....life is hard. There are no short cuts. It will all be worth it.