Notes to self

Right or wrong

It’s not important whether you’re right or wrong. What’s important if recognizing when you’re wrong and correcting it as quick as possible. I think people put so much emphasis on trying to be right all of the time, but allow themselves to languish in doing the wrong thing.

Big things, and little things

I think what people miss the most is how important it is to do the little things right because they have implications into how you’re going to handle the bigger things. If you’re careless with the little things, then you’ll be careless with the big things. If you’re crass with the little things, then you’ll be crass with the big things. If you’re scared of the little things, then you’ll be scared of the big things. Use the little things to improve the big things.

I think that most people do a lot of different things, but very few continue to do them over and over again. A lot of people exercise, or start a new fitness plan, but very few continue with it past a few weeks or after they hit their goal. A lot of people cook, or make the time to prepare their food, but eventually it fizzles out and ordering delivery or eating out is just easier.

Everyone is not fine

Everyone is just pretending like their fine. We saw Bill Burr the other night. He had a joke about how guys are only allowed to be happy or fine (I forget the joke). But it’s not just guys. It’s everyone. We went to the movies tonight and the girl at the counter was reading This is where I leave you. A great book, that was made into a movie, that I read. I commented on the book to her and how much I enjoyed it. She ended up telling me that it’s been really good for her and really relatable because her father passed away a few years ago, and it’s been good to read and help her with her grieving process.

When she finished telling me her story, I told her I was sorry to hear about her father. She said thanks, but not to worry, she was fine.

I’m not a psychologist, but I could tell from our brief conversation that she was not fine. She couldn’t have been more than 20, and it was clear that the loss of her father at such a young age had impacted her. As it should. I don’t think there’s any age where it wouldn’t impact you, let alone while you’re still a kid. But for some reason she thinks she has to be fine. It’s a real problem in our society. It’s one that I’m guilty of as well.

Which is why I really try to tell the truth now as much as possible, and let out whatever it is I’m feeling that’s making me not fine. Fine is such a vanilla way to characterize how you’re feeling. No one who says they are fine is fine. It’s a cop out answer and it’s not a real feeling.

Cooking and eating

Part of the process of eating is preparing the food. So, if you are not preparing your meals, you are eating processed food. Even if someone makes it for you. You miss out on the benefits that come with being part of the preparation process. I don’t know what it is, but there is power in your body getting prepared to eat while you prepare the food.

On a deeper level, if the majority of your meals are not prepared from scratch by you. If you’re not perusing the aisles deciding what to buy. If you’re not scanning your refrigerator to decide what to prepare, then you never truly satisfy your needs. Because only when you control the meal, can you truly follow your intuition, and feed what you’re body needs.

Cancer and weeds

Cancer is like weeds. Or weeds are like cancer. You don’t need to knock it all out in one shot. But you do need to keep beating it back, and never let them take over the yard. You also don’t need to blitz them with chemicals. You just need to maintain and stay ahead. Cancerous cells are in all of us. Our body is fighting a constant battle, and we need to help it.

It’s true sometimes an infestation or a non-native species invades, but that’s the exception, not the rule.