Posted on 03/24/2014 1:16:42 AM PDT by carlo3b
*What did you expect? *We’re Americans!*
Pretty perceptive my FRiend.. I fancy myself more opportunityistic than opportunist.. I'm not afraid, or ashamed to jump on a bandwagon, or ride a wave..
If I had a leg-up in my achievements, was my vision of the future of the wave.. In other words, I looked at a fad and tried to envision it's natural evolution.. The gamble came in betting the family farm on my prediction..
The magnitude of the wager on the potential return of investment, was calculated on my willingness to trust my judgement, thus my success was measured by the length of my neck.. Ha!
You my dear FRiend are breathing RAREFIED air..
You ARE successful because you realize it.. Too many folks haven't enjoyed that feeling of accomplishment, because they haven't taken the time to asses their own achievements, as a victory..
They squandered that opportunity, watching with envy the other guy on a higher rung of the latter, not knowing what he may have lost on the rise..
The real cause of a midlife crisis, is the recognition of the fractured pieces of dreams, scattered about, and left behind in relationships, after adding up the true cost of the climb.. I know all too well..
Help his neighbors and Take care of himself.
When he does these three things to the best of his ability he meets God's Measure of a Man.
How much clearer can it be said..? It is so good to see once again my dear FRiend, we're a long, long, way from Elan aren't we? It was an interesting journey indeed.. :)
Sometimes it's the simplest tool in the box that gets the problem fixed the quickest.. Thank you.. :)
Stirring the sauce while it's still cooking, more often than not, improves the outcome.. I still see it as my duty to teach how to live a better life..
Sometimes I reach for a much bigger pot.. :)
Good to see you once again My dear Friend.. :)
At least your not pushing Bitcoin!
Glad to see you made it back Carlo3b!
It's amazing how many people miss the real point, isn't it? If they would scratch their heads and figure out what they are missing in life instead of scratching those Damned cards, 1-100,000,000 chance, they'd win every day.. RIGHT?.. LOL
OMG, can you believe there are adults that are still looking for the TOOTH FAIRY.. ha!
Our Gene pool was too shallow for that opportunity, I had to look for a fall-back position.. LOLOLOL
I was once interviewed by a young reporter that asked me if I had any advice to give younger kids as "Get Rich Quicker, Scheme"! I answered "Three jobs!"
He waited a few moments and finally said, "Thats it?" I said "Yep, thats it, works every time!.. Next.. :)
Here we are again, my dear girl, I’m still shootin my mouth.. LOLOLOLOL
Yep.. Priorities in place.. Carlo 3b, Dad/Chef/Author.. :)
After what I have been through in the last 5 years.. He has, my dear FRiend, indeed He has.. Thanks.. Carlo
Funny how we don't hear that as much as when Reagan was at the helm, isn't it? Have faith my fellow Freepers, have faith in Americans to recover from these despots in quick order, once we get them the Hell out of our lives..
VOTE, get your friends and family and whomever you can drag to the polls in November and beyond.. VOTE, PROMOTE, POKE, whatever.. :)
That "lottery mentality" extends way beyond literally playing the lottery and other forms of gambling. Most lawsuits are driven by unrealistic expectations. Love life, work advancement, you name it - unrealistic expectations can bear sour fruit, disappointment. Unrealistic expectations can be a force for good too, depending on how a person takes failure. But very few people take it (failure, disappointment) well.
But happiness, well, that is literally a state of mind. It is also a powerful force.
That “lottery mentality” extends way beyond literally playing the lottery and other forms of gambling.
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I used to gamble and it got to the point where 2 flys would be nearby and ‘we’ would bet on which one landed closest to ____??.
I have been WAY up and WAY down and life is sure a lot better when one is WAY up.
It took a while but I finally realized it wasn’t the winning or losing (other than the ‘deep’ depression when figuring out how to pay off that loss) it was basically the ‘action’, the ‘thrill of the chase’.
I eventually stopped and restrict my ‘gambling’ to the “lotto” that has an ‘instant payout’ of 100 million plus.
But even that has its limits - I won’t stand in line for a ticket (well a couple of people BUT if ‘they’ start putting together combinations etc, I will NOT wait), I will NOT put back a loaf of bread or stop the gas pump early so as to have the ‘5 bucks’ to try and hit the 400 million jackpot.
Fortunately, VA has many outlets so waiting for tickets is rare.
And when the payoff of 400 mill goes to another ‘person’ I look at it as I ‘won’ because I am now saving (about) 10 bucks a week till it builds up again.
Well since I no longer drink, smoke or gamble, I am working on that 3rd million, HAVING long ago given up on the 1st two mill.
At this particular stage in my being,
When I set sail for that ‘home port’ in the sky,
no one will have to worry about paying a huge inheritance tax,
there will be no ‘fight’ over my possessions
but I do know that I left behind 2 successful daughters and some great grandkids and have started with a greatgrandkid..
My epitaph could/should read.
HE Could have done better.
HE Could have done worse.
BUT he did Serve his Country, also doing his part in helping to make the World and Country a ‘better’ place,
doing the best he was able with what he had.
Or even...
May you be long dead, buried and present in Heaven, long before the Devil even suspects you are ill.
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