Other People's Thoughts

I have come across some writings by other people that "Tickle my thought processes" or "Ring True" to me (although I don't agree with every detail, the message is valid). I will share a few of them with you.




Thoughts on Our Time ~ by George Carlin ~
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Griz Note: 38% of the global population are currently either overweight or obese and world hunger is at an all time high. Both obesity and hunger are escalating.
At least 2.8 million adults die each year from overweight or obesity.
At least 9 million people die each year from hunger.




Attitude ~ by Charles Swindoll ~
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures; than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, a giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past.. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes."




Patriotism ~ by William Shakespeare ~
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind....And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."




Bill of No Rights ~ generally attributed to Lewis Napper (before 2003) ~
"We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and our great-great- great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common-sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a Bill of No Rights."

ARTICLE I:
You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II:
You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be ... and like the rest of us you need to simply deal with it.

ARTICLE III:
You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV:
You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V:
You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI:
You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII:
You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV, pool tables, weight rooms or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII:
You don't have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of part time jobs, education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX:
You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness --which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X:
This is an English-speaking country. We don't care where you are from. We welcome you here. English is our language and like the one you left behind; we also have a culture. Learn it or go back to the country and the living conditions you were fleeing.




The Important Things ~ paraphrased by Griz from unknown source ~
A Philosophy 101 professor filled a large jar with golf balls - students agreed it was full.

Then added box of pebbles, shook lightly - students agreed it was full.

Then added box of sand, shook lightly - all agreed it was full.

Then poured in can of beer.

"This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your family, your partner, your health, your environment, etc. -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be good."

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car."

"The sand is everything else -- the small stuff!"

"If you put the sand and pebbles in the jar first, it is impossible (no matter how much you shake it up) to fit all the golf balls."

"The same goes for your life. Take care of the golf balls first. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for all the things that are important in your life. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your survival, your species, your planet, your fullfillment. There will always be time to have a beer."

Griz Note: Overtly determine what "your" priorities in life are. Do not just assume those of the masses or those of your parents or wait for someone else to define them for you. You must define them and work on each in the appropriate order and level of effort. Quite often the sequence you deal with items restricts your ability to properly address what is most important to you.




Being Human ~ by Robert Heinlein ~
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."




Maxims of Management ~ author unknown ~
1) Responsibility must be equal to authority. You're not effective if your boss is an idiot, and you're always putting out fires you didn't start, or don't have the water to put them out.

2) Lead from the front. You cannot manage people if you cannot do all their jobs well enough to provide examples.

3) Accountability. If you are in charge, everything is your fault. Full stop. End of sentence.

4) "Management" has one definition. Getting things done through people. You either have it, or you don't. If you don't you won't learn it from a book.

5) Building successful teams is dynamic. You are never done; it is a constant work in progress. Plan, execute, evaluate.

6) 7 P's. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

7) Hire the best people you can find. Delegate as much responsibility as they can handle. Motivate them. Learn from them.

Thats it. That is all there is to management.




Loner ~ by Albert Einstein ~
My passionate interest in social justice and social responsibility has always stood in curious contrast to a marked lack of desire for direct association with men and women.

I am a horse for single harness, not cut out for tandem or team work. I have never belonged whole-heartedly to country or state, to my circle of friends or even to my family.

These ties have always been accompanied by a vague aloofness, and the wish to withdraw into myself increases with the years.

Such isolation is sometimes bitter, but I do not regret being cut off from the understanding and sympathy of other men.

I lose something by it, to be sure, but I am compensated for it in being rendered independent of the customs, opinions, and prejudices of others, and am not tempted to rest my peace of mind upon such shifting foundations.

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