Some things are certain. A lot is not. Much is only conjecture. And some things are true or practical only in certain circumstances. But, if what we suppose is useful, the supposition serves a sure-enough purpose in the moment.
Developing a common-ground knowledge of what IS and what WORKS is a compelling engagement. Many do NOT know or understand some basic precepts of life and most of us who DO know at least some of them don’t always follow them. This foible causes great angst and earnst, truncates potential and possibilities, and can get us into much more trouble than we rightfully “deserve”.
The list of what we know is long … and getting longer … as it should. But let that not deter us from getting some very fundamental stuff on the docket. We generally act on what we believe. But let us first be sure of what we know. Here’s a beginning list of what I believe we know “for sure” – or should:
Life isn’t fair.
What we think we know – even if “plausible” – doesn’t always pass the litmus test of durable goods; It won’t hold water in a flood or stand up to wind in a storm.
Everything we need to know was definitely not conveyed to us in kindergarten.
While perfection may not be a justifiable end, in itself,
perfection is not imponderable and certainly not unapproachable.
And, while perfection may be impossible in some circumstances,
excellence is not, and an all-out effort is not.
Ownership and productivity have replaced seniority as the prime tickets to promotion and tenure … to sustainable engagement.
What we decide we’re willing to “settle for” bears no relation to what the universe will allow or to what we will eventually need or to what we think we “deserve”.
The ante keeps going UP.
NOW lasts only a moment but can have permanent consequences.
Hard work is more likely to be rewarded than light work or no work.
Purposeful engagement is more enlifening than diversional engagement.
Time poorly spent and choices poorly made are ultimately penalized.
Some mistakes are unrecoverable.
Opportunities are irrelevant to the unprepared.
Extra effort is required for extra credit.
“Due Diligence” is sometimes not enough.
Downhill is the only direction things move when left untended.
Some things aren’t really worth “all the effort you can muster”.
Some things aren’t worth any effort at all.
Some things are only worth avoiding. (Work is not one of them!)
Royalty aside, people considered “Special” do more than expected, not less.
Unscheduled time is not “Free Time”; it can be very expensive if used poorly.
“Natural inclinations” are generally detrimental to our welfare.
Change is disarmingly slow and imperceptibly of great consequence.
The universe has a lot of “give” … but not so much as we’re inclined to “take”.
Habits form spontaneously. “Good Habits” are acquired only with purposeful applied effort.
Virtual effortlessness – the ability to say “There was nothing to it” – is only possible because of effort already applied … by somebody.
Gravity rules. UP is much harder to acquire than DOWN. But the company of winners is so much more enlifening than the company of losers, and the view from UP is so much clearer and inspiring than the view from DOWN and BEHIND.
* * * * * * * * * *
This is only a starter list.
And, still, in all, it’s important to retain a healthy skepticism about what we think we know.
“One can’t be too sure of certain things.”
Halfmaster
When in doubt, err in the most positive direction!
Each of us has an “Achilles Heel” – a “fatal flaw”, though it may be latent until too late to deal with or compensate for. Some of us know what at least one of ours is. Many do not. I, personally, act on the conviction that I don’t know, and purposely try to over-compensate with the hope that nobody finds out. Quartermaster
