Life Lessons: Positivism

I’ve come to the point where I’m thinking more and more about the meaning of life. Has this happened to you? Perhaps, it’s my mid-life crisis come early. What are the most important ideals by which we live our lives? There are so many candidates! Hugh Hewitt’s book, In, But Not Of (see book at right) does a marvelous job of addressing many of these concepts. I highly recommend it to anyone who, if I may borrow a phrase, is looking to be “all that you can be.”

So here I am. Sitting idly in an airport. Could be anywhere, the location hardly seems to matter. And my mind comes to a character trait that is so immensely important, but one that I’m severely lacking. The layman would call it, “Making the best of a bad situation.” Is that optimism? Positivism? There’s a word you rarely hear.

Take, for example, my current situation. Opportunities have arisen that allow me to jaunt across the country, with an expense account mind you, and tell people what to do and how to do it. Did I mention that I‚Äôm well paid? The field is nothing mundane, quite the opposite. It‚Äôs the only industry (that I‚Äôm aware of) that’s been consistently called sexy—the Internet. With all this going for me, how can I be so miserable? Let me tell you.

Separation Anxiety
I used to be a sanguine. Ever take a personality profile? Great fun. Ask any non-sanguine. I could be surrounded by hundreds of people and thrive. Today, I’d feel like a marathoner at the 23rd mile marker.

Times have changed. I’m almost a recluse. Nowadays I make Gollum look like Robin Williams. It’s not that I don’t like people, it’s just that I need a triple-double-espresso to keep up. People wear on me. Apparently, my wiring has changed.

While this sounds quite negative, it actually makes me a candidate for Husband and/or Father of the Year consideration. There’s little I enjoy more than spending time with my family. My wife and I have one of those marriages where when we say we’re best friends, it’s God’s honest truth. So being away from home on business has turned into top-shelf drudgery.

That’s where my axiom comes in. How can I make the best of it? How does God want me to respond?

Turn the Beat Around
I want to be the kind of person who, when stranded alone and hungry on a desert island builds a championship golf course and is now accepting offers from the Four Seasons. Easier said than done, I know.

So the challenge lies before me. A puzzle for the Mensa minded. Lemonade out of lemons. Time to put my thinking cap on. It may be impossible given my temperament but I’m not one to give up. Besides, if a solution can be found, it’d be grand wisdom to pass on through my lineage.

Life is certain to throw each of us a share of hardship, pain and suffering. How we react, well, that‚Äôs not ‚Äúthe breaks.‚Äù It’s an opportunity.

T.O. Is “181% ” Ready-to-Go

Despite the doctors, Terrell Owens says, “I will play on Sunday.” Now if only the Eagles would help T.O. gain a little confidence. Bah! What am I thinking?

Listerine with a Twist of Lime

Desparate times call for desparate measures. Apparently. Because when Carol Ries needed a drink and nothing was handy, Listerine fit the bill. Actually, I may be too kind. Perhaps the ugly-faced elixer is her drink de jour? In any event, a DUI followed and as Fark likes to say, jailsanity ensued.