Due to public outrage....okay....actually only one or two of you have really busted my chops, I am composing this short update and will link it to Facebook when I RE-activate my account.
I deactivated my Facebook account about ten days ago and explained why in my last blog post in here. The problem is, my adoring fans will only read my blog if they can click on the link on my timeline. Your admiration obviously has its limits. Consequently, I am being hammered as to my disappearance in public, in emails, and texts. But only a handful have actually typed in the blog address and looked for updates. At least, I know who my REAL friends are!
Here's the bottom line with social media.....Do you remember when we were kids and some old, wise sage would remind us that, "It's better to look stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt?"
In my humble opinion, Facebook and Twitter fly in direct opposition to that proverb. Come on people! I pour my guts out in here and bare my soul in terms of my intolerance and the attitude that I'm surrounded by idiots. Then, I open my Facebook page early in the morning, with a fresh cup of coffee and you do nothing but build my case stronger! If it were not so SAD, it would be HILARIOUS.
Then, all I can hear is Shoe's comments ringing in my ears. He says, "Kev, I don't do Facebook. Number 1, it's a tool of Satan. And number 2, I'm a grown-a** man!" Could Shoe be right?
So, without arguing all the pros and cons of Facebook, I would like to offer ONE piece of advice: PLEASE USE YOUR HEAD FOR SOMETHING BESIDES A HAT RACK BEFORE YOU CLICK "SHARE!"
Just because there is a picture of Abe Lincoln there and he's credited with the quote, he PROBABLY did not say ANYTHING about the Internet!
Trust me on this! Abe Lincoln, Albert Einstein, and Adolph Hitler never uttered 5% of the things they are credited with in social media. If you are a little weak in History, and evidently you are, please do a little research before you share something that makes you look like a blithering idiot. What's the worst that could happen? You might just learn something!
I have no problem with the hypocrisy I am exhibiting by once again rejoining Facebook. And, at the end of the day, Facebook allows me to keep up with my kids and my family. Although, my Old Man and I are still too proud for either of us to friend request the other.
So, I will be back by morning, if not, late tonight. Last night was the first night I really missed Facebook. I learned of the death of Kidd Kraddick and really wanted to log in to Facebook to see what everyone was saying. RIP Kidd!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
One Step Forward. Two Steps Back!
With this, the 26th Post to Cheaper Than Therapy, I am getting back to where this thing all began. This post will look more like a "dear diary" or "journal entry" as it is highly likely that I will be the only one to see it.
Facebook has been my primary source of readership. With my recent "Two Steps Back," I deactivated my Facebook account and now folks will only read my little experiment by accident.
Why the two steps back? I DON'T KNOW! Actually, I do. But I can't force myself to be that transparent. Actually, I can. But, it would be at the expense of others and I'm not willing to inflict that damage and deal with the likely consequences.
Simply put, I am not past the "Season of Resentment" I spoke of a few weeks ago. I am letting others rob me of my serenity and the number one manifestation of that is gross INTOLERANCE.
When I say intolerance---you have NO idea what I mean. Any normal person would be crushed under the pressure I put on myself to show complete disdain for everything and everyone around me.
I don't want to see your recipes, pictures of your puppy, or hear the details of your vacation. I am "Trayvonned" out! I don't care if you sleep with an arsenal of guns in the bed with you or if you are a tree-hugging liberal who wants to save the Snail Darter! I don't CARE! And I can't do YOU right now.
On the flip side---you should be delighted with every joke, every link, and every comment I make. Anyone see the problem here?
I was sitting in a group discussion Monday night where everyone was discussing how humble they were. Did you catch that? Everyone was describing the level of humility they had attained in their life. When it came my turn, I said, "We do NOT have enough time for me to TEACH you people how to REALLY be humble." Two steps back.
I've heard dozens of definitions of humility. I think the "cutest" one is----Humility is not thinking less of yourself----but thinking of yourself LESS. Ha! That's a good one. If that's true, then I have NEVER met a humble person in my life!
The only definition of humility that I have ever been able to reconcile in my twisted brain is that humility is simply being "teachable."
Two steps back? I am currently not teachable! Plain and simple. I don't want to hear it and I especially don't want to hear it from YOU. Unfortunately, "YOU" encompasses everything and everybody in my life.
Two steps back? Oh yes! Pride. Pride. Pride. The one defect that makes everyone sick except the one who has it.
Facebook has been my primary source of readership. With my recent "Two Steps Back," I deactivated my Facebook account and now folks will only read my little experiment by accident.
Why the two steps back? I DON'T KNOW! Actually, I do. But I can't force myself to be that transparent. Actually, I can. But, it would be at the expense of others and I'm not willing to inflict that damage and deal with the likely consequences.
Simply put, I am not past the "Season of Resentment" I spoke of a few weeks ago. I am letting others rob me of my serenity and the number one manifestation of that is gross INTOLERANCE.
When I say intolerance---you have NO idea what I mean. Any normal person would be crushed under the pressure I put on myself to show complete disdain for everything and everyone around me.
I don't want to see your recipes, pictures of your puppy, or hear the details of your vacation. I am "Trayvonned" out! I don't care if you sleep with an arsenal of guns in the bed with you or if you are a tree-hugging liberal who wants to save the Snail Darter! I don't CARE! And I can't do YOU right now.
On the flip side---you should be delighted with every joke, every link, and every comment I make. Anyone see the problem here?
I was sitting in a group discussion Monday night where everyone was discussing how humble they were. Did you catch that? Everyone was describing the level of humility they had attained in their life. When it came my turn, I said, "We do NOT have enough time for me to TEACH you people how to REALLY be humble." Two steps back.
I've heard dozens of definitions of humility. I think the "cutest" one is----Humility is not thinking less of yourself----but thinking of yourself LESS. Ha! That's a good one. If that's true, then I have NEVER met a humble person in my life!
The only definition of humility that I have ever been able to reconcile in my twisted brain is that humility is simply being "teachable."
Two steps back? I am currently not teachable! Plain and simple. I don't want to hear it and I especially don't want to hear it from YOU. Unfortunately, "YOU" encompasses everything and everybody in my life.
Two steps back? Oh yes! Pride. Pride. Pride. The one defect that makes everyone sick except the one who has it.
Monday, July 8, 2013
I Resemble That Remark
When a joke, jab, or insult is directed my way, a customary response is, "I resemble that remark." That's a lie! I do not resemble that remark. I RESENT it! In every joke, there's a little bit of truth. And if you are brave enough to point out one of my flaws in a group setting, fasten your seat belt. Because, there WILL be a response. It will be swift, certain, and often times caustic. I generally do not play well with others, and I seldom play fair.
I'm a little shocked that I'm well over twenty posts into this little experiment and this is my first "go" at this whole idea of resentments. Maybe it's because I've been sitting on a couple of good ones for a few months and they are starting to eat my lunch. Justified? Certainly! All of my resentments are justified. In general, YOU make me nuts! And there is so much temporary relief in resenting you and your defects. I take some kind of sick joy in it. And the best part is......as long as I'm concentrating on you, I do NOT have to look at myself.
In former posts, I've shared my affection for attorneys and their willingness to tell on themselves (outside the courtroom, of course). It's been over twenty years since I heard this example of a resentment and it had a profound impact on my understanding of how my twisted mind thinks.
I was listening to a fairly prominent attorney discuss resentments and he had a "dandy" that he shared with the audience. It seems that one of the people he hated most and resented greatly was the president of the local Bar Association. He went into much detail about this guy because he obviously thought he would make a much better president of the Bar. He attended a more prominent Law School. He worked for much "higher-tone" law firm. He made a lot more money. He participated in cases of higher notoriety. He lived in a bigger house. He drove a nicer car. On and on and on, this gentleman droned and almost worked himself into a lather over the fact the he thought he should be the president of the Bar and not this charlatan who was.
Then, he made a statement I will never forget. He said, "Mind you, I had NEVER been to a meeting of the local Bar Association!"
What? Did I miss something here? Do I need to hear the defense of his position again? The answer is no! Because as embarrassing and silly as his admission was.....I whole-heartedly and completely understood it. In fact, I resembled that remark!
What I learned that night (and seemed to have forgotten over the last few months) is that most of my resentments are imagined. And the real ones are just as useless and time-consuming as the imagined ones. That's not even taking into consideration the fact that I need to dedicate an entire post to the concept that the very thing I hate most about you is the very characteristic that is most like me.
Resentments render me useless. The "free rent" they take in my mind rob me of precious brain space that I could employ in more productive ways. They pour gas on the fire of restlessness and irritability that you've read about in here so many times.
In some circles, resentments are referred to as the "number one offender." For me, that could not be a truer statement. It's time for me to get past this "season of resentment" and get on with being the productive man I was created to be.
I'm a little shocked that I'm well over twenty posts into this little experiment and this is my first "go" at this whole idea of resentments. Maybe it's because I've been sitting on a couple of good ones for a few months and they are starting to eat my lunch. Justified? Certainly! All of my resentments are justified. In general, YOU make me nuts! And there is so much temporary relief in resenting you and your defects. I take some kind of sick joy in it. And the best part is......as long as I'm concentrating on you, I do NOT have to look at myself.
In former posts, I've shared my affection for attorneys and their willingness to tell on themselves (outside the courtroom, of course). It's been over twenty years since I heard this example of a resentment and it had a profound impact on my understanding of how my twisted mind thinks.
I was listening to a fairly prominent attorney discuss resentments and he had a "dandy" that he shared with the audience. It seems that one of the people he hated most and resented greatly was the president of the local Bar Association. He went into much detail about this guy because he obviously thought he would make a much better president of the Bar. He attended a more prominent Law School. He worked for much "higher-tone" law firm. He made a lot more money. He participated in cases of higher notoriety. He lived in a bigger house. He drove a nicer car. On and on and on, this gentleman droned and almost worked himself into a lather over the fact the he thought he should be the president of the Bar and not this charlatan who was.
Then, he made a statement I will never forget. He said, "Mind you, I had NEVER been to a meeting of the local Bar Association!"
What? Did I miss something here? Do I need to hear the defense of his position again? The answer is no! Because as embarrassing and silly as his admission was.....I whole-heartedly and completely understood it. In fact, I resembled that remark!
What I learned that night (and seemed to have forgotten over the last few months) is that most of my resentments are imagined. And the real ones are just as useless and time-consuming as the imagined ones. That's not even taking into consideration the fact that I need to dedicate an entire post to the concept that the very thing I hate most about you is the very characteristic that is most like me.
Resentments render me useless. The "free rent" they take in my mind rob me of precious brain space that I could employ in more productive ways. They pour gas on the fire of restlessness and irritability that you've read about in here so many times.
In some circles, resentments are referred to as the "number one offender." For me, that could not be a truer statement. It's time for me to get past this "season of resentment" and get on with being the productive man I was created to be.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Colonel Jessup Was Right!
There is no doubt in my mind that writing a post today is a bad idea. I am ill and have an appointment with the Doc in a couple hours. I did not sleep well this weekend and I am restless, irritable, and discontent. No, I'm not. I'm just plain angry! What's new? Right?
This post, however, has been simmering for some time. I had actually planned to continue with the Golden Calf theme for a few weeks. The idolatry idea hit a nerve with many of you and the responses were very interesting, to say the least. My reading this past week has confirmed something that I've been thinking about for long time.
I'm half way through the second book I received on Tuesday concerning Jesus. Bear with me, you Agnostic types! There is no need for you to roll your eyes and abort the page! These two books are affirming and confirming something that Stainless and I have talked about on numerous occasions.
Colonel Jessup was right! In A Few Good Men, when the Nicholson character screamed as only Nicholson can, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!", he summed up the human dilemma in its entirety.
The life of Jesus confirmed this truth 2,000 years ago. Like Him or not, believe Him or not, relationship with Him or not....one does not have to read very much about this guy to understand that He dedicated his entire life to trying to shine light in a very dark place and all it got Him was MURDERED!
I tried it a couple of times this past week. I just tried to shine some light. I didn't get murdered, but I believe that's what was on their hearts.
Guess what? I Do Not Care! And I'm more and more convinced that the "way you say it", or the "tone" of your voice, or as the Christians say "speak the truth in Love" has absolutely NOTHING to do with it!
Evidently, I can't handle the truth. Certainly, you can't handle the truth, either. And we are going to give it every kind of label under the Sun to dismiss it. Harsh, judgemental, intolerant, PHOBIC. Please tell me just WHEN on God's green earth did the REALITY arise that whenever I see something that is unacceptable to me, that I have some kind of PHOBIA about it?
I find the wearing of pants below one's butt cheeks, exposing their boxer-covered ass to the world totally and completely unacceptable. However, I am not "Pants Below Butt Cheeks, Exposing Ass---PHOBIC!"
I already know that I lose this argument. We discussed a few weeks ago, that we now live in a world where Truth is created. I've offended entire groups of people, in a public meeting environment, on a couple of occasions this year. On both occasions, I was ASKED to speak. Unfortunately, on those occasions, I made the mistake of trying to shine a little light into a dark place.
So, eventually, the only person reading this Blog will be me. As I recall, I started this Blog for me, anyway. If you are not prepared for the answer, Please Do Not Ask the Question!
And, if you want to be popular, accepted, and loved by all, for crying out loud, please do not shine any light! You may just get a butt-whipping you are not prepared to take!
This post, however, has been simmering for some time. I had actually planned to continue with the Golden Calf theme for a few weeks. The idolatry idea hit a nerve with many of you and the responses were very interesting, to say the least. My reading this past week has confirmed something that I've been thinking about for long time.
I'm half way through the second book I received on Tuesday concerning Jesus. Bear with me, you Agnostic types! There is no need for you to roll your eyes and abort the page! These two books are affirming and confirming something that Stainless and I have talked about on numerous occasions.
Colonel Jessup was right! In A Few Good Men, when the Nicholson character screamed as only Nicholson can, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!", he summed up the human dilemma in its entirety.
The life of Jesus confirmed this truth 2,000 years ago. Like Him or not, believe Him or not, relationship with Him or not....one does not have to read very much about this guy to understand that He dedicated his entire life to trying to shine light in a very dark place and all it got Him was MURDERED!
I tried it a couple of times this past week. I just tried to shine some light. I didn't get murdered, but I believe that's what was on their hearts.
Guess what? I Do Not Care! And I'm more and more convinced that the "way you say it", or the "tone" of your voice, or as the Christians say "speak the truth in Love" has absolutely NOTHING to do with it!
Evidently, I can't handle the truth. Certainly, you can't handle the truth, either. And we are going to give it every kind of label under the Sun to dismiss it. Harsh, judgemental, intolerant, PHOBIC. Please tell me just WHEN on God's green earth did the REALITY arise that whenever I see something that is unacceptable to me, that I have some kind of PHOBIA about it?
I find the wearing of pants below one's butt cheeks, exposing their boxer-covered ass to the world totally and completely unacceptable. However, I am not "Pants Below Butt Cheeks, Exposing Ass---PHOBIC!"
I already know that I lose this argument. We discussed a few weeks ago, that we now live in a world where Truth is created. I've offended entire groups of people, in a public meeting environment, on a couple of occasions this year. On both occasions, I was ASKED to speak. Unfortunately, on those occasions, I made the mistake of trying to shine a little light into a dark place.
So, eventually, the only person reading this Blog will be me. As I recall, I started this Blog for me, anyway. If you are not prepared for the answer, Please Do Not Ask the Question!
And, if you want to be popular, accepted, and loved by all, for crying out loud, please do not shine any light! You may just get a butt-whipping you are not prepared to take!
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