2020: A Time For Clarity

[Mozart]

This’ll be a strange thread, but I’ve been dealing with an illness in my family over the past 5 weeks. I’ve had some time to think. About priorities, plans, actions to start, actions to cease, dreams, my role and responsibility, etc.

The year is 2020. 2020 is perfect vision. 2020 means CLARITY.

What things are becoming more clear to you? What wisdom can you offer? Are there lessons that you had to learn the hard way that you can pass on to others? No one needs to get too personal. I just want us to be able to encourage each other, particularly those members who may be going through a difficult time.

So what clarity have you experienced?

[Diamondback]

In the long run, it's all small stuff. The things that matter are your good name, your self-respect and your loved ones; everything else is secondary to those.

Makes life a LOT simpler when you KISS like that...

[ABNAK]

Make sure, in no uncertain terms, that people who you care about know it and people who have helped you know your appreciation (in most cases these two categories overlap).

"Please" and "Thank you" don't cost you anything, use them freely!

[SomeOtherGuy]

There's always some looming crisis and probably will be for the rest of your life. Live your life to the fullest you can - date, get married, buy a house, have kids, go on vacation, do hobbies or sports, whatever is fun and rewarding for you.

Death will get each of us eventually. It may be in the Wuhan-flu pandemic, or the "big igloo," or it may the mundane: car accidents, cancer, heart attack at 55. You don't know when or how it will happen. You can't. Live life regardless.

I'm preaching this because since 2008, I've been guilty of worrying too much and living too little. I've changed that in the last couple years, and I'm doing my best to go farther yet.

[Krazykarl]

Live simply. It will never be how much clutter you have accumulated. It will have been the memories you have amassed.

Put your family first. Will some one else raise my child as well as I have when I am suddenly gone? My legacy will have been the creation of well adjusted and contributing members to our society. When my dad died, his career of science was simply discarded. It forever changed me. My legacy is people. People whose lives I have made a difference in through my profession. And the people who I live with.

Never take your health for granted. Having buried 2 colleagues this past year, living every day completely is essential. Take as good care of yourself as possible. My daughter's anorexia has also been life changing. Being a parent is tough. Being a parent who truly gives a shit is the hardest job I have ever had. But worth it. Watching her struggle is soul sucking. But I know she is determined to beat ED.

I love my life. It is simple. It is rich with friends and family. It is wholesome.

[Campbell]

I just hope you have clarity and peace in this time, and understand many are standing at the precipice with you. While difficult, it’s a natural hurdle of life.

[Mozart]

Thanks guys, good stuff.

Life is a roller coaster. There will always be Ups and Downs, until the end. (Often times within the same year!)

The trick is to realize when life is good, and to cherish it and be grateful. Too often I’ve failed to see how well things were going and continued to bitch about the trivial. Then later things get immeasurably worse and I long for those good times. So we need to take the time to be thankful and grateful for the good times.

Everyone’s healthy?
Bills are getting paid?
Relationships are strong?
Happy memories being made?

Then take a moment and smile, and reflect that this has been a good stretch. And when this stretch ends and you go through the ringer for a while, realize that this too shall pass. It’ll be good again soon.

[SteyrAUG]

Put your heavy glass beer mugs in the freezer door and every beverage tastes amazing.

Life is too short to eat bad pizza.

A beautiful girl with no tattoos is something of a unicorn.

If you can, find 30 minutes a day to walk your dog or some similar activity where you simply enjoy the life you have. I have a Dairy Queen within walking distance of my house and I'm trying hard to not have that become my "zen moment of the day", but man I love DQ fudge.

I'm currently rereading all of the books I've amassed in the last 30 years. It's easier than trying to find new books that are interesting.

[SteyrAUG]

Make sure, in no uncertain terms, that people who you care about know it and people who have helped you know your appreciation (in most cases these two categories overlap).

"Please" and "Thank you" don't cost you anything, use them freely!

Always gone with "Man, if you didn't help me that time I'd really have been screwed."

[Arik]

Do you. Don't worry about what others are doing. Don't worry where everyone else is at.

Family comes first no matter the politics (internal or otherwise). Life long friends, a close second

Reach out to those you haven't seen in a long time. You never know when it's theirs, or your, last day!

Don't let work or current events dominate your life.