(Pre-post note about re-post:
Dear friends:
I’m self-employed and the busiest time of my professional life is usually shortly after the end of each calendar quarter, as that is when I write and send to all of my Clients personalized letters along with reports regarding how their portfolios have done. As it is that time of the quarter right now, I’m putting extra focus on that activity until it is completed. I apologize for delays in communicating with you, enjoying your posts, etc. I hope to have all of the “quarterlies” out within the next week or so, but in the meantme it is likely that you’ll be receiving fewer posts, “likes”, and comments from me despite my best effort to respond to you in a timely mnner. As part of those efforts, I will most likely do some re-posts–such as the one below–for newer readers. I apologize to earlier followers for the re-runs.
Thank you all for your patience, support, and friendship!
From a truly grateful man,
Russ)
—
I was recently reminded of a saying that I like and believe is true. It is below, but I’ve taken some creative license with it.
‘There is enough good in the worst of us, and enough bad in the best of us, that it behooves all of us to cut each other some slack.’
I often put that concept to good use. For example, when a driver cuts me off or does something else that I consider rude, mindless, or dangerous, and I find anger or frustration building inside of me, I attempt to remember to remind myself that I have sometimes done rude things while driving.
Sometimes when I’ve run late for an important meeting, haven’t had enough sleep, was angry about something else, had to go to the bathroom, or was just plain being absent-minded, I’ve found myself doing the same things that I sometimes get angry at when other drivers do it “to me”.
When I take a moment to think about it, in nearly all such cases the other driver probably doesn’t know or care who I am or what I think about their driving, and their actions had nothing to do with me.
Taking personal offense might be a good way to raise my blood pressure and decrease my focus on driving safely, but it’s unlikely to have any impact at all on the other driver.
When I react to other drivers, I’m voluntarily giving away my power and putting myself at effect of their actions. When I’m wise enough to remember this belief I can shake off the anger and negative feelings and move on with my life.
When I forget to do that, I can end up in a sour mood, sometimes for quite awhile–and even a minute of that is sixty seconds subtracted from my life without experiencing anything positive in exchange for it.
That is too high of a price for me to pay!
So, I try to remember that I too make mistakes and it makes sense for me to “cut everyone some slack”.
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 