We are entering the holiday season and the infamous “Black Friday.” Sounds more like a reason to panic, than to save. And yet, millions of consumers across North America and beyond will dash to retail stores and wear out their keyboards for a flurry of shopping.
Someone should really do something about this! I’ve heard this phrase so often throughout my life that it’s almost synonymous with the human condition. Yes, they should. But just who is this “someone?”
“Il dolce far niente” is an Italian phrase, and philosophy, that roughly translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” To them, it can mean having a cup of coffee with a friend, heading to the beach or sitting idly on a bench watching people go by. The Dutch call it “niksen,” literally doing nothing or being idle. They embrace the idea of sitting in a chair and just looking out a window.
Venting: “… to give often vigorous or emotional expression to … to relieve by means of a vent.” We all do it. Sometimes it’s as if the human shell is one giant pressure cooker, hissing inwardly until she blows. And the results can be quite loud and messy.
Our entire species and our history is built on accumulated knowledge. From our earliest ancestors who created fire and the wheel, to today’s cutting-edge medicine and space exploration, our knowledge is expanding exponentially. Thanks to the internet of all things, we can access, decipher and yes, share this newfound information. Offering it is one thing, but all we know you can lead our fellow horses to water, but we can’t make them drink.
We intelligent bipeds share this planet with billions of other creatures. We’d like to think we’re on top of the food chain, but we still have a long way to go. And we have much to learn from our animal brethren. I am constantly amazed by videos and stories on social media about the strong bonds between animals and humans. From geese running to owners with outstretched wings, to giant lions giving their human friends a “hug,” it’s all really fascinating.
Legendary rock band Queen once asked the ultimate question: “Who wants to live forever … when love must die?” Even though Freddie Mercury and Brian May said the world has but one sweet moment set aside for us, maybe forever is within our grasp. “But touch my tears with your lips … Touch my world with your fingertips … And we can have forever … And we can love forever …”
The 1982 classic by Modern English broke the silence from my alarm clock the other day. “I’ll stop the world and melt with you … You’ve seen the difference … And it’s getting better all the time … There’s nothing you and I won’t do …”
I never really thought of “bucket list” ideas until recently. I loved the 2007 movie of the same name starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Some say that’s where the term got its popularity and it’s tough to actually track down the origins of this saying. Simply put, it’s a list of the things that a person would like to do or achieve before they die.
We all feel stuck at some point in our lives. Sometimes, this feeling is a signal that we need to change, or react differently to the challenges we’re facing. It’s been said the road to success and the road to failure are the same. It’s how we construct these paths that matters most.
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