“I’m an idealist: I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way.” Carl Sandberg

Many times in my life I’ve been struck with the thought that I’m a remarkable human being who is going to make a mark someday. Equally often I have been slapped in the face by the reality that remarkable human being or not, if I don’t get off my ass and work hard, I’m not worth shit. That notion helps me get out of bed each morning prepared to work toward my goals. Whatever happened I remain optimistic about life- my life at least – and firm in my belief that that moving ahead will bring me closer to the ideal life, whatever that might be.

It is great to be a positive person, someone who looks for and expects good things to happen no matter how extensive the contrary evidence might seem. I try to be an positive person, optimistic about the future and encouraging to my fellow man. I believe that being positive gives a boost for a satisfying life. I believe that good things come to those who are looking for them whether by cause or effect. I think being positive attracts other positives- both people and circumstances. A positive attitude won’t keep bad things from happening but I believe that positive people handle bad events better by facing them full on, dealing with them and moving on without whining or complaining. I’m not always positive but I try to look for the best at all times and keep on moving forward past the bad. Continue reading »

Ralph

Ralph is the inspiration for Cantankerous Old Coots and is our Grand Duke of Cantankerousness

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Image by Orin Zebest via Flickr

Don’t fail whatever you do.

If you listen to the popular media, they would have you believe that the worst thing you can do is fail. It is far better to stay home under the covers than to get our of bed and try to do something. Fear of failure is endemic. Fear of success is no less bad but we will just have to save that for another day.

You don’t earn your stripes as a Cantankerous Old Coots without failing big time. And not just once, but over and over again. It’s just human nature to hate failure. Nobody wants to fail. If expected to fail you wouldn’t put in the effort. Still the world is full of failure and the truth that nobody wants to hear is that failure deserves to be celebrated because it is the one sure way to learn success.

If you watched a baby learn to walk, this truth is apparent. The baby fails again and again learning something new with each failure. Then miraculously, the baby stands. Something tells the baby that this is the right process. There is no expectation of instant success and, in fact, without the lessons from all the failures, the baby would never be able to stand.

Somehow this obvious lesson gets drummed out of us when we grow up. We expect and demand instant success. And then give up when we fail,

FailFaireDC: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Failure 

This weeks news story celebrates failures. FailfairDC is am opportunity to appreciate how much you can learn from a good failure. This conference provided ten examples of failures. One of life’s lessons is that success is built on failure and that so long as you don’t give up it is just a part of the process. If you haven’t seen much success in your life so far, the answer may be simple. Maybe you haven’t failed often enough.

Ralph

Ralph is the inspiration for Cantankerous Old Coots and is our Grand Duke of Cantankerousness

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

I finished the last of my introductory Italian today.  I can speak (parlo) a little (un po) in Italian (Italiano).  Since my lessons are oral and Italian has very complicated spelling and pronunciation rules, I have no idea how to write it.   Somehow arreviderche looks wrong but I think you will know what I mean.  Tomorrow we are off bright and early for an 8 hour layover in LA and overnight to Rome.  I had plans to do a couple of posts this week but my computer crashed with my drafts creating chaos in my office.  This will have to do.

I’ve been nervous as a cat the past few days worrying about what I will have forgotten and only discover when we get to Rome.  You would think I would be more relaxed since I have been gone for a month earlier this year and survived.  Logic doesn’t help.

I’d tell you that Bob and Justin will pick up the slack while I’m away but you probably wouldn’t believe me.  I haven’t been good at posting while abroad even though the internet makes it easy.  I’m going to give it a try this time.  Probably mostly pictures but there is bound to be something crazy going on in Rome even if it is only the tourists.

Now it’s time to pack.

Ralph

Ralph is the inspiration for Cantankerous Old Coots and is our Grand Duke of Cantankerousness

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook