Truisms & Other Stuff

Like Al Franken liked to say, in the famous Saturday Night Live sketch Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley, I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and dog gone it, people like me. I’ve come to find out, a positive affirmation or inspirational message or simple truism isn’t such a bad way to start the day. We may not all tell ourselves that we are special and worthy, on a daily basis, but it doesn’t hurt to stay grounded and keep things in perspective as we start the new year.  

In June of 2017 I wrote an article on inspirational quotes that I had occasionally texted my daughters while they were growing up and navigating the treacherous waters of high school. I come across these jewels in books, songs, fortune cookies, horoscopes and in Facebook posts. I also made a few up myself. I called them Dadisms. Just recently, a friend came across the Dadism article and reached out to me saying a lot of adults might benefit from a few of these inspirational nuggets while we continue to navigate the treacherous pandemic waters. Since I have been suffering from a nasty case of COVID Alpha Chi Omega, aka “writers block”, I decided to give this reboot a shot.

As we can all probably agree, life lessons are often painful and rarely inexpensive; however, we often learn something valuable from them. As we get older, we often either think we know everything or fail to learn from our past experiences. There’s also the few of us that become fearful of trying something new. There’s nothing in what I’m about to share that will change anyone’s life, I just hope it will possibly allow you to look at whatever situation you’re faced with a little differently. 

• If you can’t be good, be careful.
• Forget all the reasons why it won’t work and believe the one reason why it will.
• Pay attention to your gut feelings. No matter how good something looks, if it doesn’t feel right ,  walk away.
• Be nice to someone for no reason. You never know when you’ll need someone to be nice to you.
• Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t give up.
• Be somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody.
• Don’t chase people. Be an example. Attract them. The people who belong in your life will come find you and stay. Just be yourself and do your thing.
• A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.
• When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them! It may take seconds to say, but for them, it could last a lifetime.
• If someone treats you in a hostile, abusive or hurtful manner, just remember that there’s something wrong with them, not you. Don’t go around destroying other people.
• Think before you speak. Is it true, is it helpful, is it inspiring, is it necessary and is it kind?
• Who to spend time with? Those who make you better, those who want to see you grow, those who see the greatness in you, those who are good for your mental health, those who are inspired, excited and grateful and those who force you to push yourself up a level.
• Don’t be impressed by money, followers, degrees and titles. Be impressed by kindness, integrity, humility and generosity.
• Rules of Action: If you do not go after what you want, you will never get it. If you do not ask, the answer will always be “NO”. If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place.
• Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.
• Beauty isn’t about having a pretty face, it’s about having a kind heart, an accepting mind and a beautiful soul.
• We don’t grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges.
• Life lessons are rarely inexpensive or painless.
• Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.
• If you stumble, make it part of the dance.
• There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don’t. Life it too short to be anything but happy.
• 10 Things that require zero talent; Being on time, work ethic, body language, a positive attitude, passion, being coachable, effort, extra effort, being prepared and listening.
• Take pride in how far you’ve come and have faith in how far you can go.
• You either get better or you get bitter. It’s that simple. You either deal with what life has dealt you and allow it to make you a better person or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.
• Having real friends is better than having many friends.
• Successful people build each other up. They motivate, inspire and encourage each other. Unsuccessful people just hate, blame and complain.
• No matter how educated, rich or cool you believe you are, how you treat people tells all. Integrity is everything.
• Pick your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.
• Other ways to say “I love you”…I miss you, sweet dreams, Are you hungry? How’s your day going? Be Careful, Drive careful, text me when you get there so I know you’re safe, Call me if you need to talk, I hope you’ re feeling better, Don’t worry – I’ll take care of it for you, Do you need a hug? You don’t have to hear the words I Love You to know you’re loved. Listen carefully, people speak from the heart in more ways than one.
• Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourself a difficult task, but you will succeed. If you persevere, you will find joy in overcoming obstacles.
• Life is amazing and then it’s awful, and then it’s amazing again. In between amazing and awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living our heartbreaking, healing, amazing, awful, ordinary lives and it’s heartbreakingly beautiful.
• Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of simple embarrassing bravery and I promise you something great can come of it.

There are more, but I don’t want to lose my audience. For those of you still awake, I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into my sensitive soul.  As someone who fails, falls, stumbles and makes more mistakes than I care to admit, I do my best to get up, dust myself off, own it and apologize when necessary and start again. I don’t profess to have any answers to life’s mysteries; however, I do strongly believe that we’re all capable of kindness, compassion, insight, strength, wisdom, heroism and so many other incredible qualities that can define our lives or change someone else’s. It’s up to each of us to see it in ourselves and others. Or, as Stuart Smalley also once said, “It’s easier to put on slippers than to try and carpet the whole world”.

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