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Greetings, Quotaholics:
There are things your mother or possibly father told you that made you
laugh when you were younger. But the older you got, perhaps, the smarter
that advice seemed. Well, there may be some “wisdom of the ages” out
there for you to profit from.
According to CNN,
Karl, A. Pillemer, PhD. is going to help us with this. The Cornell University
professor has been studying elders for over six years. Several studies
including 1,200 older Americans have led to some lessons for all of
us.
Participants in the studies ranged from age 60 to 108. The average age
was 74. Many of the respondents were people who had lived through the
entire Great Depression while most had some taste of those trying times.
Dr. Pillemer asked these old folks about mistakes young people should
avoid. In fact, these are probably mistakes all of us should avoid.
The biggest mistakes Americans make, according to the surveys:
1. Putting too high a priority on money. The respondents
said that while money is important, it shouldn’t be the most important
thing in your life. They also advised that it might be better in the
long run to have a job you can like better rather than a larger paycheck.
2. Getting into debt. The people who lived through
the Depression advised against running up huge debt. They counseled
against spending money you don’t have. If you can’t pay for it, they
said, don’t buy it. If you are carrying a credit card balance, you need
to rethink your life style and cut back on unnecessary items. (Yes,
Starbucks is actually a luxury item.)
3. Worrying too much. Worry is a waste of time and
energy and never solved a single problem. Save your time and your sanity
and stop the obsessive worrying.
4. Excessive drinking and drugs. While this advice
seems just like something your parents would tell you, it is also true.
The people who were asked about this had experienced the devastation
wrought by these bad habits. They had lost friends and family members
to these bad choices. Choose better and your older self will be very
appreciative of the choices you made in the past.
5. Rushing into marriage before you’re ready. While
many think that older folks really want to see everyone married and
settled, this didn’t seem to be the case. Again, with the experience
of many lifetimes on their side, they realized that marrying before
you are ready just makes everyone miserable. Those whose first marriage
had failed and their second one was successful were the most vehement
on this issue.
6. Passing up opportunities. Many of us get to the
end of our lives and regret the things we didn’t do far more than any
of the mistakes we made along the way. Evaluate the risks and then go
for it, unless the risks are far greater than any payoff might be.
That is the wisdom of the ages. Or at least part of it. Dr. Pillemer
has a book out on the thirty greatest lessons, so perhaps you might
want to purchase it and see if the other 24 are even better.
Before you make your New Year’s resolutions, if you are so inclined
to do so, you might want to consider the advice given by people old
enough to know better.
Do you make resolutions? What are you resolving to do or accomplish
in the coming year? Do they line up with the advice from the elders
in the study?
Do you have even better advice to offer in the spirit of living the
best life possible? Would you like to share it with RGQ readers? If
you answer quickly, the advice can be published before the new year
and possibly work its way into someone else’s resolution.
Advisedly,
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| Today’s
Quotes |
A dinner invitation, once accepted, is a sacred obligation. If you
die before the dinner takes place, your executor must attend. - Ward
McAllister
The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much
easier to give up than bad ones. - Somerset Maugham
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| Today’s
Chuckle |
Two Doctors
[Thanks dEE]
Over a round of golf,
two doctors were talking shop.
“I operated on Mr. Lee the other day,” said the surgeon.
“What for?” asked his colleague.
“About $17,000.”
“What did he have?”
“Oh… About $17,000.”
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| Life
Sentences |
Music, I feel, must be emotional first and intellectual second.
I did my work slowly, drop by drop. I tore it out of me by pieces.
Remember that I wrote a pavane for a dead princess, and not a dead pavane
for a princess! - all from Maurice Ravel, French composer who died on
this day in 1937
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| Image’n
That! |
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My
Kind Of Place!
[Thanks Tesser]
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| My
Most Embarrassing Moment
My Scariest Moment |
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Speak right up!
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| Cliff’s
Notes
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Records
My father and his ten surviving siblings were documented in the 2007
Guinness Book of World Records. By simply continuing to breathe,
they were world record holders. The youngest surviving sibling
of the original 14 children (28 if you count a late remarriage when
Grandma was 83 to a man with 14 children of his own) had reached the
age of 80 years and were receiving Social Security. This qualified
them for the record of "Most surviving children collecting a government
pension". This garnered them a moment of fame. Yes,
they received their "15 Minutes".
Most people wish to have their "15 Minutes of Fame".
Most also wish to be remembered once they have passed. One way
to accomplish this, in their minds, is to garner a record doing something.
They figure out something they can do that is better than anyone else
could do. They set out to perfect their skills with practice.
One day, they set a time and place to document their effort, then they
go for it. Some make it. Some don’t.
Those of whom that are successful will get their names etched on paper
certifying their superlative efforts. It will be documented in
the upcoming annual publication of the Guinness Book of World Records.
For at least a year, these people will have their accomplishments celebrated.
During this same year, there may be someone else who sees their
listing and conclude that it is an accomplishment they can best.
So, the cycle continues.
It is as much in sports. Recently, a quarterback for the New Orleans
Saints, Drew Brees, broke a long-standing NFL record for yards passing
in a season, breaking a mark that Dan Marino had held for nearly three
decades. That is in one professional sport. Another professional
sport lists all the team members’ names from the team that wins the
championship. "Lord Stanely’s Cup", or as it has been
come to be known, the "Stanley Cup" for hockey has grown taller
and taller over the years as team rosters are added to subsequent rings
at the base of the trophy.
It
is as true in amateur sports, as well. The International Olympic
Committee keeps meticulous records for the fastest, furthest, quickest
or highest for each of the venues, past and present. The record
holders are noted for the national and the international events.
It isn’t uncommon that an athlete has the best record in their country
that surpasses the Olympic record as the accomplishment was not duplicated
in an official Olympic event. However, the record is noted.
Behind the scenes, someone else is vying for that illustrious recognition
as "the best". Someone wants their name to take the
uppermost spot in the records. The inevitable will occur.
One day, the record for this or that will be broken and a new name will
supplant those who accomplished yet cannot do so again. A new
champion is crowned.
Here’s your quiz:
What "records" do you recall were broken in your lifetime?
Do you remember any names of those who broke a record?
What record would you break if you could do so
Records - Not Only Vinyl Discs
Cliff (the High-Tech Redneck who doesn’t rate a fancy ’signature pic’)
Comment
on this article |
Kirsten’s
Krazy Kaleidoscope |
Email Kirsten
“Easily the best
thing about Facebook: The ability to read other people’s fights.”
~ Unknown ~
Today I am going to tell you a story that proves that despite what some
people may say, there is a useful place in life for Facebook.
I was wandering around in Facebook-land this evening, not looking for
anything in particular, when I chanced upon a status update written
by RGQ’s very own Patti. The update said something to the effect of
Patti suddenly realizing that it was Tuesday and not Monday, and that
she had an article due for RGQ. When I read this, I realized that it
is Tuesday and not Monday, and that I have an article due for RGQ.
Without Facebook, I would be completely in the dark and Cliff would
be wondering why I didn’t send an article. In fact, since my article
was due 48 minutes ago at the time of writing, Cliff is probably wondering
why I haven’t sent an article.
This talk about Facebook reminds me of an article I read not long ago
about a woman who was fired because of a photograph that appeared on
social media. This seems to be happening a lot these days. A guy calls
his boss and says he can’t come to work because he’s hurt his back,
and then he posts a picture of himself bungee jumping. Or someone who
is supposed to be an upstanding member of society, like a counsellor
or a teacher, is caught on film carousing with underage girls.
The story I saw was about a high school teacher who went on vacation
with her husband. One evening when they were in some European city,
they went out to a restaurant, had a nice dinner, and drank one or two
glasses of wine. After their dinner, they went back to their hotel,
and that was that. Not really much of a story there. Except that during
dinner, the teacher’s husband took a picture of her, which she then
posted on Facebook. The high school she taught at fired her on the strength
of that picture.
The teacher was not dressed inappropriately. She was not acting in a
questionable manner. She was not drunk and disorderly, and since this
all happened at a legitimate vacation time, no-one could claim that
she was taking unauthorized time off from work. Her only sin was that
she happened to be holding her glass of wine when the picture was taken.
Now, I get that teachers are supposed to set a positive example. If
I were to see a picture of my son’s teacher getting drunk and disorderly,
I would be kind of disturbed. I would wonder what kind of person was
teaching my child. However, if I saw a picture of the same teacher drinking
a glass of wine in a restaurant, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.
It seems to me that Facebook is becoming a police of people’s private
lives, and that many employers are having a knee-jerk reaction to pictures
that are harmless. Do you agree? Would you be bothered by the idea of
your child’s teacher consuming alcohol, even in a moderate, responsible
way?
Kaleidoscopically yours,
Kirsten
Comment
On This Article |
| Lucille’s
Lunacy |
Nothing from Lucille today. Monday holidays always throw off our
schedules!
Comment
On This Article |
| Poet-Tree |
The very best to all in the coming New Year!
Let’s
see how many eggnog recipes there are -
My eggnog was made out of ______
Hints:
Here’s a great new rhyming/composition tool. http://www.writerhymes.com/
There’s also a great rhyming dictionary at http://www.rhymezone.com/
Limerick rules. http://freespace.virgin.net/merrick.sheldon/limerickrules.htm
Submit
Opening Line
Submit
Limerick
I
dreamt of a girl named Tess
A bit racy one, I must confess
She was tall and lean
And just a little bit mean
As she proceeded to rip off my dress.
- Bonnie >^..^< |
I dreamt
of a girl named Tess…..
Who couldn’t possibly have done less…..
To complete a connection…..
And return my affection…..
I’m sad… I must confess.
- Skeeter |
I
dreamt of a girl named Tess…..
Though I had been thinking of Bess…..
Not Harry’s you know…..
But the gal next do…..
She’s made of my mind a big mess.
- Skeeter |
I dreamt
of a girl named Tess…..
Woke up like I’d had no rest…..
I was really a fright…..
Tossed and tumbled all night…..
Made my hair look like a rat’s nest.
- Skeeter |
We
wish you a happy new year…..
One with lack of fear…..
With peace and love…..
Which come from above….
Yes, from our Lord so dear.
- Skeeter |
I dreamt
of a girl named Tess…..
She was wearing bright red dress…..
It made her look fat…..
And so did her hat…..
I awoke in a state of distress.
- Skeeter |
My
fingers reached up for her lips—-
to stop her from making a quip—
but she didn’t like this
and said "Mike that’s a diss"
so take that as your brand new tip.
- Cassandra in New York |
We wish
you a happy new year
Filled with joy and no fear
One free from strife
A wonderful life
Now pass me some more of that beer!!
- Bonnie >^..^<
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We
wish you a happy new year,
may you drink lots and lots of… beer.
- Patty Fletcher
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Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my RGQ friends!!
- Bonnie >^..^< |
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Reader Comments |
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Re: Decisions
Some
decisions are clear-cut, and others are not. I’m pretty disillusioned
with expecting things to work as advertised. There are also problems
over unfamiliar products doing things I don’t have the language for.
That makes shopping very hard. It does not help that things like telephone
plans are as confusing and unpredictable as possible. To top it off,
primates, from monkeys to humans, all make the same basic errors in
bargaining, so sometimes I have to be as aware of them as the salesman.
- Bob of the North
I don’t know how old you
are, Cliff, but I can tell you that the older I get, the harder it
is to make a decision. And what compounds the problem is that my husband
always says it is up to me. And I know the reason for that is for
him to avoid getting any blame if the WRONG decision is made. We recently
did some remodeling and everything from fence type outside to colors
and styles inside were made by me. And a couple of those decisions
were bad decisions, but we will have to live with that. And HE better
not open his mouth! And as far as looking for something in a grocery
store or a drug store–holy crap. It takes twice as long to go shopping
now because I can’t find the one item I do want amongst all the others
that I don’t want. Deodorant, shaving cream, painkillers, vitamins,
toothpaste–sheesh. Thanks, it felt good to vent! - Mare in Mare-land
[For the record,
I’m old enough to know better, but too young to resist. Have
you seen my shoes anywhere? - Cliff]
Re:
Contraception
Well,
I seen it happen, in fact all four of my Grandkids were born while
she was on contraception. Every kind was used, all of the kids was
in the 21 inches 14 pounds range. She was on the under the skin type,
when she had twins, but due to her small size and the normal size
(for her) of the twins she could not keep them. The cause for this
was found to be more than normal amount of eggs each month. Instead
of usual amount she was dropping around 10 to 20 times normal.
- E. Thomas
Re:
Ranina’s Christmas Wishes
For some reason
there’s a " %20/ " in the link. If you type in www.weaselpeople.com
it will work. - Noella
[Sometimes transmission
of articles gets additional characters inserted in the conversion
process. Usually we see these and correct them before the issue
is sent. This time the invisible space (translated to %20/ in
HTML) came to bite us in the hoohah. A secondary issue was sent
in hopes all that did not realize how to make the correction would
still see Ranina’s hard work, and the feelings behind it that shown
so well in the effort. - Cliff]
Re:
Christmas Wishes
I guess
i have been with from the beginning Bruce .I remember all the wise
advice i got from you.Remember the lawyer who kept my check on his
desk while he went on vacation.The broken heart i suffered.Thanks
for all the times you were there for me. I used to say Bruce and my
family would asked me what did Bruce say about it. MERRY CHRISTMAS
All - dEE
Wishing you all a very Merry
Christmas and a wonderful and prosperous new year. Thanks for all
the hard work and thanks for letting me be part of your on-line family.
I have enjoyed each and every issue for quite some time now. Peace.
- Mare in Mare-land
A bit
late, unless your orthadox(Jan 6th), Merry Christmas and a happy new
year. - Abdul Karim
Now, wouldn’t it
be nice if only we had the good sense to put our differences aside,
and be as one all the time? I say let’s try it. We’ve been doing things
the other way for so long. What have we to lose? Nothing, that’s what
I say. Nothing but a wonderful time could we possibly discover. Happy
Holidays To You All, and remember, we’re not all that different.
Happy Holidays From, Celine Kitty, Campbell Dog, And Tazz!
Thanks,
Bruce and Mike,
I’ve been reading different parts of that story for several years
now. Some places, the officers really had to sweat for days to get
the lads back to the war. There were smaller repetitions in other
years, but they had all gone to war assured that they’d be home by
Christmas, and "Gott mit Uns!"
It is fairly well known, except in the official histories, that along
with corruption, it was non-participating soldiers and officer assassinations
that finally stopped the Vietnam war. The U.S. never had any more
chance than the Redcoats did against Washington - ordinary people
would not even scatter when they saw an ambush about to strike. Now,
simple IEDs have wasted another Trillion-dollar offense.
Yesterday, I realized that by having, and not using Nuclear bombs,
the U.S. with its "interests" manages to look like the calm,
reasonable party, in contrast to "rebels" who are fighting
for their own lives, families and land, against a very lopsided kill
score. The best any fighter can hope for is to get back still able
to continue what was interrupted. As we used to ask - "What if
they gave a war, and nobody came?" - Bob of the North
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Disclaimer- All quotes printed in this publication are believed to be
accurately attributed, but no guarantees are made that some incorrectly
attributed, or even outright false quotes won’t get in here from time
to time. I assure readers that I will do my best to weed out incorrect
quotes, and will print a retraction as soon as I become aware of any errors.
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If you run across something really outstanding when perusing the archives,
I’d appreciate it if you’d mail me at TheBestOfRGQ@yahoo.com
and point it out to me. I’m in the process of compiling an e-book
called, not surprisingly, The Best of RGQ, and I’d like to hear from you
which pieces impacted you the most.
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