Yesterday my sister turned the big 3-0. Someone asked her, now that she was “mature,” what advice on life she had to give. Off the top of her head, she answered:
1. Don't wait until the last minute to try and make memories.
2. When it's time to leave, just go.
3. Don't waste today waiting for tomorrow.
4. Sooner or later, everything will change in some way. In stead of fearing it, use it to your advantage: gather and preserve the good while it is season. Be encouraged that your current trials will one day change. Be careful not to take for granted some current happiness or pleasure because it, too, will one day change.
This is some good advice. Of course, we’ve all heard some variation of #3 before, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The one I want to examine, though, is #2. Now that my sister mentions it, I’ve noticed that some people just never know how to bring something to an end. They keep dragging it out, keep belaboring the point, keep hoping something will change, or whatever. Let’s look at this a bit closer:
When it’s time to shut up, just close your mouth. Some people just don’t know how to say what they think and then stop talking. Especially when speaking in public (because they can’t be interrupted) – they just keep rambling on and on, looking for an “off ramp” but just missing every one they pass. In some churches, it’s permissible for a time-conscious member of the congregation to shout, “Bring it home, preacher!” when the preacher keeps on rambling after he’s made his point, especially if the morning worship service is creeping past noon. I keep wanting to interject this into conversations, but my good breeding prevents me.
When it’s time to break up, just say, “It’s over.” In the long run, clean breaks are the easiest. No tears, no pleading, no back-and-forth, on-again-off-again “it’ll be different this time, if only you do X or I do Y” – give it your best shot, and once you’ve done that, recognize the end for what it is. Yes, I’m sure you always planned to marry him or her, you knew that was the mythical “One” God had for you, but now, realize you were wrong and move on. You were a fool once for counting your chickens before they hatched, don’t be a fool twice by planning to eat them when the eggs are rotten.
When it’s time to move, pack your bags. This is the one that I’ve dealt with most recently. The last month before I moved to Atlanta, two tremendous job opportunities opened up in Kansas City, and suddenly I was having to rethink the decision to move I’d made several months prior. But after a few days of gut-wrenching indecision, I came back to my original position: it was time for me to move on. My problem with Kansas City wasn’t primarily my job. It was a number of other things – and while the new job would have been great, it would not have changed the fundamental reason I decided to leave: it was time to leave.
When it’s time to leave, just go.
1. Don't wait until the last minute to try and make memories.
2. When it's time to leave, just go.
3. Don't waste today waiting for tomorrow.
4. Sooner or later, everything will change in some way. In stead of fearing it, use it to your advantage: gather and preserve the good while it is season. Be encouraged that your current trials will one day change. Be careful not to take for granted some current happiness or pleasure because it, too, will one day change.
This is some good advice. Of course, we’ve all heard some variation of #3 before, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The one I want to examine, though, is #2. Now that my sister mentions it, I’ve noticed that some people just never know how to bring something to an end. They keep dragging it out, keep belaboring the point, keep hoping something will change, or whatever. Let’s look at this a bit closer:
When it’s time to shut up, just close your mouth. Some people just don’t know how to say what they think and then stop talking. Especially when speaking in public (because they can’t be interrupted) – they just keep rambling on and on, looking for an “off ramp” but just missing every one they pass. In some churches, it’s permissible for a time-conscious member of the congregation to shout, “Bring it home, preacher!” when the preacher keeps on rambling after he’s made his point, especially if the morning worship service is creeping past noon. I keep wanting to interject this into conversations, but my good breeding prevents me.
When it’s time to break up, just say, “It’s over.” In the long run, clean breaks are the easiest. No tears, no pleading, no back-and-forth, on-again-off-again “it’ll be different this time, if only you do X or I do Y” – give it your best shot, and once you’ve done that, recognize the end for what it is. Yes, I’m sure you always planned to marry him or her, you knew that was the mythical “One” God had for you, but now, realize you were wrong and move on. You were a fool once for counting your chickens before they hatched, don’t be a fool twice by planning to eat them when the eggs are rotten.
When it’s time to move, pack your bags. This is the one that I’ve dealt with most recently. The last month before I moved to Atlanta, two tremendous job opportunities opened up in Kansas City, and suddenly I was having to rethink the decision to move I’d made several months prior. But after a few days of gut-wrenching indecision, I came back to my original position: it was time for me to move on. My problem with Kansas City wasn’t primarily my job. It was a number of other things – and while the new job would have been great, it would not have changed the fundamental reason I decided to leave: it was time to leave.
When it’s time to leave, just go.
posted by Mark at 1/21/2004 11:57:00 PM
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