Postcards from the Funny Farm

As I typed that title I caught myself for a millisecond thinking people might construe it to mean I have been wrong about something I have written on the blog. Naturally, I got defensive. Why do we as people fear being wrong so much? Maybe it goes back to our childhood when we would be sent to “remedial” classes to “remedy” us if we did poorly (wrongly) on tests. Nowadays the kids are almost 100% judged by their standardized test scores so they can probably relate. But as a whole I think you’ll agree that we as adults are very afraid of being wrong, it shows in our toxic words and actions.

I teased my mom the other day about how she was wrong about something … a pop-culture factoid that I don’t even need to mention (it’s too complicated). Anyway she felt the need to explain that I had it wrong and not she. That was okay, especially now that I’ve thought this post through. Ring any bells about discussions with your relatives? Who cares if we are wrong? Unfortunately, we all do.

Think about what you lose when you are wrong. Is it so valuable that you would give up your sense of peace and well-being over it? Is it worth arguing your case over?

Folks it’s okay to be wrong. I am wrong about 70% of the time in my marriage and I can still wear a smile on my face. I am wrong at work quite a bit too, sometimes it is my 8 year old students who point it out to me. Have you ever argued with a child about how you are not wrong? I have. It’s embarassing when you have time to realize how stupid it was. Like as if a stranger comes up to tell you you need more acne control. It feels strange and awkward. I TRY TO look at those type of moments now as teaching moments to model for them how to be wrong gracefully. Let’s face it, it is not automatic.

We grow through being wrong, we stagnate through always being right. If you want to be right all the time, go live on a desert island … it’s not gonna be possible even there. You will find however that no one is there to see you become “humiliated.” Funny how humble and humiliated come from the same root. The best people through history had humility and were not afraid to admit when they are wrong.

The next time it comes to your attention that you have been wrong, don’t hide from it. Look them squarely in the face and say: “Thank you, I want to know when I am wrong so I can be better.” Being wrong is not the worst thing in the world, being afraid of it might be. How do you feel about being wrong?

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When I was in high school, I ran track and field. My coach would always tell us that runners with commitment were more important than those with talent. For example, I recall one runner who for four years constantly took first place. He was valuable, but he was a flake and his senior year he started doing drugs and the coaches decided they were really disillusioned with the guy. It’s a shame when talent gets sacrificed at the altar of laziness.

I can relate with the idea of talent with laziness, that’s something I try to avoid. I had talent on the guitar at an early age. My dad was a teacher so he taught me all he knew and some other men in my family played and they showed me what they knew as well. By the time I was in 4th grade I was singing Kenny Rogers’ “Coward of the County” for the fourth grade talent show. It was a fun childhood holding a guitar and I got a lot of attention, but I look back often wishing I would have been more serious about my lessons. I quit them earlier and was self taught ever since. This applies to many aspects of my life and yours. There may have been something in your life that you took for granted like I did guitar. Like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race -or- committment takes it all.

I’ve seen amazing talent in the keeping life simple. It’s a good idea to try just one thing at a time. Make that your commitment. making money online. Your enjoyment can enhance the art/product/whatever it is.

As I get closer to my 40’s I see the wisdom of my high school coach. The great people I have known throughout my life have always been striving and creating the next thing. They never rest on their haunches, like Walt Disney said they always “keep moving forward.”

There is nothing worse than a talent gone complacent like old rotten teak furniture. Are you parked in some area of your life? Break away from your comfort zone and keep moving forward. Go the extra mile … life is short. The result of your reaching out of the comfort zone will be: innovation and creativity like you never imagined.

We all have those blissful memories of youth and summer. Whether it was eating watermelon in the cul-de-sac or enjoying snow-cone or popcorn machines the grownups on the street rented for a special event like the Fourth of July. Or maybe it was just traipsing through the mud out behind the house or down the creek. There’s something about the discoveries and kaleidoscopes of youthful perception that stay in our psyche forever.

Some of you know I am taking a brief vacation from blogging. I’ve asked some excellent blogger friends of mine to do some guest blogging and so far Marcia has been kind enough to offer her muse during my “get my head together” and “recharge my writing batteries” time. This summer should be an amazing time for my family and I know I will be writing some of my best stuff. Furthermore, I feel a sense of arrival with my “inspiration” writing niche. I’ve had one other niche since I started, you may recall the “language blog” days … that ended up being forced. I’m hopeful I will stay excited about writing on inspiration until I am old and grey … well, old … I’m already turning grey ;)

A few others besides Marcia have shown interest in guestblogging so stay tuned for theirs. I should be back full-swing in a week or so. Thanks for being patient and checking back. For now, since it doesn’t require much effort on my part, I checked in tonight with a question for you:

What is the strongest memory of youth and summer you can recall?