Expectations

I was pondering the concept that as we grow up society as an aggregate being expects people to conform to its norms and values, but then seems to show no appreciation when one does. It appears that those who follow the rules always seem to lose, get left behind, or realize too late they cannot get ahead.   So my simple question is why follow this formula?  My only answer so far is that we have no experience when we are young so we look to our parents and society to show us which direction we should go.  Unfortunately this is a very limited and narrow view. So how do you find your own path and see how it fits society or how society fits into your idea of life?

Perspective

Perspective in an interesting thing, it can have an incredible impact on our opinions and experiences, yet it is probably one of the most ignored concepts in our lives.  I was reminded of this with something my daughter has started doing.  She will ask for something to eat or drink and I will inform her we don't have any, and she in turn says "let's check daddy", not believing a word out of my mouth.  At first it was merely cute to go on a pantry hunt with the thrill of discovery, and then I really started thinking about her believing me and trusting that what I am telling her is accurate and useful.  It reminded me of my dad saying to me when I was growing up for years, if you would just listen to me it would be easier, and of course I did not and laboriously learned everything the hard way.  This rings true even as an adult as I try to change my perspective on life, where I am at, and where I am going.  There are so many people out there that have more experience and knowledge that I simply ignore, and I continually look at each situation from my present and limited knowledge.  My perspective has this limited capacity to solely rely on my past experience and my present perspective. We all have a past, present, and a future that comes no matter what, and most of us arrive there saying, if had only known this then. If in turn you look at things in life from others who have learned more, you can gain a little bit more knowledge and even get some future perspective that can save a lot of time and grief.  Use this example that most of know but do not internalize.  Most of us have heard about someone who has a terminal illness or has survived an illness and how they talk about how it has changed their perspective on life.  These people go through life with a renewed sense of purpose, putting importance on things that matter most in the long run, and generally do an about face on how they view life and simply seem to be happier.  So why is it that the rest of us cannot learn from this and change our view on life without going through such a painful experience? How much could we learn by simply listening to the older or more experienced people?  How much time would we save and be better prepared for what the future will place upon us? These are the people that could write a how to manual for daily life that would not be much different than all the self help and start your own business books. Not easy to do, but with practice it becomes easier, exceptionally helpful, and one of those good habits we all should strive to have in our lives, and it can free you up to enjoy the present just a little bit more.

Start

I have come to the realization that most of us will not invent penicillin, build the Sears Tower, or invent the computer.  The realization that most of our legacies will be limited to our immediate families and friends, and the impact we have on them has me thinking differently about life and how I perceive the world around me.  Making the choice to pay attention to the little things, appreciate each day, refusing to acknowledge negative influences, has already had a refreshing and enlightening effect.  My goal is simply to become a better person, be mindful of work and business, while place the importance's of life where they need to be placed.