all of your life advice...

*Lindsay*Jordan* said...

"You have to write something. I gobble it up. You are my life inspiration. I plan on running my house and raising my children almost exactly like you.  (Deleting her comment about getting advice elsewhere.)  Meanwhile, Kacey and Kevin are two of the most amazing, well-rounded individuals I know. And even though you were on a budget and lived like the Amish, your house was my favorite place in the world. Still is. So in summary, write whatever you must, as long as I get all of my life advice..."

My precious niece, Lindsay, left this ridiculously "can't-possibly-live-up-to-her-expectations" comment on my last blog.  And while I can't argue about her description of my kids - they ARE amazing and well-rounded - the idea of getting all her life advice from me is daunting. 

For today, Lin, you get this life advice:  NEVER MAKE THE EASY CHOICE.

About anything. 

You know the episode of Seinfeld, where George decides his life sucks because he always makes bad decisions?  

George : It's not working, Jerry. It's just not working.

Jerry : What is it that isn't working?

George : Why did it all turn out like this for me? I had so much promise. I was personable, I was bright. Oh, maybe not academically speaking, but ... I was perceptive. I always know when someone's uncomfortable at a party. It became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I've ever made, in my entire life, has been wrong. My life is the opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat ... It's all been wrong.

Waitress : Tuna on toast, coleslaw, cup of coffee.

George : Yeah. No, no, no, wait a minute, I always have tuna on toast. Nothing's ever worked out for me with tuna on toast. I want the complete opposite of tuna on toast! Chicken salad, on rye, untoasted, with a side of potato salad ... and a cup of tea!

Elaine : Well, there's no telling what can happen from this.

Jerry : You know chicken salad is not the opposite of tuna, salmon is the opposite of tuna, 'cause salmon swim against the current, and the tuna swim with it.

Yeah, this is kinda what I'm talking about, only without the coleslaw.

If you don't want to do it because it's too hard, that's exactly what you need to do.  Cook or grab take-out?  Cook.  Walk away from the new jeans or buy them on credit?  Walk away.  Watch tv or work out?  Work out.  Study for an A or wing it for a B?  Study.   Be comfortably introverted or walk up to a stranger and introduce yourself?  Make a friend.  Accept what's in front of you, or wait for what you know is right?  Wait.  For heaven's sake, wait. 

I'd love to be able to tell you that's what I've always done, but OBVIOUSLY it's not.  I have MUCH TOO OFTEN taken the easy road, sometimes out of laziness, sometimes out of impatience, sometimes out of thinking it wouldn't matter in the long run.   I can tell you from more years of experience than I care to admit, I have always regretted those decisions.  But the times I have been intentional... the times I have been disciplined... the times I have thought through the consequences... THOSE are the times I can look back on and see the results and know I did the right thing.

Make the hard choice.  Yep, it's not usually the most fun, and it's often difficult.  Hence the words "HARD choice".  But today you'll have taught yourself a little discipline and tomorrow you will like yourself a little better.

Although I still don't make my bed, even though Mom required us to do so every day growing up.  I just don't get it.  Like Jim Gaffigan says, "It doesn't make sense.  It's like tying your shoes AFTER you take them off."   But even though I won't MAKE the bed today, it's Monday, which means I WILL wash the sheets today.  Even though I don't wanna.