It seems to me that the pace of life gets more rapid with each passing month; everyone is in hot pursuit of “the next big thing” or getting more (of whatever it is they want more of). As a result of this relentless pursuit, we tend to forget the small, simpler things of life and regard them as trivia – OK for young children but of no importance to “us adults”. I tend to disagree, but can understand that this ‘amnesia’ is a ‘safety-valve’ for the pressures faced.
What is more aggravating is individual ‘selective amnesia’; by this I mean the capacity of the human being to “forget” – but only those things that may intrude upon the “pleasantness” of the individual. A good case of this is an example that happened to me. In March of this year, a businessman approached me and asked if I would agree to do some occasional work for him. I agreed, naturally. He went on to explain that any work done would be required to be done almost immediately and that he would like to pay me a “retainer” of a certain sum of money each month, so that I was always available and that he took priority over anything else. This I also found acceptable. He was delighted and said he would draw up the relevant contracts for signing and the first payment would be made in April. I am still waiting and it is now July!
I will NOT go to him and asked what happened as I know I will get excuses – ‘times are hard’, ‘the work is not necessary now’ or any other piece of ‘mouth-music’. Personally I don’t care; I work on the basis of “If I don’t see it, I don’t miss it”.
I guess 99% or more of the population suffer from either or both types of amnesia; maybe it is the responsibility of the small number of us who do not suffer from either to ensure that the “sheep” can chew their grass in comfort.
Until next time,
P.S.
Rudyard Kipling
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If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Lucana - a VERY astute comment. Mr. Kipling was a keen observer og human nature and this is well -shown in the example you have quoted. Thank you very much. P.S:
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