Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

Good evening and I hope all is well with everyone. Just checking in, really. Tonight there is not going to be anything interesting, I am afraid. Today I have written (well part of it I dictated using Dragon) about 4,000 words. They are not Earth shuttering words and they are not likely to change the destiny of individuals and countries. But they are words on paper (or on screen) and they will have to do.
Can’t hold a coherent thought any longer today. So had to stop – will have a look at the ‘output’ tomorrow morning, will edit it and get it to my discussant.
Let me tell you, Tim Ferriss is right about many things but the ‘ridiculously short deadline’ thing (Parsons Law modified) is not working very well. Or who knows – may be surprised when I see the paper tomorrow.
Good night and take care all.
SW, we can discuss ways out here some time; preferably when I have had some rest.
Firewalker

savingwannabe

Oh gosh take time. You are very busy. I do like it when i learn. I miss it. Goodnight dear Firewalker.

Little_bit_dizzy

Dear Firewalker

I found your diary and I am utterly hooked. I commented a few weeks ago on a post from Page 7, your amazing LB had just run in a race. I do love your LB.

I just wanted to say thank you, to you and all your friends on here for making me think - really think. About lots of things and all sorts of things, but about myself more too.

And all the talk of marbles (love the idea, not counted yet though) reminded me of a story about a mayonnaise jar and 2 glasses of wine. I thought you might all like it:

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” he said, as the laughter subsided, “Recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your passions; things that if everything was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.”

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes on the Golf Course. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the waste disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first; they are the things that really matter. Make sure you set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life seems, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.”

Little_bit_dizzy

savingwannabe wrote: »

OMG have you seen Little bit dizzy's signature? Accept your flaws. Get over not being perfect. No one else is.

I wish i had seen it sooner, i have made a complete prat of myself already today, I will remember this for the rest of the today!

I'm glad you like it savingwannabe. It has taken me almost 40 years to learn this, but since it registered I feel like I have a new lease of life!

Wordsmith

Little bit dizzy, I read that story years ago and vowed I'd never forget about it. Of course, I have, so thank you so much for bringing it to our attention. So simple, and yet so true. I won't forget it again.

I don't like introspection and analysis, but I am loving the marble/countdown idea. I was getting to the point in my life when I was thinking along these lines, but in rather a woolly way. The marble concept is helping to firm up those thoughts. Who'd have thought it? Thanks Cheri, for sharing that.

savingwannabe

When i am assertive enough I will use it too. I love it. I like the new story LBD but work gets in the way of everything. I still can't set boundaries. I have just been assertive, my boss asked me to attend an exhibition on a weekend when i am meeting steve and susan and andy from our thread. Old me would have cancelled my plans. New me, i am going to tell him i have plans that can't be changed and can he ask someone else!!!!

I listened and learned. Thank you LBD. Hooray.

Karmacat

Hello LBD, thank you for the parable - like Wordsmith, I've heard it and forgot it.

FW, hope you've caught up on some sleep xxx

Firewalker

Thank you for the story LBD and welcome back. And thank you all for contributing and making me think. But also for making me open up to the world a bit...I remember my OH saying that he wishes I weren’t such an island and me replying that I still will have to be a very narrow peninsular. It seems that through you I am joining a continent.

It is getting late so I’ll just let you know what the score is for today. Here it comes:

1. Papers finished – one (it needs much more work but will have to do for a Workshop)
2. Students seen – three (one on Skype from Portugal)
3. Further work discussed – one (Skype)
4. Luggage packed – two (one suitcase and one rucksack full of electronics and paper)
5. Presentations done – none (which means that I’ll have to do one of these tomorrow while travelling; another one on Saturday while travelling and one on Sunday)
6. Eyebrows treaded – two (look lovely)
7. Runs – one (not very long but up and down a hill(ette))
8. Blog posts written – none (which is not good because this is not only pleasurable but also important for me)

Wow, looking at this and thinking that today was rather productive. Tim may be right after all and the less time one allocates to tasks the faster they get done.

And I need to ask you all something (and if there are any Matrix members reading, please spread the word). I will need prayers and wishes to the Universe on Friday at 10 am out time. This is when my presentation will be and I really need to ace this one – if pulled off properly there may be money for a book in all this – being paid to write an academic book is really top. Well, pity the book is not exactly on what people want to read about but it can be made readable.

I am off tomorrow. Look after yourselves and I’ll be in touch from the North.

Firewalker

savingwannabe

Have a safe trip. I will pray too. Hooray for Firewalker. You are like Father Christmas you spread good cheer wherever you go!

Karmacat

Hello FW - I've put the good vibes timing in my diary as I'm off out tomorrow seeing my business partner. I bet you'll be wonderful. And I really like the idea of joining a continent, as I too am at best a peninsula.