Wisdom Wednesday

I've been fortunate to learn a lot of valuable life lessons. In my opinion, there's book smart and then there's common sense - andthe two are not mutually exclusive. There's formal education and there's wisdom.; one you can get from a book, the other you have to experience, endure and survive to get. While fancy book learnin' has it's place, if pushed to choose, I'll pick wisdom every time. Some of the lessons are painful, some are shocking, some are amusing, but they are each a gift. I've decided to devote Wednesdays to little snippets I've picked up during my education in U of Life. This week I learned:

• If, when involved in a discussion about the merits of Mane and Tail shampoo, you mistakenly call it Hoof and Mouth shampoo....#1. You can't try and cover it up like you never said it and #2. People will point, laugh and make horsey noises at you for the rest of the day. And a little bit the next day


• Even if it's a job requirement, getting walked on too much makes even a sidewalk sad.


• If someone gets up in front of the group and says that she will be brief in the interest of time, then leans on the podium and says "When I was a girl...", get comfy 'cause she's LYING! It will not be brief and she has no interest in how much of your time she steals.


• If you ply the handyman with freshly baked cookies, he will be more cheerful about getting your earring out of the drain. Again. And won't give you the lecture about pulling up the sink stopper when putting on said earrings. Again.


• If you're feeling down because you can't go home to Maine to celebrate your Grammie's 98th birthday, you can bring bagels in to work, and celebrate with your coworkers. Turns out they will (very realistically) pretend to be happy for Grammie just to get the bagels. It's not a sure fire solution, but it does make you feel a little better and hey, there's bagels.


• If your old method works fine, sometimes it OK not to switch to a new one. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it.)

• If everyone would just remember to stay to the right, there wouldn't be as many 'around the corner collisions' or doors in the face.

• And if there are, a smile and heartfelt 'excuse me' goes a long way. Manners matter!

• If your 'friend' lays out her new plan to systematically destroy her life as well as that of several others (collateral damage) and asks your opinion, she doesn't really want to know.

• A real friend would really want to know.
  
• When you are secure in the knowledge that you have literally HEARD IT ALL, you will overhear a conversation that contains the snippet, "You're in luck...I have this sebaceous cyst..."
  

What have YOU learned this week?