Being Myself, why I gave the propane guy a blank check, and why I think the conspiracy theory crazies may be right after all.
STB Friday Fun day update
Don’t tell the propane guy about my newsletter. For the last few months, I’ve used nothing but erasable ink with this fancy notebook that you can simply wipe away with a wet rag. I find it therapeutic to wipe off big to-do items and I’m doing my small part to save the trees (although I think this is sort of a myth). Last week, my propane guy, who still only takes paper checks, came to fill my tank. A few hours after he left, I realized that I had indeed written his $400 check using erasable ink. I had literally given him a blank, signed check.
I’m not a conspiracy guy but maybe I get it now. For the most part, I think all these people who believe in government hoaxes and media conspiracies are way overestimating how effective, and smart these people really would have to be to pull off some of the latest stories being told. The media as a whole, the government, and really large groups of people, rarely can agree on the sky being blue much less work together to fake a moon landing or rig an entire federal election. Even if they really wanted to and tried their absolute best, I don’t think they could pull it off. Based on everything I see, they are simply not good enough.
But I grew up in a different era and I think of my son, or maybe anyone in their mid-twenties. I think about what they have seen from a political, government, and population in the last 10 years. If that is all they had to judge on, I don’t blame them for doubting that we actually went to the moon, or did anything requiring large sacrifice or commitment. In today’s political and social landscape, it must seem completely implausible that a country and its government could work together to do anything big. They are not conspiracists because they are crazy, they just have little faith in institutions based on recent history. Who can blame them?
I hear the phrase “just be yourself” often. I tell my kids that as well. But what does that really mean?
I have a lot of selves. Sometimes they are great friends, sometimes they are enemies, and sometimes I am convinced they are from another universe. Sometimes new selves just pop into my existence for a few hours and then never come back. I find these particular selves are typically attracted to beer and wine.
I like to try things in life, and because of that, I wear many hats. It can be very messy at times and I’m not going to lie to you, trying to figure out what self I should be in that moment can be hard. Maybe everyone else in the world has this figured out but I don’t. I have a feeling that the universe will give me the secret password right before I die but in true universe fashion, it’s behind a bright light so I cannot see it.
I’m not even sure I would want to be the same self in every case. It seems at best boring, and at worst, detrimental.
Let’s take a normal day. On any given day I will have to comfort my pre-teen daughter, try to inspire my teenage son, mentor a young professional, give multi-million dollar advice to someone 20 years my elder, be the overly optimistic leader GCS (Gulf Coast Solutions) needs to be, and be a riverboat gambler investing in a startup or Bitcoin. I surely do not have all the answers to raising kids but something tells me the way I buy crypto and the way I help my kids navigate childhood should be a little different.
Quick garden update: Here is what currently is growing in my garden.
Jalapenos, Mad-Hatter Peppers, Candy-Cane Peppers, Eggplants, Large Green Bell Peppers, Snackable Red Peppers, Cajun Bell Peppers, Pickling Cucumbers, Sweet Potatoes, Peanuts, Anaheim Peppers, Poblano Peppers, Pumpkins, Broccoli, and Celery.
Also, if you haven’t tried growing your own cucumbers and peppers and pickling them, you are missing out. My homemade pickles with jalapenos are fantastic. If you want my very simple recipe, just let me know.