Category: wisdom

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Every Day Is X-mas For This Bow Tie

Christmas Bow Tie o’ the Day jumped out at me in The Tie Room this morning. I’m feeling a bit Christmas-y, but I have no idea why. I’ll just flow with it, and I might figure it out by the end of the day. I’m also feeling kinda pirate-like. Again, I don’t know why. Christmas’ generosity is sorta the opposite of pirates looting whatever they can find. We all have to balance our values constantly. Sometimes we need to focus on the idea of acting as a group, and sometimes we have to stand up and assert our individual rights and responsibilities. The point is this: We can’t live without contradicting values– and not just these two. Examine yourself for a day, and you will definitely see yourself shift back and forth between the values of the group, and the value of your individuality. You’ll make decisions based on your groups– such as your church, your family, your community. And you’ll make decisions that are best for little ol’ you. Sometimes– but not always– these values are in opposition, forcing you to choose which you think is more important in that instance. This isn’t hypocrisy. It’s finding the balance– even the dance– of living with other beings on the planet. 🎄 ☠️ Ok. My sermon is now done.

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More Fun With Bad Art

Stick Tie o’ the Day is incontrovertible proof of my infamous artistic non-skills. I seriously tried to draw that tie with symmetry. Obviously, it’s too much for my inept, artsy skill set to handle. Being unable to draw doesn’t stop me from drawing my stick schtick. I like coming up with clever stick figures. They are high on the clever aspect. They are low on the drawing ability. Does my non-ability stop me? No. It’s okay to enjoy doing things even if we suck at doing them. # 👔

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Just One More Item On The List

Flip-flop Bow Tie o’ the Day and I knew this would happen. It doesn’t surprise us. Here’s the story: The newly purchased Ultimate SewingBox parts wait in their boxes in the  garage, yearning to be assembled. And Suzanne says, “I get thinking about it, and where we’re going to put my Ultimate SewingBox really does need new flooring. You know how you’ve always hated that carpet. We should replace it before we set up The Ultimate SewingBox, don’t you think?” Happy wife, happy life, empty wallet.

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The Ties Have Ears

Surfin’ Bow Tie o’ the Day and I know you’re wondering if I still gussy up in my own fashion every day, although I’m a lone prisoner in my own home. Of course, I dress. First, I have to take these selfies. Second, what more can I do in my state of perpetual exhaustion? Third, if a fashion style falls in a forest, without anyone to hear it, it does still make a clashy sound. A person really should think enough of themselves to dress up to hear themselves. 👔

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Be Better Than You Were

With all the down-time I’m trying to fill up, cassette tape Bow Tie o’ the Day and I are doing some serious self-reflection– a little personal evaluation of my life/human/spiritual progress. Whenever I self-assess, I always come up short of where I want my soul to be. But the upside is that it’s easy to make a lengthy Do-Better List of the traits and deeds I need to work on. As I convalesce for the next few weeks, my Do-Better List will grow. That’s why I’ll need stamina. 📋 🏋️‍♀️

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The Bow Ties That Bind

The day before I went into surgery, these crocheted Bow Ties o’ the Day knocked at my door. Bow Ties and flip-flops– two of history’s greatest inventions. My pal, Georgia Grayson Wadsworth, crocheted them for my hospital stay. With these and all the prayers and good vibrations y’all threw at me, I wasn’t askeered. I wasn’t alone. Some of you, I haven’t even seen for a couple of decades. When we begin to quit believing in the world’s goodness, remember these kinds of things. The generosity outweighs the chaos.

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CTR Always Wins

Not all decisions are difficult. Bow Tie Money Clip o’ the Day looking out for Mom is a no-brainer. I needed Hanky Panky surgery three years ago, but that’s when Mom’s health declined bigly. I had to choose. I spent the next two years mostly in Delta, with Mom. My Hanky Panky had to wait. The SMART choice isn’t always the same as the RIGHT choice. I’ve got no regrets that I chose the RIGHT, instead of the SMART. But Hanky Panky’s got no choices anymore: it needs its turn.⚖

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Loved And Distracted

Bishop Travis and his First Lady, Collette, invited me and Bow Tie o’ the Day to see the documentary, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?. Of course, it’s about Mr. Rogers, which means it’s about the worth and dignity of each of us– regardless of rank, bank account, last name, etc.. You know– about all those simple, yet profound, human truths. I hied to SLC to meet Trav and Co at the theatre, and they surprised me by wearing bow ties. The entire time. My surgery apprehensions magically disappeared. 😃

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It’s All In The Questions

Just sittin’ around on a Saturday morning, pretending to smoke a fat cigar, while I wait for my pa-in-law to show up to give me a blessing. Tie o’ the Day clashes with Shirt o’ the Day, much like the cigar is juxtaposed with the idea of a blessing. Clash should go beyond fashion. Clashy living leads to seeing the world from perspectives you never thought possible. You learn to live with questions, which leads to thinking. And that leads to living a life of thinking AND thoughtfulness.

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Compelled To Proclaim It

Bow Tie o’ the Day exudes affection– for Suzanne, who I am infinitely grateful for. Suzanne is the coolest, smartest, funniest, silliest, kindest, cutest, patient-est, generous-est, surprising-est person I’ve ever met. We probably all think the same about the person we love. In fact, it occurs to me that if you don’t feel those things about your person, you shouldn’t be hooked-up with them at all. Don’t settle for anyone except your soulmate. I didn’t. I married up, as they say. I got beyond what I deserve.