Posts by Pat:
There’s no substitute for doing it…
We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.
A child works hard to do something he’s never done before. He’s just turned one and he doesn’t know how to walk (yet).
There are no really useful books or videos on how to walk. It’s something he has to figure out on his own. But instead of waiting on the couch until the day he’s ready to proudly strut across the room, he’s there, on the floor, every day, trying it out.
But he persists. And I don’t know about you, but this is precisely the way I learned how to walk as well.
In fact, it’s the way we learned how to do just about everything important. By doing it.
How did we learn to swim? Did we get the basics in a classroom, taught to us on a chalkboard, and then hit the pool like Mark Spitz?
How about riding a bike? Did we study the laws of physics, the effects of gravitational pull, or other Einstein-like theories, then launch ourselves into the top spot in the “Tour de France?” No-we just fell down and scraped our knees a lot.
If we want to add new direction to our lives…we just need to begin walking in that direction. Putting one foot in front of the other.
In other words, “Just do it!”
It all begins with our harnessing the power of our mind and the energy of our body. Once we choose a new role for our lives, we don’t learn the part-we act the part!

And remember that old adage
“If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
I also suggest that we remember that
if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly!
(After all, our first attempts at walking weren’t pretty!)
Sticks and stones…
The power in our words is often underestimated. We need to discount that old adage that says “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” We all have been hurt by the words of others, be they parents, partners, teachers, bosses, friends. And we all have hurt someone else, even our loved ones, by […]
What is a Dad?
What is a Dad? A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in […]
Any rocks in your path?
Do you know this story? Once there was a very wise king who spared no effort to teach his people good habits of being industrious and careful. He felt that nothing good can come to a nation whose people complain and expect others to fix their problems for them. One night while everyone else slept, he […]
7 truisms to chuckle over!
Some stuff that’s true is also funny. Here are seven thoughts for you to mull over! Do you have a favorite to add to this list?
Two “easies”
One of the simple philosophical principles in life is: Easy to do is also easy NOT to do! It’s super easy to turn off the computer and the phone when I want some thinking time. It’s not particularly hard to reach out and unplug. Doing that is SUPER easy. But…it’s also REALLY easy not to […]
13 fun truths…
Truths that little kids have learned: No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats. If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch the second person. You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. The best place to be when you’re feeling sad is Grandpa’s lap. […]
Who changed?
Our images of Mother… 4 years old: My Mommy can do anything! 8 years old: My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot! 12 years old: My Mother doesn’t really know quite everyhing. 14 years old: Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that, either. 16 years old: Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned. 18 years old: That old woman? She’s […]
Another lottery ticket?
Why do folks buy lottery tickets? It’s certainly not based on any rational analysis of financial risk or reward. So, why do something that almost never seems to work? Because it actually works every single time. What it does is release a hit of dopamine, first when we think about buying one, then again when we decide […]
Puns are fun!
The bane of my eccentric family was my dad’s and my son’s predilection for puns and, of course, that meant our family gatherings were filled with laughter and groans! And after the fun of writing last week’s post on books and reading I just can’t resist sharing some related puns with you. After all, my history […]