Thursday, October 24, 2013

The Wheel And When To Let Go

I think there really is a time that you need to just let go. 



Not just of the steering wheel, although I remember my father scaring the piss out of us while doing so as he drove over bridges, but of the things we think we have control over.  I say "think" for a reason.  Making a plan or schedule is a great way to organize things but not often do they go exactly as intended.  I also know that some people avoid thinking of their future and, because it is so uncertain, they shy away from creating anything resembling a road map to life.  I'm getting better about that, myself.

So, when David turned 15 1/2 years old this summer, we had a game plan.  Take him out driving each weekend starting with parking lots and working our way up to the highway.  Things went really well despite a hiccup or two that turned into learning experiences (for him and us.)  If I have one thing going for me, it would be patience.  That serves me well in life, work and this particular circumstance.  Well, the weekly practice evaporated as David's weekend schedule was adjusted and, when he did get a chance to drive, he reverted to some earlier bad tendencies.  After an incident where he ran a red light, drifted into a different lane after going through an intersection and changed lanes without checking his mirrors, we had to re-evaluate.

We do try to maximize the time we do have with our busy child.  It's astonishes us all the things he has to balance when it comes to school work (several AP and honors classes) and a recently begun workout program.  We decided we needed to let go of the wheel.  When you don't have control of a situation, sometimes the best thing to do is hand it over to someone else... A-1 Driving School.  After 2 of his 3 two-hour sessions, I can see a little more confidence in him and I'm expecting that I will let him drive me to the store later today.

I guess there was always a fear of letting go of the wheel.  Despite watching my father do it (to the astonishment of his children), I knew there was a risk being taken.  It was later that I noticed he had been bringing his knee up to hold the wheel steady.  He wasn't really letting go but I have to say that my doing so may have been the best thing for my son.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

How To Accidentally Stick Yourself With A Pin



There is something wonderful when we share things.  People are just wired that way.  It's the reason why language developed and why social media is dominating people's lives today.  Whether it is opinion, product, recipe, motivational message or D.I.Y. how-to, people like to let other people know about the things that interest them.  Heck, some of us go out and solicit those things from others.  The human experience includes moments when you've had someone come up to you and ask, "How did you do that?," when it comes to weight loss, auto customization, home decor, physical feat... etc.

That's where Pinterest becomes interesting.  I have to admit that it took me years before I decided to sign up for the site.  Probably because most everything that I saw on there had to do with holiday creations, hairstyling, wedding dresses, nail designs... well, let's just say that I thought it wasn't for guys.  It didn't help that my sister recommended it.  But, the idea behind it is basic.  You link a favorite site or image and explain it while allowing other people to "like" it, "pin" it or ignore it.  Pinning something is like putting it on a bulletin board to file it away.  Liking it does the same thing except it is all clumped together and not shared with your "friends."

As many of you readers would know, my interests are rather diverse.  Heck, you could see from my account what weird crap that I'm posting errr... pinning.  I usually use it to bookmark items, research recipes and find new health/workout tips.  But, I think some people really don't use the site appropriately.  Let's think about it for a second.  If you pin something, all your friends and, actually, everyone sees it.  If you like it, they don't.  So, if you "pin" a recipe, it better be good or your friends will think your taste buds don't work.  If you "like" a recipe, you can try it first and share it with people if you think it's worth anything.  Think of this as a reputation defender.  You wouldn't share a "how-to" tip on making a bookshelf if the end product doesn't hold books, would you?  Just remember, your friends... or future friends are judging you.