Good Grief

With age come wisdom, not necessarily. Experience that you can draw from, mistakes you have learned from not really wiser just more info in your brain that may or may not help others. People need to come to their own conclusions. You can offer advice, doesn’t mean someone wants to hear it. Even when someone asks they only hear what they want to hear. Conclusions are drawn from your shared information and the message is perceived by how it is received. Was it the message you had hoped to impart?

Opinions are not facts, you are not an expert and even if you were there is always a limitation. I like tried and true versus all brand new. I hesitate at new things because of outcomes. Like dipping your toe before plunging both feet. Does it mean that it is right? Not always, commitment is giving your all, knowing you might fail. We all hate to fail, but it is how we learn. Failing can hurt, but so does not trying. What if, should be, could be is always going to exist. We won’t always arrive at a hundred percent certainty.

You will always be plagued by the risk to reward ratio. It is personal for everyone, gut feeling, expertise, and experience all have a part in it. So does fear, that is the one to overcome. I don’t like to share my vision or ideas with others, my own doubts are enough, I don’t need others to help them find a permanent residence in my mind. Even the most well intended conversations can create doubt. I reserve my doubts when listening to others for this reason too. “What do you really think?” That is hard, what do they really want you to think? I always think good things, I am a glass half full. A realist wants it all, a pessimist will really take the truth hard. I am an observer and the way the message is delivered is key. People arrive at their plans like a four year old, you can see the emotions on their face. Like responding to that child, you wouldn’t dash an idea down with complete disdain. Be gentle, be kind, offer a few tips.. then let them be to see for themselves. Then be there for the outcome, it might be a celebration.