Years ago, in a company conference skit during the 60's, I portrayed a beatnik with a scraggy beard carrying a sign warning all mankind that "The End Of The World" was near.
I did not share the beatniks views then - nor do I now.
What follows is in the form of a caveat to anyone who may still view this blog occasionally. Please be forewarned.
A cynic or incredibly naive person may not be an accurate description of your blogger. However, if one believed, after reading many of my blogs like one I just completed; that conclusion could easily be understood.
It is my hope that by your reading those blogs on subjects which may currently be obscure, even if picked up in the national media shortly thereafter, you may be encouraged to be among the first to say, "AHHHHH!", as the light bulb goes on. Information is power.
My goal is also to pique your curiosity and intellect as well as my own.
No attempt is made to defend the blogs as professional writing, good grammar, even the achievement of occasional punctuation success, or for that matter having appropriate brevity. (And the choir said, AMEN!)
My blogs are solely my thoughts and observations. You may or may not agree. Either way you've made my day.
I own "dem" thoughts, have always had them, but lack the forum size and means to communicate them to folks in a way often made available to me back in the last few years of my "working days."
As most people are quite busy and/or have more viable and/or more pressing interests I readily understand that I "ain't reaching the masses." But, that's okay.
What IS happening is me keeping myself mentally awake - an attempt to avoid an illness that strikes all too many of us seniors - and was covered quite deeply by the media on the anniversary of President Reagens birth.
So, you occasional readers are not only my family and friends, but possibly volunteer hospice workers for "Old Bare."
Last night I even promoted the blogs to my skeptical wife as a personal journal; a recognition that few individuals other than Justin* Bieber fans, still keep diaries. And, they most likely have forsaken that confessional tool for Twitter, Facebook, and My Space.
My blogs will often go to what is intended to be the injection of humor in my written musings. Part of that is from my fascination with contrast and irony; skills I acquired from my parents.
Besides, we all know that people who hold and express only dour and critical observations are seldom the hit of the party. While that's not my aim, one would still like to think you wouldn't cross the street when I come into view.
So, there you have it. It's a confession that pops into my mind everytime I wonder if I may be losing it. It may occasionally be a concern that you may conclude sanity is rapidly running out of my doorway. Then again, you may be right. Who knows?
What IS my constant concern is that we may be forgetting the valuable morality lessons we learnedwhen we were young and therefore; will not speak up when it's appropriate to do so.
I really do possess a pause button. My hope is to utilize that along with a focus that will keep me from sometimes pursuing an incredible "deviation from the mean" in my musings.
My brother, Tom was kind enough to describe my ramblings as my "passion" and "a voice" I have found. I agree. I've found some freedom too.
What I no longer have to deal with at my age are the sometimes unreasonable restrictions that most of us in business had to suffer in the 60's, 70's, & 80's. To succeed, you quickly (or in my case - not so quickly) learned when to hold - and when to fold, while clinging to your self-respect.
You may have already surmised that ignoring those restrictions or "suggestions" ("in "Theory Y" times") wasn't always easy for a quick tempered and easily confused Irishman.
As sacharine sounding as this may come across, I truly believed I had a responsibility to make a positive contribution to society. After all was said and done I had slipped more than once and no
doubt fell way short of my Mom's expectations for her oldest child.
A shrink might conclude maybe that was what was gnawing at me. It's way too late to worry.
God taught me a few lessons along the way, and despite my many stupid reactions, always took care of me. He also gave me a voice.
It's interesting that later in my work life, I was able to support and lead some unpopular causes that were important to me; often while standing behind the wizards curtain. It's not important what they were.
One of Dad's teachings that was literally pounded into my head was that you NEVER took credit for any accomplishments. You became the master of deflection. It served me well in the management style I adopted and later taught others.
So, I'm on my own now, still trying, while clinging to the belief there is no beatnik beating in this old guy's chest.
Thanks for your support and willingness to listen to my "soliloquy."
I did not share the beatniks views then - nor do I now.
What follows is in the form of a caveat to anyone who may still view this blog occasionally. Please be forewarned.
A cynic or incredibly naive person may not be an accurate description of your blogger. However, if one believed, after reading many of my blogs like one I just completed; that conclusion could easily be understood.
It is my hope that by your reading those blogs on subjects which may currently be obscure, even if picked up in the national media shortly thereafter, you may be encouraged to be among the first to say, "AHHHHH!", as the light bulb goes on. Information is power.
My goal is also to pique your curiosity and intellect as well as my own.
No attempt is made to defend the blogs as professional writing, good grammar, even the achievement of occasional punctuation success, or for that matter having appropriate brevity. (And the choir said, AMEN!)
My blogs are solely my thoughts and observations. You may or may not agree. Either way you've made my day.
I own "dem" thoughts, have always had them, but lack the forum size and means to communicate them to folks in a way often made available to me back in the last few years of my "working days."
As most people are quite busy and/or have more viable and/or more pressing interests I readily understand that I "ain't reaching the masses." But, that's okay.
What IS happening is me keeping myself mentally awake - an attempt to avoid an illness that strikes all too many of us seniors - and was covered quite deeply by the media on the anniversary of President Reagens birth.
So, you occasional readers are not only my family and friends, but possibly volunteer hospice workers for "Old Bare."
Last night I even promoted the blogs to my skeptical wife as a personal journal; a recognition that few individuals other than Justin* Bieber fans, still keep diaries. And, they most likely have forsaken that confessional tool for Twitter, Facebook, and My Space.
My blogs will often go to what is intended to be the injection of humor in my written musings. Part of that is from my fascination with contrast and irony; skills I acquired from my parents.
Besides, we all know that people who hold and express only dour and critical observations are seldom the hit of the party. While that's not my aim, one would still like to think you wouldn't cross the street when I come into view.
So, there you have it. It's a confession that pops into my mind everytime I wonder if I may be losing it. It may occasionally be a concern that you may conclude sanity is rapidly running out of my doorway. Then again, you may be right. Who knows?
What IS my constant concern is that we may be forgetting the valuable morality lessons we learnedwhen we were young and therefore; will not speak up when it's appropriate to do so.
I really do possess a pause button. My hope is to utilize that along with a focus that will keep me from sometimes pursuing an incredible "deviation from the mean" in my musings.
My brother, Tom was kind enough to describe my ramblings as my "passion" and "a voice" I have found. I agree. I've found some freedom too.
What I no longer have to deal with at my age are the sometimes unreasonable restrictions that most of us in business had to suffer in the 60's, 70's, & 80's. To succeed, you quickly (or in my case - not so quickly) learned when to hold - and when to fold, while clinging to your self-respect.
You may have already surmised that ignoring those restrictions or "suggestions" ("in "Theory Y" times") wasn't always easy for a quick tempered and easily confused Irishman.
As sacharine sounding as this may come across, I truly believed I had a responsibility to make a positive contribution to society. After all was said and done I had slipped more than once and no
doubt fell way short of my Mom's expectations for her oldest child.
A shrink might conclude maybe that was what was gnawing at me. It's way too late to worry.
God taught me a few lessons along the way, and despite my many stupid reactions, always took care of me. He also gave me a voice.
It's interesting that later in my work life, I was able to support and lead some unpopular causes that were important to me; often while standing behind the wizards curtain. It's not important what they were.
One of Dad's teachings that was literally pounded into my head was that you NEVER took credit for any accomplishments. You became the master of deflection. It served me well in the management style I adopted and later taught others.
So, I'm on my own now, still trying, while clinging to the belief there is no beatnik beating in this old guy's chest.
Thanks for your support and willingness to listen to my "soliloquy."
(*Given name correction courtesy of granddaughter Shannon Sullivan - with my thanks.)
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