15 things I have learned

[theinevitable]

I don't know, people. "God won't dish out anything you can't handle" sounds exactly like what would be in the Bible. Maybe it's just me.

[iron_felix]

My favorite Lao Tze moral/story/quote:

A Taoist and a Confucian were walking along, when the Taoist says, "look at that giraffe, how happy he must be to swim around all day".  The Confucian says, "You are not the giraffe, how do you know what makes it happy".  The Taoists says, "You are not me, how do you know I don't know what makes the giraffe happy". 

In the Forbidden City there is a "Bridge of the Happy giraffees" (or something like that) from which that conversation allegedly took place.  It's a little stone bridge over a small pond with some koi in it.

I've heard Smells' quote attributed to Abe Lincoln before, but by the sound of it that's probably way off.

[pmcd9]

Ok, I asked my Mother to find this quote for me and it doesn't exactly match the meaning as the quote Moose used and i'm not sure that it has the exact meaning as what my Mother has used it for, but it's very close.

There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but god is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.

This passage is speaking specifically about temptation and the avoidance of sin whereas Moose I think is speaking more to bearing the sins of others.  In her case a wicked boss.  I still don't buy it.  There are countless peoples who are damaged beyond repair because they found themselves in situations they couldn't bear.

The Bible quote seems contradictory to itself because it's saying you can avoid sin if you follow God, while elsewhere in the Bible it says that it's impossible to live a sin free life.  But that's a totally different discussion.

[Nabubrush]

I was looking at Doomglobe's profile in honor of his birthday, which led me to look at some other folks who aren't here anymore, which led me to this - and in the interests of recent stock-taking I've been doing, I think there are some very nice things contained herein, so I thought I'd bump it.

[miles]

I want a honey slide.

Oh god yes please.

I just started playing On the Beach. It's too bad I have shit to do.

[Nabubrush]

I hadn't realized that it was a hard album to find - my brother had it on vinyl when I was a kid, so I always had a copy of it.

[wombat]

Thanks, this was just what I needed while trapped at the day job for a few hours on a gray day when everyone else has a holiday and no one is posting on the internet.

Did we have the giraffe filter when this thread was originally posted? It adds a nice touch to the last few pages.

[littlefallsmets]

Those fuckin' seagulls ARE out of reach.

The dude is absolutely right.

[jaydub]

Ahh, Chuanoplast and MuseOfFire.  Some quality acheheads there.  Wonder what's happening with them these days.

[Nabubrush]

They probably figured the message board folded with the comic.

[pmcd9]

They probably figured the message board folded with the comic.

Some people can earn 1000 cans, but the rest of us are down in the trenches everyday earning them one at a time.

[Nabubrush]

Some people can earn 1000 cans, but the rest of us are down in the trenches everyday earning them one at a time.

Down here is where the real work gets done, my friend, and I'm glad to share the trench with you.

[greenkoolayd]

Down here is where the real work gets done, my friend, and I'm glad to share the trench with you.

just lay off the beans because we share the air, too.

[Mr Trout]

0) 15 things are hard to learn.

1). How to cook dry pinto beans. Soak them overnight then simmer them (in different water) for an hour or so (DON'T add salt too early!) and then add all your seasonings (chicken stock, half an onion, hella chiles, salt, cumin, sugar, cinnamon, garlic, more heat) and simmer till tasty

2) The lyrics to Oh! Darling describe how I feel about my GF so perfectly

3) The only times I forget all the extraneous BS are when I am skiing or having sex

4) Clothes that fit well are worth every penny

5) Having a body type that is well outside the norm was even more depressing once I realized that well fitting clothes cost way more than I could afford

6) The Rockies are my favorite part of my country

7) I hate most people. That doesn't make me a bad person

Injuries and physical pain makes you less afraid of those things.

9) Your experiences do not define you. The way you react to them does.

10) It is really hard to articulate things you think you've learned

11) Coming home to a clean apartment feels really goddamn good

12) I really REALLY love Kiki's Delivery Service

13) The right music can make me feel good under most any circumstances. This might be why I feel the urge to play my ipod whenever possible.

14) Growing your own food is extremely satisfying. I plan to make full use of my windowsills and fire-escape this year.

15) Gashes and bruises and other injuries while skiing mean you are pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone: that is the only way you get better. The rush of dropping into and then finishing a line that terrified you at the top is maybe the greatest feeling I know.

[jay-ell]

Wow, this happened while I was on hiatus, and there were definitely some quality n00bs that didn't stick around. Huh.

It also makes a little more sense to me why you guys thought A-CAP was a troll at first. He has certainly mellowed with age.

Just on the off chance anyone cares, here are my 15:

1) We're put on this earth to learn stuff, but not the stuff we're usually focused on. I believe that we're here to learn about relationships, and that every type of relationship we have with another person teaches us something about our relationship with God. Parent/child (in either direction), husband/wife, peer/peer. Even the difficult people with whom we struggle to get along can show us, if we're reflective enough, that we, too, fall short and must sometimes seem unloveable -- therefore, how much greater the glory of God that he can forgive us and love us in spite of ourselves? (Personal philosophy; YMMV.)

2) Sometimes, though, not knowing stuff (or trying to forget you know it) is advantageous. Watching my kids try and figure out the way the world works has taught me that if you don't know the rules of the game, you're much freer to be creative and invent your own rules. Knowledge is power, but it can also limit the number of things you can think of to do with that power.

3) Writing, drawing, playing an instrument, and singing are similar in that anyone can learn to do them, but some people are born with a knack.

4) Nothing is as important to other people as it is to you. Therefore, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

5) Your dreams belong to you; nobody else is responsible for making them happen.

6) There are worse things than failure and rejection. For instance, allowing the fear of failure and rejection to rule your life.

7) You can have either time or money, but never both. If you want to free up some time, you're going to have to spend some money (on hiring someone else to care for your kids, yard, or house; on buying convenience foods or eating out instead of cooking; flying to visit relatives instead of driving across four states). But you can save a lot of money by spending time on them (repairing the toilet yourself instead of hiring a plumber; taking an hour a week to clip coupons; learning how to change the oil in your car). The trick is to find the balance that works best with your life.

8) If you own something but don't use it, you're not just cluttering up your house/attic/storage unit. You're depriving someone else of the use of that item, someone who would appreciate it for its true value. Hoarding is selfish; give up your stuff and don't look back.

9) It's just as wasteful to stuff food into your mouth after you're full as it is to throw it in the trash can.

10) Go to the doctor once a year, even if you're not sick. Take your car in for its regularly scheduled maintenance, and see a therapist every now and then to keep your head on straight.

11) Don't take other people's decisions personally. If someone chooses a different path from yours, it doesn't mean they think you're wrong, but if you try to push your decisions on them, you will be.

12) There are three things a child can never get enough of: crayons, paper, and praise.

13) Sometimes you have to apologize even when the other person is wrong.

14) Turn the other cheek.

15) Judge not, lest ye be judged.