Questioning Age, Change, and Growth

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”

-- C. JoyBell C.

How would you know if you are successful at the age of 25?

Are you truly happy in your circumstance? Money and career don’t establish success if you aren’t happy. To be truly successful, you must be truly happy with who, what, and why you are. You can be constantly successful if you can tell people you are truly happy in life. Not many people can say they are truly happy. I am truly happy in all things. I have to be. The alternative, for me, simply sucks. Strive to be happy always!

What are the steps needed when trouble persists?

Ask why the trouble exists. It is usually a choice or decision we made that went a bit off the rails. Don’t shift the blame, but work on correcting that decision or choice. You may have to eat some “humble pie” and admit you screwed up. So be it. Learn from what you did so you mitigate making the same error again.

Does every single thing we do have a cause and effect?

Indeed! If you die before you wake, it will have some effect. If you wake, it will have an effect. When you go outside you will interact with others; a smile, kind word, a look, all will have an effect.

We love to shift the blame for everything on others when, in reality, everything that happens to us is caused by a choice or decision we make. If I knock a glass off the counter where my girlfriend put it, asking why she put the glass there is shifting the blame. I knocked it off, so why didn’t I see it and be more careful? The glass broke because of my lack of attention, not because she put the glass there.

In this way, everything we do is because and has an effect, regardless of who we think we can blame it on.

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

When does it get better and feel like it was all worth it?

Since I strive to be happy at all times, this is hard for me to answer. In truth, I expect to answer this question just before I pass on to the next life. I expect I will have little to regret.

Which is a category of marginally ethical negotiating tactics?

Stretching the truth, or making a purse out of a sow’s ear. Promising more than you know you can deliver. Touting “facts” when they’re unproven. “Marginally ethical” can be defined as “almost true” as well as “almost not true”. “Marginally” ethical is, in reality, bad ethics. I always left a meeting with the other side knowing my ethics were not in question. I’ve also left meetings with the other side knowing it was obvious their idea of “ethics” left much to be desired.

Do you believe that everyone is born with an innate talent or potential within waiting to be discovered?

Yes, indeed. I run into people all the time who think they have no talent or potential. I get this from stay-at-home moms a lot. I always tell them parenting is a talent and staying at home to ensure it is done right shows more potential than many would accept. I watched a young man wash a car the other day. My goodness! I’ve never seen a young person put that much effort into ensuring a car looked so pristine. He actually took a toothbrush and worked it around the logos and such. Needless to say, I took his card and will be calling him when I need the service. This is talent, and it shows his potential for getting ahead in life.

"Talent is a gift, but our character is a choice. Talent is natural ability, our gift from God, but we have the power to determine our character. That power rests on a foundation consisting of the choices we make in life. And those choices almost always dictate the amount of trust others have in us, and to what level of leadership we rise."

-- John C. Maxwell

What is a unique quality you have that makes you proud?

It takes one to know one. It’s what made me so good at intelligence analysis. I’ve adopted so many different personalities in my life I can put myself in someone’s shoes and usually determine what kind of person I’m dealing with.

I told a woman I was having a heated discussion with on the phone, I could make her do anything I wanted. She threw the “bullshit” flag and I immediately hung up on her. I watched the phone and counted the seconds before I knew she’d called me back. She asked why I’d hung up, so I told her, “I made you call me back.” This was easy because she was one to always fall prey to human nature. She, also, hung up on me, which was expected. I didn’t call her back.

It makes me “proud,” I suppose, but the downside is not knowing who I really am. I don’t play these games anymore, and I try, very hard, not to judge people.

Do you agree that no problem is settled until it is settled well?

If you don’t settle the problem, it isn’t really settled. Using chewing gum as an adhesive is not the same thing as bolting the item down.

Do you think you matter?

We all matter. To what extent is up to each of us to determine. I consider myself a humble person, so how much I matter is of little concern to me. It is enough that I do matter.

“No matter how dysfunctional your background, how broke or broken you are, where you are today, or what anyone else says, YOU MATTER, and your life matters!”

-- Germany Kent

"Change is the only constant." Oh, so, is change better than the quality of change?

That thought doesn’t follow. Change, being the only constant, has nothing to do with the quality of the change. It simply states there will eventually, be change.

Do you consider yourself a tool? If so, what kind of tool are you, and why?

We are all tools, to some extent. Being a humble person, I can only hope that what I write and say is useful to some. A few folks think I’m a dull blade. My dad was famous for saying, “Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.” He was pretty wise.

What is the best way to respond to negative feedback?

We usually ask for feedback, even if we think we haven’t. Critique it. The feedback may have some merit and, if so, you may learn from it. Thank them for the feedback.

“The only thing worse than not requesting feedback is not acting on it.”

-- Frank Sonnenberg

How accurate is the statement, "the world wants you to be mediocre?"

Not very. It only holds true for socialism.

How has helping others contributed to your growth?

It helps me transcend from self-actualization to a more spiritual level.

What is the littlest intangible thing you have found the most joy in?

Waking up. At my age, not only is waking up joyful, but it’s a reason to give thanks for the gift of another day in paradise and another chance to excel in life.

“It's a disease. Nobody thinks or feels or cares any more; nobody gets excited or believes in anything except their own comfortable little God damn mediocrity.”

-- Richard Yates

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Lessons, Errors, and Choices

 

“Wisdom comes from making mistakes, having the courage to face them, and make adjustments moving forward based upon the knowledge acquired through those experiences.”

-- Ken Poirot

 

What lessons are best taught the hard way?

The hard lessons. We learn best through failure, so it stands to reason that the harder we are taught the better the lesson will be remembered.

How can I live above my mistakes?

First of all, you need to learn from your mistakes. If you learn the lessons well, the chance of repeating the mistake will be mitigated. If you don’t have to concern yourself with repeating the mistakes, you have accomplished living above them. Just don’t forget the lessons.

How can a person become the leader he/she envisions without sacrificing his/her values?

If you envision becoming a leader without values, you join the ranks of most leaders whose sense of values blows with the proverbial wind.

Prove your worth. Do not ever compromise your sense of moral ethics for some win. Stand for your values. Do this, explain yourself to the people you represent, and you may succeed. If people desire corruption, they can find it in someone else. You, however, can leave these people with a clear conscience, knowing you have always tried to do the right thing for a good and, albeit, ignorant base. Remember who you have to look in the mirror and see.

“He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”

--  James Allen

Why can't I have a good day? Don't I deserve at least one decent day this year?

Don’t we all? Many people feel this way since COVID has invaded our lives. Happiness is a choice. I have found that if you strive to be happy always, despite your circumstances, every day will become a “decent” day, as you smile in the face of adversity. You will find yourself daring to dare life. “Is this all you brought with you? Nothing else? If you have more, bring it! I’ve survived all of this, so far. I am ready.”

Author's comment:  You got a point in the ‘don’t we all’ part. That’s understandable since covid is something that people don’t have decent days no more.

But I felt this way long before covid.

My reply:  The answer is still the same. It is what it is until it isn’t, so you have to make a choice that changes your outlook. Choose to be happy always, and don’t let anyone or anything tell you you can’t. Rise above it. You’ll be surprised how easy it actually is, once you make the serious and conscious choice to do it.

Who is good at everything?

Nobody. And, if they think they are, they really aren’t.

Why do some people perform their best when they have nothing to lose?

Because they have nothing to lose. Might as well throw all caution to the wind and go for the gusto. This is when most coaches can separate the wheat from the chaff. One has to work or play at the top of their game always, not just when the chips are down. Always give 110 percent.

“It is easier for one to take risks and to chase his dreams with a mindset that he has nothing to lose. In this lies the immense passion, the great advantage of avoiding a materialistic, pleasure-filled way of life.”

-- Criss Jami

What has experience taught you about the world?

Most of it exists on a wing and a prayer, and the charity of others.

Why do people live "fake it till you make it" lifestyles?

Many people don’t know how to make it any other way. They might “make it” but, sooner or later faking it will cost them dearly. I saw this with the corporation I worked for and warned the VP who to watch. Seeing through the bullshit as a corporate liaison was one of my talents.

Why can hope motivate us?

If hope was your last resort, you can bet your butt it would be motivation.

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

-- Shel Silverstein

What financial advice really helped you towards a happy life?

Stay out of debt. Pay all bills at the end of the month, and stay out of debt.

Is living your life with a bare minimum the most sustainable form of living?

I’m living well within my means, and I want for very little. I can see how living with a “bare minimum” would be easily sustainable for those with no debt.

How can people share their lives in the different seasons of life?

I share my friendship when I’m a child. I share my love when I’m young. I share my knowledge when I’m middle-aged. I share my mistakes when I’m retired. I share my wisdom when I’m old. And, I will share the truth of an unwavering faith when I am dying.

“The only way to fully know the soul of a mountain is to live it’s all seasons and it’s all heights and the same thing is valid for people as well!”

-- Mehmet Murat ildan

Do you know you do not have to accept widely accepted beliefs and practices?

Yes, it’s called freedom of choice. You have the freedom to choose not to, or you have the freedom to allow yourself to accept, whether you really do or you’re being forced to. When you allow yourself to be forced, this, too, is freedom of choice.

I am super confused about my career options. What should I do?

Try writing them all down and listing the pros and cons of each. While you’re doing this, keep asking yourself which one really appeals to you. many times, subconsciously, you’ve already made the choice and it may not be the one the pro or cons determine.

Can something exist that does not cause anything?

If you noticed it, then no, because its very existence caused you to notice it. Even “nothing” exists, if for no other reason than to be filled by something. A vacuum will cause you to gasp for air. A nondescript boulder will cause you to step around it or on it, in order to get past it.

“Because reasoning about causes and effects is a very difficult thing, and I believe the only judge of that can be God. We are already hard put to establish a relationship between such an obvious effect as a charred tree and the lightning bolt that set fire to it, so to trace sometimes endless chains of causes and effects seems to me as foolish as trying to build a tower that will touch the sky.”

-- Umberto Eco

 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Happiness, Success, and Life

 

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

-- Mae West

What should "The customer is always right" be replaced with?

Treat the customer with tolerance and understanding, because sometimes they are right.

What are the 3 principles in life? Explain each.

Have a personal code of moral ethics. Your personal code of ethics will define who you are to those around you.

Work hard for what you want. If you aren’t willing to work hard for what you want, how will you value it when you arrive?

Be happy with what you work hard for. If you aren’t going to be exceedingly happy working toward your goal, then how happy will you be when you attain it? 

Is there any correlation between huge wealth and immorality?

Nope.

“Oh how wrong we were to think immortality meant never dying”

-- Gerard Way

What made you realize that all is not as it seems? And did it cost you anything?

My divorce, after 25 years of marriage. It cost me 25 years of my life married to a woman that I never knew really didn’t love me. It cost me everything I worked for during the 25 years. It cost me my children and my right to be a full-time father. It cost me half of my military retirement that I continue to pay to a woman who never supported me in anything. It cost me everything but my life, and that I rebuilt with a vengeance and the knowledge I would strive to be happy always, especially in the face of this kind of adversity.

Now, along with the realization that I wasn’t the sharpest tool in the matrimony shed, I also realize that all may not be as it seems, so I do my due diligence to help me determine what it really is. I have been exceedingly happy since the divorce in 2000, happier than I’d been in the 25 years leading up to it. I continue to strive for happiness always, and I usually succeed.

How and when did you say "stop" to the bad life you were living? What I mean by a bad life, is a life where you're miserable and that will bring nothing good for you. For example, no career, no good relationships, no future and you never achieve your goals.

Again, this would have to be when I stopped fighting to save a marriage that was never going to be as good as she didn’t want it to be. I wasn’t happy. She wasn’t happy. And, the children were certainly not as happy as they could have been. It was a bad life, I was miserable, and nothing good was ever going to come of it without her help. My future was bleak, and I really cared less about goals. The divorce was a turning point in turning a bad life into something so much better. It was unfortunate that I was the only one who didn’t know the marriage was over before it even started.

When in your life did you understand that you were on the losing path and decide to have a good or successful life? Let's say that you were living a life that would get you nowhere. You were living for the sake of living. You were doing nothing.

This answer is like a broken record. After a 25 year marriage that went nowhere. The harder I tried to salvage it, the worse it got. It takes two to make a marriage, and I was getting nowhere. I had to make a choice, one that she made extremely easy for me, and the best choice of my now half-over life.

Note to my readers:  The next answer seemed apropos for this spot, given the last three. 

What is your perception of failure?

An opportunity to learn. 

“If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.”

-- Shannon L. Alder

How do you measure success?

I measure success by how happy I am. It doesn't matter what goals I attain if I’m not happy in the process. I strive to be happy at all times, and this ensures I am successful always.

Do you think NSTP is necessary?

We can do away with all tax professionals if we are all required to pay a set tax, no loopholes, no deductions, no bullshit, just a set percentage of our income. You will always know what you owe, and so will the IRS.

How much does money really matter in today's day and age?

Money is a necessity for self-assured survival. That’s it. Food, clothing, shelter. What really matters, other than assured survival, is sustained happiness. This is a conscious choice each of us must make for our life, to be happy always, regardless of our circumstances.

“Money is an important tool for modern life. Money will not make you happy, but you can use money wisely to enhance your happiness.”

-- Debasish Mridha

Are you contributing to the world?

If I’m not, I’m wasting precious time answering these questions. Hopefully, everybody who takes time to give a constructive answer to a serious question will make some contribution to humanity and, thus, the world.

Are you concerned more with past failures or with hopes for the future?

I have taken the time to critique and learn from my past failures. People who take the time to do this, and actually learn from it, have no reason to concern themselves with anything. The future will unfold better than it would have, otherwise.

In this day and age, can women support each other without attacking men?

I certainly hope so. I’m tired of being used as one of the unwilling centerpieces in so many catfights.

“I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves.”

-- Mary Shelley

Do you think abilities can be taught?

The great many of our abilities have to be taught. Whether we are capable of learning them is another question.

How can we achieve more congruency between what we say we are and what we are (what we do)?

Develop a “personal code of moral ethics” and stand by them. Your unwavering personal code of ethics will define who you are to those around you, and who you are will reflect what they can expect you to probably do.

What did you learn from your mother unknowingly that has stayed with you the rest of your life?

Equality among people. Race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, etc., are not reasons to not like someone. Making me apologize for being white, however, might get you punched in the face for thinking you’re better than the rest of us.

I learned early on, through stories of my ancestors, that the Irish, Sicilian, and, in particular, the Choctaw, were considered less than equal to others here in the ”New World.” Indentured servitude was tantamount to slavery with the abuse, rape, and beatings. It was servitude you could almost never buy your way out of.

I’m sure as hell not going to agree to pay reparations to people who weren’t slaves. If this comes to pass, I want my reparations for everything my ancestors went through, as well. Maybe we should start by demanding the tribes in Africa that sold their prisoners to the Portuguese should pay up first, then the Portuguese should pay their fair share. But, first, we have to find out what tribe everybody hails from, so the slave traders don’t get paid twice for the flesh they sold.

Apologize for being a Sicilian-Irish-American Indian? Those that expect it can kiss my lightly tinted, olive-colored ass. Or, we can eat a plate of pasta, drink a pint of stout, and smoke a pipe together. Just saying.

"My white “privilege” has not exempted me from racism; it came crashing through my car window during the L.A. riots, carried on a brick to the tune of, “white fucking bitch”."

-- Marrie Lobel

Note to my readers:  Apologies for the questionable language in the above quote, but it plays to a theme we still, very often, forget in the emotion of the moment:  The one who controls their voice controls the conversation.  I'm not really sure what "white fucking bitch" controls, in the brick thrower's mind, other than a lack of tolerance that lowers them out of the "non-conversation" since they have no cogent argument than her questionable sex life of which they really have no knowledge.  I wonder what Martin Luther King, Jr. would make of this incident?  I wonder what his opinion of burning neighborhoods and businesses to the ground would be?  Would embrace "black lives matter" or "all lives matter"?  And, I also wonder if he would put children of any color at risk by defunding the police?  Hmmm...  Just some thoughts.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Right, Wrong, Good, and Bad

 

“Whenever you're feeling lonely or sad, try going to the loft on a beautiful day and looking outside.”

-- Anne Frank

Is there really something good every day?

Did you wake up this morning? I consider any day spent on this side of the dirt, a very good day, indeed.

Seasoning life is hard and we all agree. Why can't we accept the hard questions of life?

We don’t all agree on anything. The “hard questions of life” keep most of us on our toes. It’s how life-changing discoveries are made, like nuclear power, space flight, philosophy, medicine, and quantum physics. Then, there is also love… and women.  Very confusing.

How do great thinkers balance optimism and pessimism?

If I knew that, I’d probably be a great thinker.

“Somehow, we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and who we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.”

-- Brandon Sanderson

If everyone has the potential to follow their dream, then why doesn't everyone achieve their goals?

Potential, not necessarily a desire. Their mind has the potential, but their spirit is balking at the prospect of all the work.

What’s the best thing I can do for society today?

Be selfless. Whatever you choose to do, do it selflessly.

Does the human person’s worth depend on his/her achievements?

First, we need to agree on the definition of “achievement.” Is the person happy always? Is the person selfless in giving? Does the person hold themselves to a personal code of ethics? Do they survive in the face of adversity, and do they smile as they work through it? These are a few “achievements” in my definition. A person who achieves any of these in life has increased their worth manyfold. But, just to live gives life value, even if only for that person. In life, all things are possible, and to be truly happy along your journey is to be truly successful in life.

“Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn't have the time to sit around and talk about you. What's important to me is not others' opinions of me, but what's important to me is my opinion of myself.”

-- C. JoyBell C.

What could be the best indication of success apart from wealth?

Happiness!

What does a good life entail according to you?

Happiness! Hey, the same answer to a different question. I’m on a roll! 

Are you in a hurry to succeed?

One must never rush success. When you rush through things, mistakes are made. Better to have a plan and be methodical, especially when safety is a factor.

“One of the great disadvantages of hurry is that it takes such a long time.”

-- G.K. Chesterton

Are you in a hurry to succeed?

One must never rush success. When you rush through things, mistakes are made. Better to have a plan and be methodical, especially when safety is a factor.

What’s the most important characteristic to master for success?

Listen, and don’t open your pie hole unless it is to ask an intelligent question, or make an intelligent comment. Once you master the art of listening, you are ready to work. Once you get to work, you can now master the rest of the art of communication. One has to embrace the simple fact that, until they actually succeed at their goal, they know nothing about the goal. They are a simple student.

When did you realize that it was time to retire? Did you follow your gut?

I always expected to retire before 60 years of age. When the company I worked for sold for the second time, I saw the writing on the wall. I was not young, and they were ready to wield a sharpened meat ax to the personnel roster. I was ready to go, so I retired to Mexico for two years until my old boss called me back for a special project.

“I believe that the biggest mistake that most people make when it comes to their retirement is they do not plan for it. They take the same route as Alice in the story from “Alice in Wonderland,” in which the cat tells Alice that surely she will get somewhere as long as she walks long enough. It may not be exactly where you wanted to get to, but you certainly get somewhere.”

-- Mark Singer

Who said, "The entrepreneur in us sees opportunities everywhere we look, but many people see only problems everywhere they look"? What did they mean?

I don't think it was written by one person.  They mean many people weren’t brought up to see the possibility in everything around them. If I’m looking for work, I’ll take anything until I get the job I want. Most people would balk at being a dishwasher, a busboy, a window washer, or a janitor. These “possibilities” are essential to the world's turning. I show these people respect because I’ve walked in their shoes. There are, if your head is screwed on straight enough to see, opportunities everywhere you look.

Why are you often wrong? Why do you wrongly think that you are right when you are wrong?

First, I’m not so often wrong. When I am, I have the humility to embrace and admit my mistake. If someone thinks I’m wrong, they either have to show me why, or we will have to wait and see.

What are the differences between doing a smart thing and doing the right thing?

Usually, the “smart” thing is also the “right” thing. But, sometimes the smart thing might get you killed, which is not a “right” thing. There is nothing right about dying, being injured, hurting others, etc., but sometimes the smart thing might lead down that road.

The My Lai Massacre, during the Vietnam conflict, is an example of doing the smart thing, following orders, but not doing the right thing:  www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1

“If you think the world is full of darkness, let us see your light. If you think the world is full of wickedness, let us see your goodness. If you think people are acting wrongly, let us see your right action. If you think people don't know, let us see what you know. If you think the world is full of uncaring people let us see how you care about people. If you think life is not being fair to you, let us see how you can be fair to life. If you think people are proud, let us see your humility. We can easily find fault and we can easily see what is wrong but a positive attitude backed by a right action in a true direction is all we need to survive in peace and harmony in the arena of life”

-- Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Actions, Philosophy, and Success

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”

-- Albert Einstein

Apparently, everyone will have a time of fame. What led to your 15 minutes of fame?

Helping to prove the low-level bombing capability of the B-52 bomber, in order to save it from the boneyard. That was thirty years ago, and it is still performing good service today. The B-52 is an airframe that has kept on giving, in many rolls, since 1954.

Why do you always do your best for your company or the place where you work?

A good work ethic was the way I was raised. If you don’t like where you work, find another job. If you don’t give your best effort, you’ll be looking for another job, anyway.

Is life itself basically just your own perspective?

With politics consuming everything else, I would seriously hate my life to be in the hands of someone else’s perspective. It is, after all, my life, for better or worse. I choose better! Much better than politicians, anyway.

“The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

-- Douglas Adams

Is there any such thing as right and wrong actions?

Yes, that’s why they’re called right and wrong actions. In everything there must be balance; light and dark, sweet and bitter, good and bad, loud and silent, right and wrong.

Who influenced you in your idea of right and wrong, good or bad? Can you rate them from the most to the least influential and explain why?

My mother, Buddha, Lao Tsu, Sister Rosalie (my 5th grade teacher). Sister Rosalie probably thought there was a special place in hell for boys like me. Turns out it was just Cathoicism.

What’s the highest value but least impressive item in the world?

A 5.4 billion dollar yacht. Really? That kind of extravagance doesn’t impress me as much as a large, well-cut gemstone would.

“The whole point of extravagance is to act like a fool and feel like a fool, but enjoy it.”

-- Alfred Bester

How did philosophy help us address our situation?

Philosophy has given many much to think about. Unfortunately, few utilize anything they learn. Our circumstances look like the feed from a heart monitor, ups and downs. I keep waiting for the flatline and the inevitible shock back into reality.

What technology scares you if you know the facts about it?

Any technology we take for granted, like artificial intelligence (AI), scares me, and I know the facts about it. It isn’t the technology that scares me, though. Technology is good. We learn from it. Governments, on the other hand, will always use technology for the right reasons in all the wrong ways, or for the wrong reasons in all the right ways. It seems they like to corrupt for the simple sake of corruption. With great power comes great responsibility.

How do you think you will change in the future?

Every time I wake up, the future changes. Everything I do, every choice and decision I make, will change the future in some way. It is this way for all of us. How we change the future depends on what goal we set for any particular day. Personally, I choose not to think about the future. I choose to live in the “now” and make the best choices I can. In this way, the future stands a better chance of being brighter.

"If you want to change the future, you must change what you're doing in the present."

-- Mark Twain

What bad business tactics do you know?

Fraud and dishonety come to mind, but anything unethical should be viewed as bad business tactics. It will come back to haunt.

Looking, but finding no one…What does this equate to?

A waste of time?

What's a prime example of a government service that needs to be fixed immediately?

Welfare. We’ve been letting people suck from the public teat and invest nothing of themselves for far too long.

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the canidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy--to be followed by a dictatorship.”

-- Alexander Fraser Tytler Woodhouselee

What is your realization about "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift"?

Well, pretty much that it’s true?

What is the biggest fail that people do when they try to be successful in life?

They forget to be truly happy in the process. If they had found true happiness, to begin with, they’d already be successful.

Aristotle said, “good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” Does that mean that if you don’t form good habits when you’re young, for example, waking up early, you never will be able to once you're older?

Not a very good quote, is it? Leaves late bloomers in a lurch. I think it would be better to say that good habits formed at youth tend to jump-start success, for the most part. I find his quote a bit too damning.

“Don't, for heaven's sake, be afraid of talking nonsense! But, you must pay attention to your nonsense.”

-- Ludwig Wittgenstein

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning the Usual... Again

 “Life is similar to a bus ride.

The journey begins when we board the bus.

We meet people along our way of which some are strangers, some friends and some strangers yet to be friends.

There are stops at intervals and people board in.

At times some of these people make their presence felt, leave an impact through their grace and beauty on us fellow passengers while on other occasions they remain indifferent.

But then it is important for some people to make an exit, to get down and walk the paths they were destined to because if people always made an entrance and never left either for the better or worse, then we would feel suffocated and confused like those people in the bus, the purpose of the journey would lose its essence and the journey altogether would neither be worthwhile nor smooth.”

-- Chirag Tulsiani

******************************

Note to my readers:  I'm holding steady.  I've been read 6,070 times in the past week.  Here comes that cup of coffee!

******************************

What is the foundation of truth based on?

Honesty, which is an edict of, good and moral, ethics.

Is altruism a toxic trait?

If you take “the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others” and put it before your own well-being, then yes, it can be toxic. It is hard to take care of others if you are falling apart. Put your oxygen mask on first, before assisting the passenger next to you.

Will hustling harder help you with the big problems in life?

That depends on if you’re “hustling” the big problems in life, otherwise, it's a crapshoot Better to get a handle on problems before they become the big problems. Or, just make better choices and fewer problems will crop up to bother you.

“We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them”

-- Albert Einstein

Are opinions optional?

It is your choice to offer one, or not. It is your choice to ask for one, or not. It is, also, your choice to accept one, or not. So, yes, they’re optional.

Why can't non-acceptance make you achieve what you want?

Why wouldn’t it? If somebody doesn’t accept what I’m working toward, that’s their problem, not mine. My problem is to succeed. What other people think is of little concern, unless they're helping me by being constructive.

How can a dutiful person achieve her academic goals?

Look upon achieving your goals as just more duties, these for yourself, then be dutiful about them.

“Responsibility and duty are different things, you can sacrifice your responsibility for your duty but you cannot sacrifice your duty for your responsibility.”

-- Amit Kalantri

What is an experience that caused you to change your perspective and/or opinion?

I was all set to vote for the first black President, and then Obama opened his mouth.

What is a simple question that you can overcomplicate?

Asking me if I’d like to engage in meaningless sex always worked.

If you could have a limited supply of one thing only, what would you choose?

Bullshit. There is way too much of it. If I run out, I can always find some, so why keep a lot on hand. A limited supply will do.

"Minds are in limited supply, and each mind has a limited capacity for memes, and hence there is considerable competition among memes for entry in as many minds as possible."

-- Daniel Dennett

What are the values needed in life?

A Moral Code of Ethics. All the values you need all in one place.

What causes one to say: "Choice is overrated?"

Socialism.

What’s an opportunity you missed that could have changed your life forever?

Joy, a friend of mine in high school. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

“That was the missed moment. I should have put out a hand and taken her arm and said, "Here I am. Ask me. Now. The real question! Tell me. While I'm here. Ask me before it's too late.”

-- J.L. Carr

Is it true that successful people were once a failure before?

I think most have failed before, learned from their failure, and forged ahead. Failure is the best way to learn.

Do you really agree with "No one deserves anything"?

No. Hitler deserved everything the Allies threw at him. There is a special place in hell for guys like him.

What is the place of praise and worship?

Where are you? That would be it. If you want to go to a “church” then open the door and go outside into God’s cathedral. If you need to talk to God, too late, God already knows. Can you tell that “organized” religion and I have issues? Better to just do the right thing and let everything else fall where it will. Strive to be happy always, and then share it.

“I've always wondered how much can you do for your fellow man if your hands are constantly stuck together in Prayers for them?”

-- Stanley Victor Paskavich

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com