Through my short time on this earth there are a few things that shook or shaped my life; this time around its a few selective quotes that either changed my way of thinking or just my outlook on life. Granted these aren't all just some I could think of at the time and stick out the most in my mind.
First was:
"Never kiss anyone's ass"
First was:
"Never kiss anyone's ass"
This one is one of the rare things I learned from my father when he was around to raise me. Don't get me wrong he wasn't a bad father, but to compared the life I had with him as a true father/son relationship it falls way short. He told me this one day and it really stuck; I guess back in his day when things were much rougher for minorities he didn't want me to do what he might have done to keep a job. Sure my family can be considered to some to be lucky (who think in that way) just cuz we're light skinned Puerto Rican's with "good hair" (which I find idiotic in this day and age; small minds make for small thoughts).........but consider the day and age. My dad lived the active part of his life which was the 70's to the early 90's. All we were considered was the non-threatening looking people from the ghetto they could work with, but kept at arm's length.
He use to work at a supermarket around Pelham Parkway up in the BX; i guess as a way of showing me what hard work can be, earn some change and in a weird way to spend some time with me he let me pack bags at the registers, yes this was my first job, lol. Aside from trying to fuck every piece of pussy in that place (which i think he did) i saw his interactions with his higher ups whom he worked his ass off for. They basically made him the guy to run the store while they were his overseers....but of course not making the same money as they were. This enforced that jewel he dropped on me and while i will never kiss anyone's ass, i do extend a curtain respect that people in general deserve. If they fuck that up? Well, respect is easily taken as it was given.
Next:
"Sometimes It's Good To Be A LITTLE Selfish"
He use to work at a supermarket around Pelham Parkway up in the BX; i guess as a way of showing me what hard work can be, earn some change and in a weird way to spend some time with me he let me pack bags at the registers, yes this was my first job, lol. Aside from trying to fuck every piece of pussy in that place (which i think he did) i saw his interactions with his higher ups whom he worked his ass off for. They basically made him the guy to run the store while they were his overseers....but of course not making the same money as they were. This enforced that jewel he dropped on me and while i will never kiss anyone's ass, i do extend a curtain respect that people in general deserve. If they fuck that up? Well, respect is easily taken as it was given.
Next:
"Sometimes It's Good To Be A LITTLE Selfish"
This one i kinda developed on my own; not because I'm a selfish bastard or anything (but piss me off or rub me the wrong way and i can be). It came about, i believe, when i was giving someone advice who felt like they were doing their best to keep their head above water; they felt people were pulling them down. They didn't want to NOT help people, but they didn't want to be taken down with them making it a loss for all involved.
I basically told them "why would you hurt yourself so bad that you cant/wont help anyone in the future for this person". Face it a lot of people we know can be takers if all you are is a giver. Now this is not me saying not to help anyone, but even Jesus said "get your ass up and learn to fish cuz I'm not gonna be serving you every time you tell me you're hungry!!!" Y'all bible thumpers know the quote I'm talking about.
If you're strong enough to help someone then who would stop you? But if you're running on fumes try not to hurt your life to help someone cuz then it will be two people that lose.
Another:
"Learning From Your Mistakes Is Smart, But Learning from Others Mistakes Is Wise"
This is a Chinese Proverb that i picked up in High School and really never left my head. I like it cuz it straight to the point and letting you know other people go through shit everyday; keep your eyes and ears open so if you have a chance to learn from what they been through you're a few steps ahead of this game called life (and NO not that funky board game).
Another:
A Jack Of All Trades Is A Master Of None"
This one kinda floored me when i read it in an article somewhere. And its kinda true; i would kinda consider myself a light jack of all trades, but as soon as i read the end of this quote it felt all too real. Aside from being a Paralegal, I'm not really a master of anything i do well. I know computers....up to a point; i love science and learning about it, but never followed that field. I'm extremely organized person that can keep track of my stuff that i organize, yet i wonder why i never ended up in the career field of Logistics. I doubt at my age there are many "missed opportunities", but if i don't want to miss out then i need to see what i can become a master at.
And so should you.......
BSoM