Daily Mood Quotes - November 26, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 206 – November 26, 2011

“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”

~Erich Fromm

While surfing the net yesterday, I came across a video that I found to be very disturbing. Walmart had doorbuster sales for “Black Friday.” This doorbuster sale was a $2.00 (yes, that's right) waffle maker. While viewing the video, I saw such bad behavior, in so many people (pushing and shoving) and way too much of one woman's hiney. She didn't bother to pull up her pants, because she was too busy grabbing four of the “doorbuster” waffle makers. This was the most egregious and disgusting display of holiday behavior I have seen in a long while. Are we that desperate, or just that hard up for a $2.00 waffle maker? I believe “sale” and “doorbuster” are rapidly becoming two of the worst words in the American language. They cause what should be rational people to simply lose their minds and abandon common sense, especially during the holiday season. Every year people are seriously hurt and someone loses their life over “sales” and “doorbusters.” Congratulations retailers, their deaths are literately on your hands. You are responsible for taking the life of someone, because of your search for the “almighty dollar,” via the “Black Friday” sale and the doorbuster. I guess we can also call it black for the spirits of those who think this stuff up and for those who blindly “plow” into the sale without regard for others. Yet, retailers are not the ones who are ultimately held responsible for the chaos and mayhem they create. And the media is just as bad (no, you can't slide by on this), because every year the cameras and bobble head reporters are there to sensationalize the carnage.

I have always heard, “you get what you pay for.” In the movie Protocol with Goldie Hawn, she says, “Do you know what my Dad says? He says, if you let a guy sell you a diamond ring for only ten cents, the chances are you own a diamond ring not worth a dime.” Do you know how much sense this makes? If something is cheap, then you can certainly bet, it is worth far less than you paid for it and there is a good probability that it will be broken, or not working by New Year's Eve. What's the point? Just to give some stuff to people, that are now obliged to give you some stuff in return. None of it worth a dime and none of it given for the right reason, the true spirit of Christmas.

Long ago, the small gift exchanges that families had, meant something. They were tokens of love and appreciation with good emotions attached to them. They were thoughtful. Let me ask you this, what good emotions could possibly be attached to a “two dollar waffle maker,” that you had to tackle and abuse a complete stranger to get? And where prey tell, was this “spectacular gift” made? I will bet you it was not made by anybody that gave a rats red backside about Christmas, or it's true meaning. No matter who you are, or where you are from, or what religious beliefs you may hold or attach to Jesus of Nazareth, no one can argue this was clearly not his intention; to have such mayhem, anger and greed associated with the celebration of his birthday. Seriously, who would want that kind of misery hanging over their head?

As for you retailers, like Macy's, J.C. Penny's, and Best Buy, maybe it is time you watched Miracle on 34^th Street with Natalie Wood, about 5,000 times to get the point. Clearly, you're doing it wrong. Imagine, if your younger selves could see you today, they'd kick your butts, for the greed and bad behavior (Thank you Adam Sandler as Longfellow Deeds in Mr. Deeds).

In the movie Jingle All The Way, Myron Larabee (played by Sinbad) said, “We get one day a year to prove we're not screw-ups and what do we do? We screw it up.” For what? Some cheap piece of “stuff,” perceived a deal today, that later ends up being a bust, or busted. So much for doorbusters and the Spirit of Christmas. I think I hear Santa crying in the distance.....

What will you put value on today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - September 28, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 148 – September 28, 2011

All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is a surrender. For it is all give and no take.

~Mohandas Gandhi

When you are looking for work and its been a while, it is very easy to accept something beneath your skills and education; an underpaying job, or a position at an under performing company “just to have a job.” Financial pressures can needle at you and make you believe you are forced into making compromises, and so begins the slow decent. Slowly, job by job, self-esteem, self-respect, and your reputation begins to erode. It is an exception, not the rule that an excellent employee can change the path of a company's fortunes if his/her bosses are “status quo” people. Like Longfellow Deeds (played by Adam Sandler) said in the movie Mr. Deeds, “Its hard to soar with the eagles when your surrounded by turkeys.” The point is, compromise can be a dangerous game, especially when you begin to accept less, then you begin to compromise the fundamentals of your dignity. Negotiation, is one thing, surrender is quite another.

The decent has many steps: step one is settling for less in the hope that something better will “come along” sooner or later. That kind of thinking is like a cold and desolate, desert road... nothing ever “comes along.” At least not before the traveler withers, compromises and takes the second step. That is when on the job, you begin to settle for “acceptable results” then blame it on budget, deadlines, other people in the organization. Whatever! The facts will be they settled, and so that step is tread. Slowly, over time, step three shows up; “compromise” on the quality of your efforts. “Just do the job and take the money.” Self-loathing shows up grinning on this step and it begins to whisper into your ear, a litany of negativity and so the fall continues... Well, you get the point.

When we give up and give in for short-term gains and/or compromise our skills and dreams, then long term goals and our dignity begin to suffer. Dreams fade and the reality of now is all that is left. It can take us into some very, very sad places. Another great quote, also by Longfellow Deeds (Adam Sandler), that goes right to the heart of the matter is, “We all had these dreams, and then we got jobs to achieve those dreams. But we wanted more money, and we got rid of our dreams. You know, if your nine-year old selves saw you guys the way you are, you'd get your butts kicked right now! I mean, look what's happened to us!” When we compromise dreams, dignity, or moral compass, to make money we are letting down more than just ourselves. We let down the dreamers we once were. Do they really deserve that? Our spirits will not accept cash in lieu of honor. I guess what I'm trying to say is; Dream big, never stop reaching and don't ever settle for less than you can be. Hold fast to your dignity and believe in your gifts. “Never give up, Never surrender!” (thanks Tim Allen as Commander Peter Quincy Taggart from Galaxy Quest).

How will you reach for your “dreams” today?

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Daily Mood Quote - June 18, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 45 – June 18, 2011

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

~Walt Disney

...if we think about the possibilities of what might be, “if only” then the sky of optimism becomes the limit.

Sorry I'm late today, we had a get together last night and we're just now starting to get back to normal. I thought, it's great to see the enthusiasm of youth. That's one thing that Walt Disney never lost. His vision of life was full of possibilities and his determination and courage to achieve those dreams not only left a legacy of fun for millions, it created an industry that continues to grow everyday. We can all be thankful for that. He dared to dream and dared to be different. Sometimes we tend to fall into the safe and familiar and some days that's OK. But, we need to continue to strive to reach and dream. That's what brings joy, enthusiasm and new energy to life. Conventional thinking says to stay the steady course, but that course only takes us back to where we were, not to where we can go.

In the movie Mr. Deeds, Longfellow Deeds (played by Adam Sandler) reminds stockholders of a time when they young and full of dreams by saying, “We all had these dreams, and then we got jobs to achieve those dreams. But we wanted more money, and we got rid of our dreams. You know, if your nine-year old self's saw you guys the way you are, you'd get your butts kicked right now! I mean, look what's happened to us!”

Life can come at us fast and furious, if we let it. We tend to forget, who has the power. Today, I choose to remember, I have the power to make my dreams come true. Remember, if you can dream it, you can do it.

What “childhood dreams” do you remember today?

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