Your "philosophy of life" statements

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Thanks Bob Dole.

1: Have fun and make a difference.

2: Life is a comedy, not a drama. (I've had trouble keeping this in mind lately)

3: Life is what happens while you're making other plans.

4: Friends and relationships are the greatest asset in this world. Find people you can feel safe to be yourself around and who you can confide in.

Love your kids unconditionally, they may not do the things you expect them to, they have their own will and dreams that are likely different than what you imagined for them.

IMO great parenting is seeing the world through their eyes, not making them see it through yours.

I truly appreciate what Bob Dole said calling me out for being a joker in my firs post. You've pointed out something that has been a characteristic my whole life: trying to make people laugh -- which I think is a good trait but sometimes I forego the opportunity to be sincere and go for the gag. Fine in an anonymous message board, terrible if you're a parent or boss.

Stay grateful no matter what -- the good and the bad, there's always someone going through worse. Live like these are the good times. 30 years from now you'll wish you were able to do the things you can do right now.

Thank you for coming back and being real. I think I'm still a little rocked by Joe's death and the realization of my own mortality. This place has been my primary social interaction for over 20 years, I've met a lot of you. I enjoyed the company of many who post here. It's mostly goof-off fun and games and silly insults. It's more entertaining than most television.

But I think there is always an opportunity to learn something along the way.

And if you feel like you've learned something in life, you should probably share it. If you have children, that should be a given. If you don't have kids, you should just try to connect with as many people as you can before you expire and share what you've learned. Otherwise, what's the point?

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

If you don't have kids, you should just try to connect with as many people as you can before you expire and share what you've learned. Otherwise, what's the point?

This is the most difficult thing on earth.

Not cold fusion, not clean energy, not long distance space travel, not feeding the poor. It is impossible to pass knowledge effectively from one generation to the next.

By the time you have earned the trust, respect, and attention of the younger generation the lessons needed and mistakes that could have been avoided have already occurred.