If you want to see what the future holds, look at the present technology, mental attitudes, world economy, and all of the other factors which influence our lives, and push them to the ultimate limit, or build a time machine. If history has taught us anything, it is that life is not predictable. Yet, I feel that one can train oneself in small ways to deal better with the incongruities of day to day living, and learn to see into the future, at least far enough, that one can learn to adjust future events to one's advantage. Lets begin with some personal observations:
A car with a dented fender will eventually cut in front of you
There are two questions here. (1) Is it logical that the dent in the fender
is a result of the drivers penchant for cutting people off or (2) Does my
participation in knowing this fact make it happen? You decide.
Unless you get rid of the cob, the cob web will come back
Learn to observe the cause of the problem, don't try to change it at the
effect level. From this, it is easy to see that, to obtain the effect you
want, create the proper cause; be it mental or physical.
Saw blades are on the left side of the saw to create a need for left handed
nuts
This is a case of perception. Life constantly throws someone else's "stuff"
in our path. The question should be: On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is
this in my life? If this is a 2 or greater, perhaps you should go back to
the corn cob question.
Naked turtles need hugs
And the turtle will appreciate it very much.
If they put a road sign up in Kansas, there may be an imperceptible change
in direction, if you are in West Virginia, look out
This is a matter of knowing where you are, and paying proper attention to the
road signs which mean something, and ignoring the others. Do an evaluation of
your next road sign.
You can tell how long a speed limit sign has been in West Virginia by the
number of bullet holes in it
A more in depth approach after you have mastered the previous example.
Unless a wasp is killed twice, it will still sting you
The trick here is to stop going back to the wasp. This could well be expanded
to a million times for some people.
A farmer never gets rid of a tractor or an electric motor
For this one, you have to look at your own barn. I have also observed that a
"Gentleman Farmer" is one who "Hot Shots" his tractor with a "Mercedes".
Been there - done that.
No matter how much of a commodity you buy, you will eventually run out -
with the possible exception of hominy
Here, the idea is that the Universe "hates" a vacuum, and will always fill it.
Allow it to happen! Try to put up an empty shelf in your home sometime, and
see what happens.
People should die in order
The idea here is that life doesn't happen the way we think it should. The
most beautiful sunsets have clouds!
You have to scrape the gravy off of liver to make sure you don't eat
anything weird
Self explanatory.
Never shoot pool for money before 3 beers or after 6 beers
I learned this one in college. Know when you have the proper mental attitude
to proceed so that struggle is not the byword. Kenny Rogers found a similar
technique in "The Gambler"...You don't count your money till the dealing's
done. I also observed that you never carry your beer in your bridge hand,
because it messes up the chalk.
Whatever you find pleasure in, enjoy it for yourself, because few others
really care
Conversely, don't live your life through their existence. Your life isn't
"out there".
Now, here are some other observations for you to ponder.