Simple things...are everywhere and .....

                                                  The McGyver we all knew....video with a twist

I have all that I need.....

McGyver would never say "I just can't."  He seemed to never struggle with using what he had to get what he needed done. I will admit I did not watch all of the series, but I watched enough to know that his pragmatism and approach to situations is not one I see in many people today.  I did see a parody of McGyver where the guy is in a room and simply complains the whole time about not having the tools and things he needs to get out of the situation.  The stuff around him was obvious and it just illustrated a point to me...many people, who are vastly "rich" in so much, still complain about not having more.  I suppose it is common - human nature - some call it.  John Kenneth Galbraith (see I spelled it correctly) called it conventional wisdom, meaning most of us accept something as fact and it often is not true.  Many people long for the past or vividly dream about tomorrow.  Nothing wrong with some of that for nostalgia or preparedness.  The issues arise when those eras become a person's only focus.

Just a few short years ago, when my girls were very young, my favorite story to tell them was the story of the turtle and the rabbit (I know that the original had different animals - so you biology majors don't flame me).  Over the years, I have added characters to the story, I have added scenes to the story, I have even changed the story somewhat.  But...and there is always a but...the premise of the story remained..the methodical one with thick skin always wins.  Is that ALWAYS true in life?  Not always, but on average - I would say yes.  The turtle is not the smartest, the fastest, the cutest, or any other "est'.  He is however, in the story, always on a mission to finish.  Isn't that what we all really want?

I am not a rah rah guy.  I am not a "doomsdayer".  AND...I really have NO idea what  utopia is suppose to be.  I do know that with a few simple things around me I can make most anything happen.  I don't worry much about stuff that does not affect me.  Not because I am not somewhat concerned, but because as Dr. Covey writes...those things seem urgent - but really are not important.  In other words, I look at some thing or some issue or some person and I take 1 of 3 approaches:  1) I can do something about and set out to do it.  2)  I cannot do anything about it and so I move on.  3)  I really don't care - but I will just play along for entertainment (I do a lot of #3 - some say it is because I am full of #2 - not sure what that means :) .

Like MCGyver and the turtle, I see life as fairly clear and simple.  I take the task as it is.  I find a current solution to the issue.  I act now.  I get the results.  I measure the results.  I adjust as need be.  Then I repeat each day.  Would make a bad reality TV show...but is there a good one anyway?  McGyver would be boring in today's world and the turtle in the story would not be a star, but most people know who these "characters" are (not were) , even though both are "has beens" - I lot like me I guess.

                                I can live with that.....don't waste today on yesterday or tomorrow