“If
you don’t design your own life plan, you’ll probably fall into someone else’s. And guess what they have planned for
you? Not much.” - John
Rohn
“Everybody
has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth.” - Mike
Tyson
I was sitting in
a small pub/restaurant editing photos, and I couldn't help but overhear the conversation
at an adjacent table. A late-fifties
looking man was holding court with an admiring group of twenty and
thirty-something folks, regaling them with stories of his experiences working
with the FBI. I pretty much had him
tuned out until he stated that the FBI had given them a four step plan that offers the best chances of success when being confronted with adversity.
Of course, now
he has my attention. Surely the billions
of tax dollars our government spends on such things is about to trickle down on
me in the form of a golden nugget of wisdom.
Deftly tossing back a double Crown Royal and ordering another, he builds
the suspense, talking about his time as an instructor at the FBI Headquarters
in Quantico (at first I thought he said Guantanamo) and how he too taught this formula.
Presently, he unveiled
this four part plan. Step one: Admit nothing. Step two:
Deny everything. Step three: Question everything. Step four:
Shift the blame. He then proceeded in
a practiced professorial tone to give his enraptured audience the skinny on how
best to implement this plan for living, finishing his advice with a flourish as
he knocked back and ordered still another double shot.
I guess this
might have been superior to what I had for many years – matter of fact I didn't have a plan for living for better than four decades. I am sure that I stumbled upon different
parts of this scheme at various times when I found myself on the hot seat, but
never did I have it evolved into any coherent strategy of deception.
In fact, I never
had any coherent plan for living until I was driven to one in my mid-forties. This plan for living is also very specific –
it gives exact details as to do when I am in a jam. First, I am to relinquish the illusion that I
have control over the situation. Second,
I am to recognize that seeking divine guidance has worked on many things for me
before, and to decide that I am going to turn this situation over and do the
best I can to do the right and proper things no matter what. Then, I am to look at my part in the
situation, and honestly assess what wrong or blame I had in it. Then I am to seek counsel with a person I
trust, and admit freely my role in the circumstance. I am then to take steps to try to fully
identify and remove whatever quirk that caused me to behave poorly in the first
place, and finally I am supposed to “make things right.”
On the surface,
his plan looks so much easier. “Damn the
torpedoes, full speed ahead!!” and all that rot. Truth is, I lived those lies for a long time,
and it brought me nothing but self-loathing and a heap of despair. I finally had so many things pile up that it
was easier to just withdraw from society than to risk facing the music over one
or another of my self-deceptions. And
there is nothing quite like double shots to help one withdraw from society . .
.
What’s your plan
for living? Have you got one, and if
so, do you use it? What kind of future
is it setting you up for? It might be a
far superior thing to ponder than wondering if one more piece of cake constitutes
breaking our New Year’s Resolution – again.
Today,
may I live honestly.
TODAY’S ARTICLE if you have time, but whatever you
do be sure to Have a great weekend !!
David
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