Good morning! I hope your day is starting off just right.
One of the toughest things about humor is that it’s pretty much like a pot of chili – you can put in the same ingredients and the same amount of effort, yet one pot will invariably be better than the others. Okay, so maybe I should stick to name-brand instead of going with the cheap stuff. But you get the idea. There are days when I wish I’d added just a bit more spice.
When we hear the word “consistency,” we tend to think of things like how thick the gravy is or making sure your kid knows just how far they can go before you totally lose it. With Mom, we always knew. If she gave you that look – you know the one – it was all over. Oh, she wouldn’t do anything in front of company. But you can bet seven hours later, she’d still remember. Mom never forgot.
With gravy, you can always add a little flour or water to change the consistency. But if you try to tweak it too much, it just ends up tasting like wet flour. And it’s pretty much that way with a lot of things. At a certain point, it’s as good as it’ll ever get. Beyond that, you’re just making things worse. Like tap-dancing your way out of forgetting Valentine’s Day. No amount of extra ingredients will help.
Just for the record guys – that’s tomorrow. If you haven’t already bought a card, flowers, and chocolate, start writing excuses. “That’s okay, I’ll just swing by the store on the way home from work!” Nice try. The store looks like a kindergarten class after the teacher stepped out. Nothing is where it belongs, and all the good stuff is gone. It’s just empty shelves. Have fun with that.
I always like to play little tricks and put anniversary cards in with the Valentine’s Day cards. Find one that’s got lots of pink and flowers, and have a little fun! Because you know some guy is gonna pick one up without looking, sign it in the car, and then drop it in front of his wife when he gets home. “Seriously? You thought today was our anniversary? Mom was right about you!” (as Dave chuckles)
I never got Valentine’s Day. I always thought it was something we outgrew in the sixth grade. You know, like the tooth fairy. Okay, I was a little slow. On both accounts. Guess that explains why I never had a girlfriend in high school. At least not by the end of February. Guys, here’s a tip. This day is second only to your anniversary. And if you’re only dating, it IS your anniversary.
Okay, so how did consistency turn into Valentine’s Day? Because that’s the way my brain works this early in the morning. I haven’t even had my third cup of coffee. But somehow, I manage to make it look intentional. Like getting lost so bad the GPS just stops even trying. “You’re on your own now, genius!” Then I somehow get back on the right highway and act like I knew where we were all along.
When there’s something we want, something we’ll have to really work for, we tend to charge through the gate like an Appaloosa with firecrackers under his feet. Halfway down the front stretch, we settle into a comfortable pace, taking time to check out the scenery along the way. Before long, we’re down to a slow trot, and then we come to a full stop. Maybe tomorrow we’ll run some more. Maybe not.
It’s better to make slow progress than none at all. I’ve often lamented the fact that my doctor wants me to lose a pound a week. “But it’ll take me two years at that rate!” Okay, but if I’d started that routine two years ago, I’d be there today. Instead … well, never mind. I’ve done the quick-fix diets and lost ten pounds in a week. But it’s not sustainable. Nothing fast ever is. Consistency is the key.
Set a goal, make a plan, and commit to doing something toward that goal every single day. Yes, even on weekends. It takes a lot more energy to start and stop than to just keep moving. Build a little momentum and let it work for you. It’s not important how fast you’re moving. Just keep going and you’ll get there. And by then, it won’t even matter how long it took.
That’s all for now. Have an awesome day!
© 2020 Dave Glardon – All rights reserved
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