I.

A week ago, my trying to think of things to write about for a blog entry, realizing  my focusing too hard on breaking the writing funk is just counterproductive, taking my mind off pushing myself for subjects and ideas, I asked Sarah what she thought I should write about.  As she responded kindly, Sarah allowed me to realize that asking another for an idea was a copout; it wouldn’t be my entry, nor would it be my blog.  I have to admit, she makes good points.

Upon the departure of a coworker’s last day, the therapists at a particular nursing home celebrated said coworker’s tenure with ordering Chinese food for lunch.  Upon hearing this premeditated lunch plan anyone would have the same progressive reaction:  denial, anger, acceptance, jealousy, frustration, and(finally) sadness.  The fresh 10-minute-on-the-dot-prepared meal would warm anyone’s heart and stomach.  The adoration of poking at your food with chopsticks, trying to get that last one-and-three-quarters-inch piece of lo mien sticking to the bottom of the container is always great fun.  It’s similar to the game, Operation, but you have more leeway and the trying to obtain the lo mien piece is more frustrating than the wishbone, but not as hair pulling as the bread basket.

Sarah managed to obtain two fortune cookies, eating both of them and not sharing with me.  The situation was pretty funny how it played out. Last night, upon my getting up from the couch to obtain snacks, Sarah called for me to get her fortune cookie on the table.  I didn’t think anything of it, because it was her who got the Chinese food and a fortune cookie is part of the package.

Not two.

Sitting back on the couch, Sarah was opening her cookie, breaking it apart, and consuming the shell bit by bit.  Looking over at me she stated (I’m paraphrasing), “Oh, I saved the fortune from a cookie I had earlier, because it is to your liking.”

I became really excited, jumping up from the couch and striding into the kitchen.  My pace slowed, however, realizing she had eaten the second fortune cookie in front of me.  Just then, however, the realization sprouted that consuming a fortune cookie when one has not consumed Chinese food is a sin. Good luck does not come from that.  Yet, Sarah gave me good fortune, bequeathing the piece of paper unto me whether she wants to admit it or not. 

Sarah shared; she’s a great sharer.

II.

The first/my fortune read:  “Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”

Of course, the man in the fortune does not apply to one specific gender.  Don’t get all huffy.

It’s true though.  Call it inspiration or cognitive inspiration.  Something happens and thoughts break the dam constipating your thoughts.  That’s why people talk to themselves (sometimes). 

Why do we not sometimes carry out these ideas?  There are some thoughts that are created, causing you to think, Hey, that’s not a bad idea.  However, kicking back and not acting upon the idea is the easiest escape and way to disprove the genuine nature of the idea. Yeah, it’s a good idea, buuuuuut we’ll save it for another day. We’ve all done that plenty of times before.

Then it’s forgotten.  That’s why mankind was created and, in turn, creating pen and paper.  Ideas to be written down, because there is nothing as fallible as the human mind; it’s not as perfect and reliable as we think it is. Accepting and admitting these ideas helps your mind register the thoughts; therefore you can always rely on revisiting that idea for several occasions. Hence, stretching your mind.  This stretching your mind can be great for dates, gifts, pieces of art, music, and writing.  I could go on.

I know I’m speaking in wildly general terms, but this entry would be a hell of a lot longer than it’s going to be.  I’m not writing a novella here.

III.

The second fortune read:  “relationships.”

It was plainly written as above, no capital R, nor complete sentence, but simply:  relationships.  For the analytical mind, this fortune is birthday cake.  It’s sweet, but the frosting is too sweet.  That kind of cake frustrates me.  It’s like a slap in the face, that sugar-injected frosting.  How does one go about it?  You can believe the fortune was not printed properly, thinking that relationships is the sentence’s last word.  However, those Chinese and their love of being open-minded could have done this on purpose. 

Are they open-minded?  Yeah, they can be.

That’s aside the point, and what we are focusing on is one word:  relationships.  The fortune cookie is telling you to be mindful of your relationships.  Period.

Relationships.

Keep that word in mind.

The fortune doesn’t want you to focus upon it, but just keep it on the back burner; it’ll be fine, depending on how you’re set up, you may have three to five other burners and maybe a warmer in the middle.  There will be plenty of spa– 

Okay!  Fine, keep it on the warmer.  It doesn’t matter to me. Yeah, it probably won’t burn that way.  I’m not going to argue with you about this.  Stop interrupting me.

Be mindful of all relationships.  Consider your parents and your siblings.  Consider your extended family members.  Especially consider your grandparents.  Consider your life partners.  Consider your friends (which I admit I’ve been doing a lousy job at).  Consider your bosses and coworkers. Consider those who serve you.  Consider those helping you.  Consider strangers.  My Uncle Dan had a piece of paper in his basement office which read:  Be careful of the toes you step on today, because they may be connected to the ass you kiss tomorrow. 

If you make a mistake, accept it.  You can’t fix the past, but you can better the future.  There is no use beating yourself up and dwelling on the past, because it will slow you down.  You’re on the moving platform in an airport, or an escalator, screwing around and being a bratty child; you only increase your chances of shaking your laces loose and getting sucked under.  People do not focus on your intentions, but actions.  You can say you-didn’t-mean-to’s, that-wasn’t-supposed-to-happen’s, and play out all the other sayings; however, they are all excuses eventually leading up to an I’m sorry.

There is no way around not saying you’re sorry and not just after a mistake.  Mistakes are going to happen.  Locking yourself away, not saying anything, and avoiding any personal contact will only lead up to you apologizing for that.  If you foresee an apology brewing, just avoid it.  It’ll save a lot of anxiety from breaking.

I know I sound like I am preaching.  Good.  I’m not sorry.  Consider this venting.