Advice
My life has had some rather drastic changes over the past few months, and I have decided that in the future, there's a couple of self-imposed rules that I am going to follow for the rest of my days. One is that I will never again drink alcohol. It was just stealing my time, money and sanity. So, I no longer have to worry about where I can and can't carry a gun in regard to liquor licenses, since I am not spending my time in taverns or saloons. No DWI concerns, no drunks around acting stupid. I like this first rule.
The second rule is that when a real Doctor tells me that I need to take some kind of medication, I will not try to second guess his advice. He's supposed to know, that is what I am paying him for, and if I don't like what the medication is doing or the side effects are awful or whatever, I will discuss that with him rather than just throw the medicine away and think I know more than he does. Another good rule that will keep me out of trouble and in good physical health.
The third rule has to do with advice from well-meaning friends and sometimes strangers. It seems that when your life changes drastically, everyone you know seems to have a wealth of advice based on their own experiences and preconceptions. Generally, if a trusted friend gives you advice, you'd tend to follow it. At least I used to do that. No more. My third rule is that if I am not paying a professional for advice, I will no longer listen. I am tired of hearing how some person knows what's best for me when he or she has such a messed-up life that mine looks like I am as holy as a Trappist monk, which is actually not far from the truth. Regardless, when someone starts in on me with some tale of wisdom, he or she will get one warning that I don't want to hear it. After that, I will just walk away forever. That is unless the person has the wisdom of God and a perfect life to match. Since I don't believe I will run into such a person outside of the Bible, that's not a tremendous concern.
Three rules. I think they will work just fine for me.
Update May 10, 2010: Scrapped the rules. Life is more fun when you're drinking. Fired the doctor and don't often listen to advice even when I am paying for it. Adopted one rule - "don't talk, shoot." I am sure tired of sheep.......
The second rule is that when a real Doctor tells me that I need to take some kind of medication, I will not try to second guess his advice. He's supposed to know, that is what I am paying him for, and if I don't like what the medication is doing or the side effects are awful or whatever, I will discuss that with him rather than just throw the medicine away and think I know more than he does. Another good rule that will keep me out of trouble and in good physical health.
The third rule has to do with advice from well-meaning friends and sometimes strangers. It seems that when your life changes drastically, everyone you know seems to have a wealth of advice based on their own experiences and preconceptions. Generally, if a trusted friend gives you advice, you'd tend to follow it. At least I used to do that. No more. My third rule is that if I am not paying a professional for advice, I will no longer listen. I am tired of hearing how some person knows what's best for me when he or she has such a messed-up life that mine looks like I am as holy as a Trappist monk, which is actually not far from the truth. Regardless, when someone starts in on me with some tale of wisdom, he or she will get one warning that I don't want to hear it. After that, I will just walk away forever. That is unless the person has the wisdom of God and a perfect life to match. Since I don't believe I will run into such a person outside of the Bible, that's not a tremendous concern.
Three rules. I think they will work just fine for me.
Update May 10, 2010: Scrapped the rules. Life is more fun when you're drinking. Fired the doctor and don't often listen to advice even when I am paying for it. Adopted one rule - "don't talk, shoot." I am sure tired of sheep.......
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