It’s easy to get distracted by the occasional meteor flaming towards earth and almost certainly headed right for the very spot you are standing on, am I right?
That’s how I would describe the year 2018 as far as my career in art has gone. World news is distraction enough, but there are always the local matters that get in the way of the noble things you are trying to accomplish. Like the impending laundry load that seems forever as high as my knees, or the thing that needs to be serviced before it explodes and ruins our entire life, like the transmission light that’s been on for over a month. These things just need to be dealt with ASAP. I’ve certainly had my share.
Then, of course are those darlings you are blessed with caring for, and if you think I mean children, well, you’d be forgiven. I’m talking cats, plants, etc, etc. The kids are mostly taking care of themselves at this time but what I have to do for them is my honor and privilege.
There are things, and people who can be dispensed with. You know the kind; friends who mean well but are really just looking out for self and seeking to milk you for whatever self serving bits they can get out of you. The acquaintances that meander in and out of your days just seeing if they can pick up on some little juicy tid-bit to feed the gossip at their next social groups tea party. There is, of course the ones who really go out of their way, convince themselves even that they are exactly what you need in life. How you got along all these 56 years without them is just simply confounding! Never mind all the success you achieved prior to them moving in, they want to enhance your life with their wealth of knowledge. It never ceases to amaze me how little of they’re own advice they self apply.
I allowed myself to get royally distracted by the stock markets this past year, oh yes. Suffice it to say even though I have a substantial depth of experience in market life, there are forces involved n the world stock markets that you nor I or even your fancy high paid broker have any control over no matter what. Those guys can always cover themselves by that small clause in your client agreement that states that they in no way guarantee or are not responsible for the outcome of your portfolio, simply providing guidance with which you are the final decision maker. Then you pay them the commissions for that.
Yes, I was distracted by that too. Lost some money too.
My mother always said, “Jack of all trades, master of none”. Most valuable advice ever given. To me anyway. I’m still learning that lesson for myself, and as life goes on those words ring true and deep more and more. 2019 for me, as I have decided, needs to be a year of side show reduction.
Ignore things that don’t need to be dealt with.
Be kind to everyone but ignore those who inadvertently take valuable time away from you.
Be genuinely interested in what real friends have to say, glass over your eyes at the rest.
Forget things that you have little control over. Stick with what you know.
Live each day as if it’s your last.
Work well at what you do well so that for each of the days ahead that you areblessed with you will continue to live to the fullest.
The best bit of advice to finish that book of golden rules with:
Some things and people will just waste your valuable precious time. Pay attention to the ones who are precious, the rest will find another shoulder to plead their woes upon.
RM