the list of 9 for april 26, 2010:
NINE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT PEOPLE, NOW THAT I AM FORTY
Years ago, I read an essay by humorist Dave Barry - not someone I particularly look up to, but whatever - in which he reflected on all the things he learned by his fiftieth birthday. I only remember one of them, but I remember it vividly: A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter is not a nice person. Maybe by the time I turn fifty I will have further insights. But today I am forty, and here are nine nuggets of wisdom I'd like to share. If you remember even one of them, I will be happy.
- Everyone thinks they can beat the odds.
- People who put their careers ahead of relationships are foolish. (I'm thinking specifically of all the people who canceled lunch plans with me because they got called into a meeting at work.)
- If you're stingy, everyone around you knows it, and will always remember you for it.
- Those who say "I hope I'm wrong about this" secretly hope they are right.
- Those who say "I need to do something for myself for a change!" have been thinking only of themselves all along.
- The people who routinely treat others with little respect or consideration are always the biggest crybabies when they themselves are not treated with respect or consideration.
- The flakiness of others should never be taken personally. When you realize how many of them can't even organize their own lives, this becomes instantly apparent.
- When it comes to arguing over religion or politics, everyone cherry-picks. Otherwise, they'd have to acknowledge all the contradictions within their religion or political party, and then there would be no point in arguing.
- For as long as they stay together, every couple, happy or unhappy, deserves each other.
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