Contrast: A Lesson in Itself

It's been a while. We can forego the heavy machining for today and just munch on some light h'ourderves for thought. Damn, I'm so witty (sarcasm).

My mom had always been opposed to my sister choosing to start work early. She argued that once you started working, you wouldn’t want to go back to school anymore. True enough, she hadn’t felt the impulse to return. I, too, am finding it the same way. My dad has been constantly pestering me to go back to school, pursue a post graduate degree, reminding me of the many opportunities out there. Not to be a snot, but I don’t intend to work off my tuition wiping the Croc Hunter’s poop, nor taking up a language to study in a country our forefathers have tried so hard to fight off. It’s not so much a fear of learning. In contrast, the working environment teaches so much, and on subjects you could never possibly sign up for, except perhaps that odd Grief Management class offered by Ateneo.

Three years on the job and I think I’ve learned quite a lot. It’s a kind of classroom that teaches through practical examples, the lessons you derive only after several activities. No textbooks on it, by the way. In truth, it can all be summed up in one simple word, a word my best bud is rather fond of — contrast.

I ought to have listened to the Sphinx (Mystery Men the movie) and taken his advice more seriously, rather than tongue in cheek.

Anyway, here’s a short list.

If a Mom and Pop diner wants to make it big, it can’t be run by Mom and Pop. It’s got to be liberal, methodical and accepting of change, like McDonald’s.

You’ll always have contempt for someone who has something you don’t have. If you want it, you’ll have to risk losing it.

Class doesn’t come with acquiring riches, it’s not even about acquiring at all. It’s all about what you hold back. A classy man doesn’t have to tell you he’s classy.

Pointing fingers does nothing but hamper productivity and breed bad blood. If it’s your fault, own up to it and learn from it. If it’s someone else’s, let them own up to it and help them get better.

Sometimes the people you hate the most remind you of the ones closest to you.

Life’s too short to be pissed off all the time. 1. People don’t care that you’re pissed, and 2. It doesn’t improve anything. Get over it, for fuck’s sake.

Everyone is plagued by grammatical errors. It all comes out at one point or another.

And a couple of things from a self-help book people told me won’t teach me anything:

It’s not enough to be yourself. You have to be your best self. And that’s a tall order if you haven’t found your best self yet.

Since there’s no gene for coolness or confidence, then being uncool and confident are just bad habits which can be changed with enough guidance.

Alcohol doesn’t change behavior, it just reveals the repressed subconscious, i.e. it’s all you!

The great thing about the heart is that is has no master, despite what reason may think.

Victory belongs to the person with the strongest reality and the most decisive actions.

And last…

It’s not lying. It’s flirting.