Pick your Battles

Author © Jay Kantor

– The Un-Battle Face-Off –

Just bite your tongue – Better than a horn-poke in the eye. I don't know if the 'Rhino' is a HE? But, with its Hump it may be at least a Trans-Beast: The Horny Beast is destined for battle - Put up your Dukes!

Choose your Battles: Life in the way? I'm often just stunned by all of the 'Choices' to Go along to Get along. Surely not an original concept, perhaps even overworked. But always personal 'standout' memories for most of us, that often just lay dormant, that we had chosen to have the 'wisdom' to overlook for the better good.

There are so many occasions when your best action is no action. When I knew my wife had her mind set on a course of action, I learned that any points I state to illustrate my opinion would be a lost cause; a cause of irritation! I bit my tongue, and yes, my tongue was often raw from frequent biting. No sense in trying to dissuade her! Strike a chord with any of you? After so many years I certainly knew the wisdom of not being trapped by choosing obvious battle-trap-ploys! Let it go ~ Carry on to the high road!

There are everyday instances where it's easier to just skip-it rather than spin-up avoidable unnecessary angst. Would she have been more attentive if I had mentioned these things to her? Not a chance; no winners here.

Compromise - Pick your Puddle -

As an aside I once had a girlfriend that just loved the rain. She’d take off her shoes, grab her raincoat and take a walk. Obviously, it makes it much easier if you don’t have to jump the puddles ~ simply walk through them ~ The Path of least resistance! How many times do we back-off in our lives, to keep the peace, especially when our off-the-cuff rants will have no meaning - just no % in it - we're usually the only ones that might be satisfied; a temporary fix.

Pick your Battles - Less is more theory - Best way to close a deal as a very practiced 'Schlepper' my motto always was - Talk~Less - and talk about Lassie or the Weather once the deals-a-deal; nothing more!

As the title implies, our twists and turns in life often begin with what are seemingly small choices. Maybe that’s why young people once consulted with elders within a tribe or family when facing tough decisions. When much younger, it always looked like I could just choose an alternative if my initial choice didn’t work out. The cost of losing a few years of one's life seems like small potatoes when you are certain you will live forever.

Choosing battles to stand up to or choosing to display wisdom by walking forward can also be a tricky minefield. Most people don’t love conflict, and you must hone your decision making skills to recognize when another person is actually pushing you into a situation for their gain only. Though tough or embarrassing to admit, bullies who get their way with us are going to appear in everyone's life. Sometimes that bully isn’t blatant, as in the case of someone we care for. It’s often just easier to surrender to the control of another we’d rather not right-fight with. If you need to don blinders to live with that fence of control, it is a definite signal to 'squeaky wheel' down another path.

Be selective of the problems - arguments and confrontations that you get involved in. Instead of putting up your dukes, save your time for the things that truly matter. Fight in-your-face battles or turn the other cheek.

Life is like a coin, spend it any way you want, but once it's gone it's gone — Is it Worth it? Save your Strength —

Plato ~ Love is a serious mental disease ~

Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, Cal

'Senior' Vocal Author

Co-Creators, INK